# IPad Air (4th generation)

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.
The 4th generation iPad Air was discontinued on March 8, 2022, following the announcement of its successor, the iPad Air (5th generation).

## Features
### Hardware

The 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. The Neural Engine can process more than 11 trillion operations per second.
It has a wider 60 Hz 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.
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. Landscape stereo audio effect is also added to the system's audio recording system.
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.
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.

### Connectivity

With the release of its fourth-generation iPad Air, Apple continued the use of the USB-C port, as was seen in the third-generation iPad Pro. 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. For wireless connection, the device comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 (802.11ax).
It is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard for iPad, and Smart Keyboard Folio.

## Reception

The fourth-generation iPad Air 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 positive reviews for its overall performance and design.
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.
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.
Apple's decision to retain Touch ID, integrated into the power button, instead of using Face ID was especially appreciated when mask-wearing became commonplace, as Face ID struggled to function correctly when a user's face was covered. The inclusion of Touch ID allowed for convenient and secure authentication, giving Apple praise for adapting to the pandemic-era needs of its users.

## Timeline

* Timeline of iPad models vte
* See also: Timeline of Apple Inc. products
Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.