iPad Air (M4) vs iPad (11th generation)
Verified 2026-10-03
A factual specification comparison between the iPad Air (M4) and the iPad (11th generation).
Image: Apple Inc.
Apple · TabletiPad Air (M4)
- Status
- Released · 2026-03-11
- Announced
- Announced 2026-03-02
- Verification
- Verified
- Last checked
- Checked 2026-10-01
Image: Apple
Apple · TabletiPad (11th generation)
- Status
- Released · 2025-03-12
- Announced
- Announced 2025-03-04
- Verification
- Verified
- Last checked
- Checked 2026-09-30
Key differences
SpecificationiPad Air (M4)iPad (11th generation)
Design & Build
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (differs) | 11-inch: 464g (Wi-Fi) / 465g (Cellular); 13-inch: 616g (Wi-Fi) / 617g (Cellular) | 477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) |
| Colors (differs) | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow |
Display
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution (differs) | 11-inch: 2360×1640 (264 ppi); 13-inch: 2732×2048 (264 ppi) | 2360×1640 pixels (264 ppi) |
Performance
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset model name (differs) | M4 | A16 |
Memory & Storage
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage options (differs) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Battery & Charging
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Wired charging (differs) | USB-C (charging, DisplayPort, USB 3 up to 10Gb/s) | 20W USB-C power adapter, USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s) |
Camera
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Front cameras (differs) | Center Stage 12MP, ƒ/2 | Center Stage 12MP, ƒ/2.4 |
Connectivity
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| SIM (differs) | eSIM | eSIM (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only; not compatible with physical SIM cards) |
Audio
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Speakers (differs) | Landscape stereo speakers, dual microphones | Landscape stereo speakers; Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos playback |
Security & Sensors
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric authentication (differs) | Touch ID | Touch ID (top button) |
These are specifications where both devices have a confirmed value and the values differ. A difference is not a judgement that either device is better. Showing 10 of 21 differences; the full specifications below include all of them.
Full specifications
differs · Not disclosed: not published by the manufacturer · —: not recorded
SpecificationiPad Air (M4)iPad (11th generation)
Design & Build
5 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (differs) | 11-inch: 464g (Wi-Fi) / 465g (Cellular); 13-inch: 616g (Wi-Fi) / 617g (Cellular) | 477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) |
| Colors (differs) | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow |
| Dimensions (differs) | 11-inch: 247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm; 13-inch: 280.6 × 214.9 × 6.1 mm | 248.6 × 179.5 × 7 mm |
| Stylus support (differs) | Apple Pencil Pro; Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil (1st generation) via USB-C adapter |
| Keyboard accessory support (differs) | Compatible with Magic Keyboard | Compatible with Magic Keyboard Folio |
Display
2 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution (differs) | 11-inch: 2360×1640 (264 ppi); 13-inch: 2732×2048 (264 ppi) | 2360×1640 pixels (264 ppi) |
| Peak brightness (nits) | 500 · same on both | |
| Display (differs) | Liquid Retina (LED-backlit IPS), True Tone, antireflective coating — 11-inch and 13-inch sizes | 11-inch Liquid Retina (IPS), True Tone, fingerprint-resistant coating |
| HDR support | Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, and HLG | Not recorded |
Performance
2 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset model name (differs) | M4 | A16 |
| Chipset (differs) | Apple M4 (8-core CPU: 3 performance + 5 efficiency, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) | Apple A16 (5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
Memory & Storage
1 difference
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage options (differs) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Battery & Charging
2 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Wired charging (differs) | USB-C (charging, DisplayPort, USB 3 up to 10Gb/s) | 20W USB-C power adapter, USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s) |
| Battery capacity (Wh) (differs) | 11-inch: 28.93 Wh, 13-inch: 36.59 Wh | 28.93 Wh |
Camera
2 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Rear cameras | Wide 12MP, ƒ/1.8 · same on both | |
| Front cameras (differs) | Center Stage 12MP, ƒ/2 | Center Stage 12MP, ƒ/2.4 |
| Video recording (differs) | 4K video recording at 24/25/30/60 fps; 1080p HD at 25/30/60 fps; 720p HD at 30 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120/240 fps | 4K video recording at 24/25/30/60 fps; 1080p HD at 25/30/60 fps; 720p HD at 30/60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120/240 fps |
Connectivity
5 differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| SIM (differs) | eSIM | eSIM (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only; not compatible with physical SIM cards) |
| Wi-Fi (differs) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2x2 MIMO | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2×2 MIMO, dual-band |
| Bluetooth (differs) | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Cellular technology | 5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only) · same on both | |
| Positioning (differs) | GPS/GNSS (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only); digital compass, Wi-Fi, and iBeacon microlocation (all models) | GPS/GNSS and cellular positioning (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only); digital compass, Wi-Fi, and iBeacon microlocation (all models) |
| USB (differs) | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) with DisplayPort support | USB-C (USB 2.0, up to 480Mb/s) with DisplayPort support |
Audio
1 difference
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Speakers (differs) | Landscape stereo speakers, dual microphones | Landscape stereo speakers; Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos playback |
Software
No differences
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system at launch | iPadOS · same on both | |
Security & Sensors
1 difference
| Specification | iPad Air (M4) | iPad (11th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric authentication (differs) | Touch ID | Touch ID (top button) |
Terms used on this page (6)
- ppi
- Pixels per inch: how densely pixels are packed on the screen.
- Nits
- A unit of screen brightness (candela per square metre). Typical, HDR and outdoor peak figures are measured under different conditions.
- mAh and Wh
- Battery capacity. mAh is charge; Wh also accounts for voltage, so it is the more comparable energy figure across device types.
- eSIM
- A SIM built into the device and activated digitally instead of a physical card.
- Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7
- Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi 6; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) adds wider channels and multi-link operation. Real speeds depend on the router and network.
- Aperture (ƒ-number)
- A lower ƒ-number means a wider lens opening that lets in more light.
Sources & verification
iPad Air (M4)
Verified 2026-10-01- AppleManufacturer newsroomTier 1
- AppleManufacturer newsroomTier 1
- Apple Inc.ManufacturerTier 1
- Apple Inc.Manufacturer specificationsTier 1
iPad (11th generation)
Verified 2026-09-30- AppleManufacturerTier 1
- Apple Inc.Manufacturer specificationsTier 1
Tier 1 sources are the manufacturer's own product pages, technical specification sheets, or support documentation. Tier 2 sources are reputable independent technical references, used only for facts that couldn't be confirmed from official documentation.