By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified May 29 by Billy G.
iPad Air M1vsiPad Air M4 11 Inch
Verdict: The iPad Air M4 11 Inch wins decisively with its M4 chip delivering 45% higher multi-core scores (per Geekbench 6) and a 120Hz OLED panel versus the M1's 60Hz LCD. It also adds a landscape camera and better speakers per RTINGS measurements. The M1 remains viable only for users prioritizing lower cost over display quality and speed.
How we scored itSpec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial reviewOur methodology →
Winner: iPad Air M4 11 Inch
iPad Air M1: 6.5/10
iPad Air M4 11 Inch: 8.5/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
iPad Air M1
iPad Air M4 11 Inch
Chip
Apple M1
Apple M4
Screen Size
10.9 inches
11 inches
RAM
8GB
8GB
Weight
1.02 lbs
1.12 lbs
iPad Air M1
What works
M1 chip delivers strong performance for productivity apps
Supports Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard
Affordable used market pricing
What doesn't
Only 10.9-inch display limits multitasking space
No landscape front camera
iPad Air M4 11 Inch
What works
M4 chip provides significantly faster graphics and AI tasks
Larger 11-inch Tandem OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion