Skip to Content

First M4 iPad Air Benchmarks Surface

Ahead of the launch of new iPad Air models equipped with the M4 chip, preliminary Geekbench benchmark results have surfaced for the device, giving us an idea of how its performance compares to the prior-generation M3 ‌iPad Air‌.

iPad Air M4 Chip
A pair of benchmarks from the 13-inch M4 ‌iPad Air‌ with Wi-Fi + Cellular (iPad16,11) suggest the M4 ‌iPad Air‌ CPU is 17.3 percent faster in single-core performance and 7.9 percent faster in multi-core performance.

The benchmarks show single-core scores of 3438 and 3714 and multi-core scores of 12885 and 12296, translating to an average single-core score of 3576 and an average multi-core score of 12591. The prior-generation 13-inch M3 ‌iPad Air‌ has an average single-core score of 3048 and an average multi-core score of 11667 on Geekbench.

The M4 ‌iPad Air‌ is equipped with an 8-core CPU featuring three performance cores and five efficiency cores, along with a 9-core GPU. Apple previously used the M4 in the iPad Pro, but the version in the ‌iPad Pro‌ had up to a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, so the M4 ‌iPad Air‌ does not match the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ in CPU performance.

The 13-inch M4 iPad Pro has a single-core score of 3704 and a multi-core score of 13805, so it offers 3.6 percent faster single-core CPU performance and 9.6 percent faster multi-core CPU performance.

The new M4 ‌iPad Air‌ will be available to pre-order at 6:15 a.m. Pacific Time tomorrow, with a launch to follow on March 11.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

10+ New Features Coming in iOS 27

Friday March 13, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
We're only three months away from Apple's WWDC 2026 event, which will see the company unveil iOS 27. With the fully revamped version of Siri possibly delayed until September, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update we wanted iOS 26 to be. There will be new Apple Intelligence features, updates for the iPhone Fold, and more, with the latest rumors summarized below. Foldable iPhone Features...
Apple 50 Years of Thinking Different

Apple Announces 50th Anniversary Plans

Thursday March 12, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, but it has yet to reveal any specific plans. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will turn 50 on April 1, 2026. "While Apple is known for looking forward, this milestone offers a special moment to reflect on the journey that has brought the company here, to celebrate the...

Top Rated Comments

2 weeks ago
Like I said yesterday, if you have any m series air you’re fine.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pdaholic Avatar
2 weeks ago
Doomscrolling benchmarked at 0.0023% faster.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
2 weeks ago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apple Introduces the All-New iPad Air: Now With More Air Than Ever Before


Cupertino, California — Apple today unveiled the newest iPad Air, the most Air iPad the company has ever created, packing more air into a single device than any previous iPad Air, Air-adjacent iPad, or iPad that merely aspired to be airy.

“At Apple, we asked ourselves a simple question,” said Tim Cook. “What if we put even more air into iPad Air?”

After years of research, Apple engineers developed a revolutionary internal architecture that allows the new iPad Air to contain an unprecedented amount of premium, Apple-designed air, carefully curated to deliver the airy experience customers expect.

[HEADING=2]Breakthrough Air Technologies[/HEADING]
The new iPad Air introduces several industry-leading air innovations:


* Air³ Architecture – a triple-layer system that distributes air more evenly throughout the device.
* Adaptive AirFlow™ – dynamically adjusts the amount of air depending on how airy you want your iPad to feel.
* Pro-Grade Air – the same professional-level air previously reserved for devices that cost significantly more.

Together, these technologies make the new iPad Air the most air iPad Apple has ever shipped, and possibly the most air any company has ever shipped in any tablet category.

[HEADING=2]Designed for Maximum Air[/HEADING]
The design team at Apple focused on creating a device that doesn’t just contain air — it celebrates air. The result is a stunningly thin enclosure that allows air to exist with remarkable clarity and intention.

Available in four finishes — Sky Air, Space Air, Slightly Darker Air, and Blue That Is Definitely Still Air — the new iPad Air looks as airy as it feels.

[HEADING=2]Even More Air With Apple Silicon[/HEADING]
Powered by Apple silicon, the new iPad Air delivers incredible performance while maintaining industry-leading levels of air per cubic inch. This means users can edit photos, watch movies, or scroll social media with more air surrounding every task.

[HEADING=2]Pricing and Availability[/HEADING]
The new iPad Air starts at $599, which Apple notes includes a tremendous amount of air at no additional cost.

Pre-orders begin Friday, with availability next week in stores and online.

Apple also confirmed that future updates will bring even more air, because at Apple, there’s always room for more air.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocMultimedia Avatar
2 weeks ago
So does this make Netflix faster? 😋
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CalMin Avatar
2 weeks ago
These things have so much raw horsepower for what is generally asked of them.

I love the new iPadOS with windowing and external monitor support but after the novelty wore off, I went back to using it as 'just' an iPad because I still bump into annoying use case walls. I might start trusting it more as my ONLY device when I travel but, truth be told, it's not too much of a hardship to schlep around with a laptop and an iPad in my backpack.

So Apple - what is ALL THIS POWER FOR?? :)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2 weeks ago
Let me guess...a bit faster than the prior ones?
(though unnoticeable unless you are mining bitcoin on it)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)