You rarely get this much power in a tablet: Even some laptops look old in comparison

The iPad Air 11 (2026) relies on brute power with the Apple M4: the 8-core processor (4 performance and 4 efficiency cores) and the 9-core GPU deliver 15-20% more performance than its predecessor.

In benchmarks such as Geekbench 6.6 (single-core: 3,735, multi-core: 13,494 points) or AI tests (up to 54,488 points), the iPad Air outperforms even some laptops.

4K videos, 3D rendering or multitasking run smoothly - only under extreme continuous load does the tablet's performance slow down slightly.

iPadOS is still not optimal

But all this power comes up against a limit: iPadOS. Despite optimizations, the operating system still lags behind macOS.

Those who use complex workflows - such as professional video editing, programming or file management - often miss real window management, flexible file systems or desktop apps.

Although iPadOS 26 now supports background processes and revised multitasking, the question remains for many users: can the iPad really replace a MacBook? The answer depends heavily on the apps used - for some yes, for others no.

Display, design & features: High quality, but not perfect

The 10.86-inch IPS display (2360 × 1640 pixels, 60 Hz) is color-accurate (∆E 1.92) and bright enough for indoor use, but looks pale in sunlight. OLED fans or users who are used to 120 Hz will be disappointed. On the other hand, the iPad Air scores points with WiFi 7 (up to 1,700 MBit/s), 5G on request, a fast USB-C port and a precise touchscreen.

The aluminum housing is high-quality as always, but the wide edges almost look old-fashioned in 2026. There is no water or dust protection - a short rain shower can be risky.

Battery, cameras & accessories: everything there, nothing revolutionary

The battery battery life is enough for a working day, but nothing more. The 12 MP cameras are solid, but no highlights - 4K videos are successful, photos lag behind smartphones.

With Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil, the iPad Air becomes a productive work device - but here again the iPadOS dilemma becomes apparent: even with accessories, work often feels like a compromise when you come from macOS.

Really fast tablet - but not a perfect laptop replacement

The iPad Air 11 (2026) is very powerful, thanks to the M4 chip and sophisticated hardware. If you need mobile power - for creative apps, note-taking or media consumption, for example - you get a very good device at a fair price (from $ 643 at amazon.com).

However, iPadOS remains the Achilles heel: Anyone working professionally will quickly reach its limits. For occasional users or Apple fans, the iPad Air is a recommendation. For anyone looking for a fully-fledged laptop experience, it may only be a supplement - not a replacement.

More details on the Apple iPad Air 2026 with M4 processor can be found in our detailed test report.