The iPad Air (4th generation), informally referred to as iPad Air 4, is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced by Apple on September 15, 2020. Pre-orders began on October 16, 2020, and shipping began a week later on October 23, 2020 alongside the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. The device closely resembles the design of the 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation) and has several features that were previously exclusive to the iPad Pro line, such as support for Magic Keyboard and the second-generation Apple Pencil. It is available in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
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 iPad Air (4th generation) | |
| Also known as | iPad Air 4, iPad Air (10.9-inch) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Manufacturer | Foxconn |
| Product family | iPad Air |
| Type | Tablet computer |
| Generation | 4th |
| Release date | October 23, 2020 |
| Introductory price | $599 USD £579 GBP €649 EUR $779 CAD $879 SGD $899 AUD R11 500 ZAR ₹54 900 INR |
| Discontinued | March 8, 2022 |
| Operating system | Original: iPadOS 14 Current: iPadOS 18.1, released October 28, 2024[1] |
| System on a chip | Apple A14 Bionic with 64-bit architecture and embedded motion co-processor |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2× 3.1 GHz Firestorm and 4× 1.82 GHz Icestorm) |
| Memory | 4 GB[2] |
| Storage | 64 or 256 GB flash memory |
| Display | 10.9 inches (280 mm) (2,360 x 1,640) px (264 ppi), 500-nits Max Brightness, Wide-Color Display (P3), True Tone Display, Fully Laminated Display, 1.8% Reflectivity and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support |
| Graphics | Apple-designed 4-core |
| Sound | Stereo speakers |
| Input | Multi-touch screen, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass, dual microphone, Touch ID fingerprint reader, barometer |
| Camera | Front: 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, burst mode, timer mode, exposure control, face detection, Smart HDR, wide-color capture, auto image stabilization, Retina flash, 1080p HD video recording Rear: 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, burst mode, timer mode, exposure control, noise reduction, face detection, Hybrid IR filter, Live Photos with stabilization, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, face detection, Smart HDR, panorama, wide-color capture, auto image stabilization, 2160p 4K 60fps video recording, video stabilization, slo-mo, time-lapse |
| Connectivity |
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| Power | 28.6 W·h lithium-polymer battery |
| Online services | App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, iCloud, Game Center |
| Dimensions | 9.74 inches (247.6 mm);(h) 7 inches (178.5 mm);(w) |
| Mass | Wi-Fi: 1.0 pound (458 grams) |
| Predecessor | iPad Air (3rd generation) |
| Successor | iPad Air (5th generation) |
| Website | iPad Air - Apple at the Wayback Machine (archived February 21, 2022) |
The 4th generation iPad Air was discontinued on March 8, 2022, following the announcement of its successor, the iPad Air (5th generation).
Features
editHardware
editThe Apple A14 Bionic SoC has 11.9 billion transistors inside, allowing for higher efficiency in terms of both power and performance. The chip has a 6-core CPU that is 40 percent faster than the A12, a 4-core GPU that is 30 percent faster, and Apple's 16-core Neural Engine, which is twice as fast and features improved machine learning.[3] The Neural Engine can process more than 11 trillion operations per second.[4]
It has a wider 60 Hz[5] 10.9-inch 2360 by 1640 Liquid Retina Display display with 3.8 million pixels. The display is laminated and has an anti-reflective coating, as well as featuring wide color and True Tone.[6]
The Home Button in the previous generation has been removed, as has the headphone jack; the Touch ID sensor has been relocated to the Sleep/Wake button attached on the top right edge of the device.[7] Landscape stereo audio effect is also added to the system's audio recording system.[8]
It features a rear 12MP camera capable of 4K video recording at up to 60fps as well as a 7MP FaceTime camera capable of 1080p 60fps video.[9]
The hardware specifications of the iPad Air (4th generation) are comparable to those of the iPad (10th generation). However, the iPad Air lacks 5G cellular data and Center Stage front camera support, whereas the iPad (10th generation) lacks a P3 Wide Color display, Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support, and Smart Keyboard Folio support.[10]
Connectivity
editWith the release of its fourth-generation iPad Air, Apple were forced to abandon the proprietary Lightning port in favor of a universal USB-C port due to EU regulation. The port is used for charging as well as connecting external devices and accessories. It is capable of transferring up to 5 Gbit/s (625 MB/s), allowing for fast connections to cameras and external storage, as well as support for monitors with up to 4K resolution.[11] For wireless connection, the device comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 (802.11ax).[12]
It is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard for iPad, and Smart Keyboard Folio.[13]
Reception
editThe fourth-generation iPad Air, released by Apple, sparked mixed reactions, particularly regarding its price. Many consumers and reviewers criticized it for being more expensive than its predecessor, raising questions about the value it brought over previous models. Despite this, the iPad Air 4 has largely received glowing reviews for its overall performance and design.
Tech expert Henry T. Casey of Tom's Guide lauded the iPad Air 4, calling it “the best tablet for most people” and “one of the best iPads ever.” His review emphasized its versatility, sleek design, and performance, qualities that positioned it as an ideal choice for everyday users and professionals alike. Similarly, James Peckham from TechRadar hailed the tablet as a “phenomenally well-made” device, praising its build quality and functionality, which makes it a strong contender in the high-end tablet market.
Recognition for the iPad Air 4 didn’t stop there. PCMag included it in its “Best Tech Products of the Year” list for 2020, a testament to its impact in the tech world during a particularly challenging year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication even awarded it their Editors' Choice award for high-end tablets, further solidifying its reputation among tech enthusiasts.
An interesting aspect of the iPad Air 4’s reception during the pandemic was Apple's decision to retain Touch ID, integrated into the power button, instead of using Face ID. This choice was especially appreciated when mask-wearing became commonplace, as Face ID struggled to function correctly when a user’s face was covered.[14][15] The inclusion of Touch ID allowed for convenient and secure authentication, giving Apple praise for adapting to the pandemic-era needs of its users. This feature was particularly important for maintaining a balance between safety and usability during uncertain times, making it a standout feature of the iPad Air 4.
The combination of top-tier design, praised by experts, and practical considerations like the inclusion of Touch ID highlights why the fourth-generation iPad Air continues to be a favorite among both casual users and tech critics.
Timeline
edit| Timeline of iPad models |
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References
edit- ^ "About iPadOS 18 Updates". Apple Support. iPadOS 18.1.
- ^ Espósito, Filipe (October 4, 2020). "iPad Air 4 benchmark results emerge on the web as Apple reportedly prepares A14 Apple TV [U]".
- ^ "iPad Air : Completely Redesigned, Available Now". MacRumors. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ Jonny Evans (September 16, 2020). "There's something in the iPad Air for enterprise IT". Computerworld. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Jason Cross (September 15, 2020). "iPad Air (2020): Seven things you need to know about Apple's redesigned tablet". Macworld. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ James Peckham (February 28, 2021). "iPad Air 4 (2020) review". TechRadar. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ Warren, Tom (2020-09-15). "Apple announces new iPad Air that looks more like an iPad Pro, starting at $599". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
- ^ Sascha Segan (October 27, 2020). "Apple iPad Air (2020) Review". PCMag. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ "iPad Air (4th generation) - Technical Specifications". support.apple.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "IPad - Compare Models".
- ^ "All-new iPad Air with advanced A14 Bionic chip available to order starting today". Apple.com. Apple, Inc. October 16, 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
A USB-C port comes to iPad Air for up to 5 Gbps data transfer, which is 10 times faster, for connecting to cameras, hard drives, and external monitors up to 4K.
- ^ "iPad Air - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- ^ Arjun Sha (September 19, 2020). "15 Best iPad Air (4th Gen) Accessories You Can Buy". Beebom. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Tibken, Shara (October 13, 2020). "iPhone 12 and the Touch ID button: Why Apple probably won't give it to us this year". CNET. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ Collins, Katie (October 20, 2020). "Our masks make Face ID useless. iPhone 12 did nothing to fix it". CNET. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ Apple Inc. (2010–2011). iPad News – Newsroom Archive. Retrieved June 7, 2018.