The iPad Air 4 might not be the latest iPad that money can buy, but it's still a quality piece of kit that only becomes more useful when you add on one of the best keyboard cases. You can almost turn the iPad into a kind of defacto touchscreen laptop — the touchy-feely MacBook that Apple never made (only it did, with extra steps).

There are, however, loads of options out there to choose from, and finding the best for you can feel like sorting through a haystack to find a needle. That's where we come in. We've created this list so that you can find the best keyboard cases for iPad Air 4, so that you can skip the trickiest part of the buying process and get straight to the typing.

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The iPad Air 4 might not be the lates model but it's still one of the best iPads you can buy. It offers nearly Pro levels of performance without the price tag. Add on a keyboard case and you can expand your iPad Air's functionality so it's almost like a mini laptop. If you get a keyboard with a trackpad, it's even closer to being a laptop. The trackpad can be used for cursor and multi-gesture control, giving you plenty of ways to interact with iPadOS.

Of course, if you use your iPad Air 4 more for watching movies, surfing the web, and the occasional email, a less expensive keyboard will usually suffice. It's still good to have a way to type 'properly' on your iPad Air 4, but look for a cheaper example. The newer iPad Air 5 is exactly the same size as the iPad Air 4, so cases are interchangeable between the two. Plus, some cases (like Apple's own Magic keyboard) are even interchangeable between the 11-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air models, so it's worth checking.

Our favorite iPad Air 4 keyboard case is the Apple Magic Keyboard. It's expensive but it really is the ultimate iPad keyboard case. Designed by Apple engineers, it's there to enhance your iPad's functionality in every way. The cantilevered design is elegant while giving you a choice of viewing angles. Also, the trackpad makes it easy to do plenty of things fast, like switch between apps or access the app switcher.

If you want something more reasonably priced, however, there's always the Logitech Folio Touch. Its fully backlit keyboard means you can type just about anywhere, no matter what time of day it is. As it uses the Smart Connector, you don't have to worry about Bluetooth pairing either, so it's super speedy to use.

If a keyboard isn't essential, there's always the best iPad Air 4 cases too.

What you need to know

• Apple has added the fourth-generation iPad Air to its Certified Refurbished Store.
• Customers can save as much as $100 by choosing to buy a refurbished model.

You can now grab some decent savings on the fourth-generation iPad Air directly from Apple itself.

Apple is now selling the fourth-generation iPad Air on its Certified Refurbished Store, the company's online store that features used Apple products that have been meticulously refurbished and sold in like-new condition. Customers can save between $80 and $100 by choosing to buy a refurbished model over a new one.

There are a number of color and storage size options on the store now but here are some examples:

• Refurbished iPad Air Wi-Fi 64GB - Sky Blue (4th Generation): $469.00 (Was $549.00, Save $80.00)
• Refurbished iPad Air Wi-Fi 256GB - Rose Gold (4th Generation): $599.00 (Was $699.00, Save $100.00)

Apple's refurbished versions of the fourth-generation iPad Air are available to order now, with shipping times as soon as two days with express shipping. if you don't want to pay $8.00 for express shipping, regular shipping is also available for free. You can also choose your local Apple Store as the place for pickup.

Customers who take advantage of Apple's Certified Refurbished program get a "like new" device with AppleCare with savings of up to 15% on the purchase.

If you want to find some things to spend that savings on, check out our list of the Best iPad Air 4 keyboard cases 2022.

In 2021, Apple's iPad lineup saw some of its most significant hardware updates in recent memory. It was a breakthrough year, particularly at the high end of the lineup where devices have become more powerful than ever.

However, there is one iPad model that sticks out like a sore thumb in Apple's current crop having received no attention in 2021: the iPad Air 4. Last refreshed in the fall of 2020, Apple's 4th-gen iPad Air is a clear candidate for some love in 2022. Here's what we expect to see in the new iPad Air this year.

Lagging behind

Though the iPad Air 4 is 18 months old at this point, it's still not a bad device. On the contrary, thanks to its careful balance between power and price, we still list it as the best iPad for most people. And yet, there are obvious areas for change in 2022.

First off, the processor. Having been released in 2020, the current iPad Air runs the A14 Bionic system-on-a-chip that is also featured in the iPhone 12. At the time it was a significant jump in power (40% faster CPU performance than A12 and 30% faster graphics) but it has been significantly outpaced by later A15 and M1 chips found in Apple's other iPad models.

Depending on when the new iPad Air is released, it could adopt the A15 Bionic found in 2021's iPad mini 6 and iPhone 13 or it may get next year's updated A-series chip. If Apple wants to push the M1 chip down the iPad line already, it could even find its way into the iPad Air if the iPad Pro snags the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips or newer.

Cameras, particularly the front-facing ones, were a huge focus for the iPad last year. All of the 2021 models feature a 12MP Ultrawide FaceTime camera that enables the smart Center Stage panning that keeps you in the frame on a video call. That feature needs to come to iPad Air next, so we'll undoubtedly see a front-facing camera upgrade — perhaps one that includes Face ID hardware, too.

On the back, the iPad Air camera is not too far behind the iPad mini in terms of specs so it might get less attention, but expect the quad-LED True Tone flash to come to the 2022 iPad Air along with 1080p video recording in 25 fps and 30 fps, in addition to 60 fps, to get it to reach parity with the latest mini.

The last obvious upgrade for the iPad Air is in cellular connectivity. Being the top-of-the-line model, the iPad Pro was first to get 5G in spring 2021 with the iPad mini following suit in late 2021. Apple has shown this isn't a feature it wishes to restrict to the Pro line, so expect it to make an appearance on the next iPad Air spec sheet.

New design and display?

iPad Air 4 was the first to get the "edge-to-edge" look we're used to seeing with Apple's iPad now, but don't expect the new iPad Air to debut any significant upgrades on the design front. Everything we're hearing points to a spec-bump release this time around, so expect the overall form factor to remain much the same. The only real visual change we're likely to get is some new aluminum hues to line up more closely with those of the iPad mini 6.

When it comes to the display of the iPad Air 5, the jury's still out. Rumors had indicated an OLED panel was coming to the iPad Air this year, though more recent reports suggest that upgrade has been pushed to 2023 or later. It would have been the first iPad to feature an OLED panel, with the technology having been reserved for iPhone and Apple Watch models thus far, but it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for its first iPad showing.

There remains a question as to whether mini-LED display tech will come to the iPad Air this year. The 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro showed off mini-LED in Apple products for the first time and it has since jumped over to the latest 2021 MacBook Pro models. With OLED still a ways off, mini-LED may find its way to other iPad models, though Apple may want to keep it as a Pro-level feature as a differentiator of the high-end lineup.

The issue of differentiation

Apple is usually very proficient at providing buying options for its plethora of potential purchasers, but the iPad lineup actually leads to some tricky consumer choices.

iPhone buyers, by contrast, have three choices (ignoring the previous-gen models): the mainstream iPhone, the iPhone Pro, and the iPhone SE. Those looking for something more basic and affordable will be well-served by the SE, the adjective-less iPhone is the one most people will buy, and the Pro model serves those that really care about having the best specs.

It's an even more straightforward affair on the portable Mac side with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro having very different addressable markets and price points that are much further apart.

For the iPad, Apple has four distinct product lines of which the Air is the most awkwardly placed. The iPad mini differentiates itself as the ultra-portable option, the 10.2-inch iPad as the cheap "every-person" model, and the Pro as the one for power users. The iPad Air sits just below the iPad Pro in terms of size, specs, and price but every upgrade the device gets eats into the market for the 11-inch iPad Pro.

Usually, Pro-grade features trickle down to the iPad Air but Apple has yet to put mini-LED into the 11-inch iPad Pro and it's unlikely to share that tech with both the smaller iPad Pro and the iPad Air at the same time. The M-series chips are also an easy Pro sell for Apple, so it's difficult to imagine the company being in a rush to push these down the lineup either. Camera upgrades that helped shift iPhone units are less important on iPad and the increased I/O offering of the new MacBook Pro models is not something the iPad Pro replicates currently.

There's a tough balance to strike between reserving your best features for the top-of-the-line models and moving those technologies down the lineup and the iPad Air finds itself at a strange juncture on that front. I expect the iPad Air and iPad mini will fall into something like a tick-tock upgrade schedule on alternate years with Pro-level features trickling down gradually over time, but only when the iPad Pro gets some advanced new features to shout about.

Something new in the Air

Regardless of what Apple chooses to include in the new iPad Air, all signs point to the device being the strongest candidate for a refresh in 2022. Apple is rumored to be holding a spring event, so we could see it unveiled in the next few months. If not, we're likely looking at a fall launch for the iPad Air 2022 upgrade.

All the attention may be on Apple's latest tablet, the iPad mini 6, but fans of larger tablets have reason to tune in today as Apple's 2020 iPad Air is available at a record low price — less than the new iPad mini, even.

As a part of Amazon's Epic Daily Deals sale, the 4th-gen iPad Air is seeing a huge price cut of $110. That drops it down to just $489 for the 64GB which is a new record-low price for it. The 256GB model is also discounted by the same amount.

In 2020, Apple totally redesigned the iPad Air with the 4th-gen model taking industrial design cues from the iPad Pro line with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too, as well as the iPad Magic Keyboard. The iPad Air 4 has also ditched the home button as part of the redesign. Instead of Face ID, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button.

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only announced last year and there has been virtually nothing in the rumor mill about it being refreshed this fall, it looks a safe buy at this stage in its lifecycle — especially at today's all-time low price. The money you save could be put to good use with an Apple Pencil, also on sale.

What you need to know

• Apple has reportedly canceled plans to bring an OLED display to the iPad Air next year.
• The company will reportedly focus on the 11-inch iPad Pro next year.
• It is possible the technology could come to the iPad Air in 2023.

It sounds like we have some time to wait for an OLED display to come to the iPad Air.

In a new note seen by iMore, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple has canceled its plans to bring an OLED display to the iPad Air, something the company had apparently been planning to do next year.

According to the note, one of the reasons to delay such an upgrade could be to focus on bringing a mini-LED display to the 11-inch iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is currently the only iPad Pro to feature the newer display technology.

Kuo's prediction lines up with a report from last week that announced that Apple and Samsung ended a joint effort to bring OLED displays to the iPad Air in 2022. The technology still could come to the iPad Air, but it sounds like we'll have to wait until at least 2023 for that to happen.

Apple debuted its new iPad Air back in 2020. The new Air adopted the design and many of the features of the higher-end iPad Pro models as well as works with the company's more "professional" iPad accessories like the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard for iPad.

With Labor Day coming up, retailers are starting to kick off their annual sales events which makes now a great time for Apple fans to upgrade their gear.

If you've been holding out on buying a new iPad, Apple Watch, or MacBook, Best Buy's Labor Day sale has got you covered with discounts across a whole range of Apple products. Many of these prices are being matched at Amazon and other retailers, so we've gathered up all of the best places to buy below.

Steep discounts across the board like this only come around for holiday sales so you don't have long to snap up any bargains. With new products on the horizon this fall, this might be your last chance to snag some of these products at a discount with rumored devices like the iPad mini 6 and AirPods 3 set to take their places. After this fall, it might be refurbished deals only.

Best Buy's Labor day sale ends Monday and prices matched at other retailers will likely rise at the same time.

For Apple fans, the summer can be a little bit of a lull as the software hype of WWDC has passed and the upcoming fall event(s), featuring new products, are still a ways off. That being said, now's actually a great time to buy one of Apple's best iPad models if you're in the market for one with various retailers discounting Apple products at this time of year.

While we are looking ahead to a new 9th-gen iPad and redesigned iPad mini 6 this fall, the 2020 iPad Air looks set to stick around. Despite this, it's available with $99 off across the board at Amazon right now with prices starting at just $499.99.

In 2020, Apple totally redesigned the iPad Air with the 4th-gen model taking industrial design cues from the iPad Pro line with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too, as well as the iPad Magic Keyboard. The iPad Air 4 has also ditched the home button as part of the redesign. Instead of Face ID, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button.

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only announced last year and there has been virtually nothing in the rumor mill about it being refreshed this fall, it looks a safe buy at this stage in its lifecycle — especially at today's all-time low price. The money you save could be put to good use with an Apple Pencil, also on sale at Amazon.

What you need to know

• California State University has announced its new CSUCCESS initiative.
• The program offers new and transfer students an iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard Folio.

Apple is teaming up with California State University to offer an iPad bundle to its students.

In an announcement on the California State University website, the university announced that, as part of its new CSUCCESS (California State University Connectivity Contributing to Equity and Student Success) program, all first-year and new transfer students who register to participate in the initiative will receive an iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard Folio.

CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro said that the initiative will equip all students with a reliable piece of technology that will help support their time in college as well as prepare them for their future careers.

Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of Education and Enterprise Marketing, said that the iPad Air, paired with all of the education apps available in the App Store, is a key combination to support students.

Apple had announced a similar partnership with Virginia Union University and its 'Smart Campus' back in June.

If you want to make sure your new iPad Air stays with you throughout school, check out our list of the Best iPad Air 4 Screen Protectors 2021.

Apple has done it again with some jaw-dropping new features on the 2021 iPad Pro. Of course, with great tech comes a big price tag. The question you'll have to ask yourself is, are all those bells and whistles worth the cost when compared to the sleek and affordable iPad Air 4? The iPad Air is also one of the best tablets on the market, and it comes in at a much lower price point.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Pro (2021): Key differences

While there are some marked differences between the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air 4, the 11-inch iPad Pro and Air actually have many similarities. Both of these models share size, shape, design, and weight. If you start going spec by spec, however, there are some differences here as well.

The biggest differences between the iPad Air 4 and the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 are the price and the processor. The disparity between the price grows even greater if you compare the iPad Air 4 with the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which can go all the way up to $2,199 depending on which options you pick. You should also look at differences in camera, display, and performance.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Pro (2021): Power and performance

One massive change that took place in the 2021 iPad Pro is the processor. The change-over to an M1 processor (the same used in 2020 MacBooks) means that the iPad Pro has some huge computing and performance capabilities. Activities that take up a lot of bandwidth, such as photo and video editing or certain types of gameplay, will be improved by the speed and power of the M1 chip. The A14 Bionic chip included in the iPad Air is not sluggish by any shape of the imagination, but it may not handle some heavier activities as efficiently as the M1.

Since the iPad Pro also has more options for size and storage, these aspects could make a big difference for certain users. With the iPad Pro, you have the option to purchase a larger 12.9-inch screen or upgrade storage capacities to 2TB. Neither of these options is available in the iPad Air, but then, you may not need so much size and space in a tablet.

If you're not working with cumbersome programs or giant file sizes, then these features are probably not all that necessary. If that is the case, the 10.9-inch iPad Air has a perfectly good A14 Bionic processor and up to 256GB of storage, both of which should serve well for the average user.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Pro (2021): Design and display

Design-wise, the iPad Air 4 and the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 are almost indistinguishable. They sport the same general size and weight, along with the cool flat-edged shape that is now standard for all new Apple devices as of 2020. The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro has the same look and feel; it's just bigger. As for the display, all three of these iPads have different characteristics.

All three configurations have a Liquid Retina display, but that's where the similarities end. The 11-inch iPad Pro produces 600 nits brightness, which is at least 100 nits more than the iPad Air 4. This model also has a blazing fast 120Hz refresh rate, which will be a noticeable improvement over the iPad Air 4 during video playback, gameplay, and scrolling. Now, as for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, it's just in a whole different playing field.

In their flagship 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, Apple has created what they call Liquid Retina XDR, which allows it to display extreme dynamic range content that is brighter and exhibits more contrast. This is made possible by a new technology beyond the traditional LCD screen, incorporating a "mini-LED" display technology that packs in 10,000 mini-LEDs and 5.6 million pixels. This creates a more responsive display that will allow creators to make beautiful illustrations and HDR content.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Pro (2021): Accessories and more

Regarding accessories, both the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Pro 2021 can work with all of Apple's most popular iPad accessories, namely the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. That means both of these models can be used in various ways by different users, from typing to drawing. They also share a USB-C port, but there's one important difference.

The iPad Pro 2021 was built with a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C 4 port, meaning that it can also work with many Thunderbolt accessories and cables that were previously unavailable to iPads. This will also make for a more optimized experience when connecting your iPad Pro with other monitors or screens. The Thunderbolt port opens the door to many accessories that are not available to the iPad Air 4, which may prove important to those who use the iPad in place of a computer.

The average iPad user may not use this device for photography, but it's important to touch on the cameras here. Both the iPads have a 12MP camera on the back, but the iPad Pro now has a 10MP extra-wide lens as well. Perhaps even more importantly, the iPad Pro 2021 now has a 12MP TrueDepth camera in the front that can be used for FaceID as well as Apple's new Center Stage technology. This feature allows you to make video calls through an interactive platform that pans and focuses the view on you, the subject, and anyone else in the frame. This could prove to be amazingly useful during FaceTime, Zoom calls, and virtual classes.

Once again, the iPad Pro has many new bells and whistles in its 2021 model, but not every user needs them. If you're not making a lot of video calls with the iPad, then the Air will work just as well to take high-resolution photos and record 4K videos whenever needed.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Pro (2021): Which should you buy?

The fancy 2021-edition of the iPad Pro has a lot of cool new features and advancements. The question is, will you use them? If you're an illustrator or content creator, then the responsive XDR screen will provide better graphics and a faster display to support your work. That powerful M1 chip will also be an excellent improvement for anyone using heavy programs, large file sizes, or graphically demanding games. And we could also see why someone who does many Zoom calls or virtual classes would appreciate the amazing Center Stage technology that's now available on the iPad Pro 2021. This model is a great choice if you require these features and a larger budget to work with.

Now, all of those neat features come with a price. The smaller 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, which is already $200 more expensive than the iPad Air. But if you go with the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you could be spending anywhere from $1,099 to $2,199, depending on which storage capacity you choose. And that's not counting the price of accessories! So if you're not using your iPad to do any heavy lifting or extreme gameplay, the iPad Air 4 is still a high-speed machine with beautiful graphics and a sleek design. Especially if you're on a budget, the iPad Air 4 may be the way to go for the average iPad user.

What you need to know

• Brydge has announced the Air MAX+ for the 4th generation iPad Air.
• It is the first third-party keyboard and case combo for the device to feature a native multi-touch trackpad.

Brydge is at it again, but this time it's all about the 4th generation iPad Air.

The company has announced the new Air MAX+, the first third-party keyboard and case combo for the 4th generation iPad Air that includes a native multi-touch trackpad.

Brydge says that the keyboard case will boast a battery life of up to three months. Here is the full feature list for the Brydge Air MAX+:

• Native Multi-Touch Trackpad - The largest multi-touch trackpad available for the iPad Air (4th generation).
• Detachable Magnetic SnapFitTM Case -Simply snap your iPad into the magnetic back cover and easily remove for a flexible workflow.
• Instant-OnTM Connectivity - Instant connection via Bluetooth® 5.0 with zero lag, providing a seamless experience just like Smart Connector-based keyboards.
• Antimicrobial Protection - The case and keyboard exterior contain an active antimicrobial ingredient that inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
• Adjustable Backlit Keys - 3 levels of LED backlight that meet visibility demands and provide the ultimate typing experience in low to no light conditions.

Preorders for the Brydge Air MAX+ start today and shipments are expected to begin in June. The keyboard and case combo is priced at $150, half the cost of Apple's own Magic Keyboard for the iPad.

If you missed out on holiday deals on the all-new iPad Air late last year, fear not. Amazon is currently running a limited-time sale on the 2020 device that not only gives you another chance to save but also drops the 256GB model to a new all-time low price.

Down to $679.99, this is the best iPad Air 2020 deal we've seen so far on the higher-capcity version with close to $70 off. The deal applies to various colors, too. If you don't need all of that storage space, 64GB models are also discounted by as much as $50 there.

There's no risk that you'll confuse the previous-gen iPad Air with the 2020 model even at a glance. The new model features a dramatically redesigned chassis, taking its design cues from the current iPad Pro, with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

In adopting the iPad Pro design language, the iPad Air has also ditched the home button that has been present on Air models since 2013. Instead of Face ID in the iPad Pro, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button. There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too, as well as the iPad Magic Keyboard which is also on sale right now (see below).

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only recently announced and this is an all-time low price, you'll want to get your order in quickly to avoid any delays in it arriving at your door. Be sure to check out our list of the best iPad deals for some alternative promotions if the iPad Air is not for you.

If you missed out on holiday deals on the all-new iPad Air late last year, fear not. Amazon is currently running a limited-time sale on the 2020 device that not only gives you another chance to save but also drops the iPad Air 2020 to a new all-time low price.

Down to $539.99 for the 64GB model, this is the best iPad Air 2020 deal we've seen so far with close to $60 off. The deal applies to all available colors at present. Act fast to snag this Presidents Day saving as it probably won't stick around for long.

There's no risk that you'll confuse the previous-gen iPad Air with the 2020 model even at a glance. The new model features a dramatically redesigned chassis, taking its design cues from the current iPad Pro, with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

In adopting the iPad Pro design language, the iPad Air has also ditched the home button that has been present on Air models since 2013. Instead of Face ID in the iPad Pro, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button. There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too, as well as the iPad Magic Keyboard which is also on sale right now.

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only recently announced and this is an all-time low price, you're may see a slight delay in it arriving at your door if you don't get your order in quickly. Be sure to check out our list of the best iPad deals for some alternative promotions if the iPad Air is not for you.

If you missed out on holiday deals on the all-new iPad Air late last year, fear not. Amazon is currently running a limited-time sale on the 2020 device that not only gives you another chance to save but also drops the iPad Air 2020 to a new all-time low price.

Down to $549.98 for the green 64GB model, this is the best iPad Air 2020 deal we've ever seen so far with close to $50 off. Some other colors are also on sale at $30 or $40 off. Walmart has similar deals if the color you want is not on sale at Amazon or if you prefer to pick up in store.

$899.99 $1299.00 Save $399 1623157769

Having now been replaced by the 24-inch M1 iMac, Apple's 21.5-inch iMac has been discontinued. That means big savings at third-party retailers including at Amazon where it's discounted by $399.

Prices Vary 1622214797

This sale includes iPhone models, the Apple Watch, iMac and iPad devices, Beats headphones, Apple services, and more. The deals vary by product, so be sure to check them all out now.

$103.99 $129.99 Save $26 1621604395

Change how you use your iPad with the Apple Pencil. This stylus lets you use your iPad as a notepad, a canvas, or a drawing board for all of your ideas. Today's deal saves you 20% instantly at Verizon.

$599.99 $699.00 Save $99 1621519150

Updated in late 2020, the Mac Mini has Apple's M1 chip that combines CPU, GPU, and machine learning for faster performance, better graphics, and an all around streamlined device. This version has 8GB RAM and a 256GB solid state drive.

From $329 1621244196

Apple Watch Series 6 models are available for some of their best prices ever right now. The lowest price is on the red 40mm version which is $70 off with 44mm and cellular models seeing discounts of up to $91.

There's no risk that you'll confuse the previous-gen iPad Air with the 2020 model even at a glance. The new model features a dramatically redesigned chassis, taking its design cues from the current iPad Pro, with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

In adopting the iPad Pro design language, the iPad Air has also ditched the home button that has been present on Air models since 2013. Instead of Face ID in the iPad Pro, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button. There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too, as well as the iPad Magic Keyboard which is also on sale right now.

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only recently announced and this is an all-time low price, you're going to see a slight delay in it arriving at your door. If you don't want to wait for it, be sure to check out our list of the best iPad deals for some alternative promotions.

If you missed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the all-new iPad Air late last year, this New Year sale on the 2020 device gives you one more chance to snag it for its best price to date.

Down to $559 for the silver and sky blue 64GB models, this is a match for the lowest we've ever seen it go at $40 off. Some other colors are also on sale at $30 off. Walmart has similar deals if the color you want is not on sale at Amazon or if you prefer to pick up in store.

There's no risk that you'll confuse the previous-gen iPad Air with the 2020 model even at a glance. The new model features a dramatically redesigned chassis, taking its design cues from the current iPad Pro, with flat edges and an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners. Thanks to the redesign, the display size has also been upped from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.

In adopting the iPad Pro design language, the iPad Air has also ditched the home button that has been present on Air models since 2013. Instead of Face ID in the iPad Pro, the 2020 iPad Air features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the sleep/wake button. There's support for the second-gen Apple Pencil, too.

Our iPad Air review praised the new design and high-end features that have made their way to the Air line, as well as the balance of features and affordable price (compared to the iPad Pro). Out pals at Android Central even love it.

Since the new iPad Air was only recently announced and this is an all-time low price, you're going to see a slight delay in it arriving at your door. If you don't want to wait for it, be sure to check out our list of the best iPad deals for some alternative promotions.

If you've ever worked on an iPad, you know just how much a keyboard case can make a huge difference in comfort and functionality, and one of the best keyboard cases for the 11-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air 4 is on sale for Cyber Monday!

The Smart Keyboard Folio connects to your iPad via Apple's Smart Connector, meaning it's the easiest case to connect and start using with your iPad Pro or iPad Air 4. Plus, when you close the case, Apple's auto-lock will kick in, meaning your screen with turn off, and the iPad will be locked, so you'll save battery when you're not using your iPad.

A full-sized keyboard everywhere you go

Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio for the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air 4 gives users a full-size keyboard on the go and lightweight protection for both the front and back of your iPad. It simply clips into place and doubles as a handy stand for optimum typing and viewing angles. Whether you're watching a movie or working on documents, Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio can help you get more out of your Pad Pro or iPad Air 4.

The keyboard connects to your iPad through Apple's Smart Connector, so there are no wires or Bluetooth. As mentioned, this keyboard normally retails through Amazon at $180, so you're saving $50 on the standard price, which really is too good to pass up.

Don't forget to browse through all the Apple Cyber Monday deals to get the best savings on the hottest Apple products!

Black Friday is always a great time to get deals on a lot of gadgets, but is that true if the device in question just launched? After all, Apple only released the iPad Air 4 last month.

While there haven't been any significant discounts for the iPad Air just yet, I expect to see one or two pop up right on, or even directly ahead of, Black Friday. While Apple naturally won't offer any discounts of its own, don't be surprised to see retailers like Amazon and Best Buy offer some great Black Friday iPad deals.

It's not surprising that there haven't been any substantial discounts on the iPad Air 4 just yet. After all, it was only released on October 16, just under a month ago.

That being said, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are probably the best shots we have at seeing significant discounts on Apple's latest and greatest tablet, with some great Black Friday iPad deals probably cropping up closer to the actual day.

And even if it doesn't see any discounts, it's not like Black Friday is any worse a time to buy an iPad Air.

The iPad Air 3 can still be found in some places, but I'd advise against buying it. For one thing, it's older technology that won't last you as long as the iPad Air 4. For another, the iPad 2020, while not the best iPad you can find, is powered by the same chip as the iPad Air 3, offers more storage (128GB) for a lower cost than you'll generally find for the older iPad Air, with only a slightly smaller screen (10.2 inches vs. 10.5 inches on the iPad Air 3).

The iPad Air 4 is a significantly better tablet in many ways. It runs on a much more powerful system-on-a-chip, the A14, and has a small-bezel, semi-industrial design of the iPad Pro line. It doesn't have Face ID like the iPad Pro, but instead goes for Touch ID on the power button. It supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, which magnetically attaches to the iPad's side for charging and storage. You can also magnetically attach the Magic Keyboard for iPad for one of the best typing and trackpad experiences you can find on a tablet.

Great Black Friday deals

Even if Black Friday iPad deals end up few and far between, there are still going to be countless discounts to take advantage of throughout the day and over the following weekend. Black Friday has long been the biggest shopping day of the year, and it's the perfect time to pick up those usually-expensive items that you've been searching for at a substantial discount. Don't miss out on other Apple Black Friday deals if you really want to save some money.

For a few years now, the iPad Air has been a bit of a confusing model iPad to me. It's not the lowest price of the entire lineup, but it hasn't been the most advanced by a long shot, either. When friends would ask me which iPad should they get, I usually recommended the standard iPad or the iPad Pro for those I thought would benefit from the extra power.

But, here I am right now with an iPad Air in front of me that is so much like my 2018 iPad Pro that I can barely even tell the difference. It's been difficult coming up with what to write about the iPad Air 4 because it's so much like the iPad Pro that I keep thinking of it as such.

If you're thinking about getting a new iPad, or maybe your first iPad, it's going to be very difficult in 2020 to decide between the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Pro. The good news is that the iPad Air is $200 cheaper than the iPad Pro. The bad news is that it's $100 more expensive than last year's iPad Air.

The iPad Air 4 is now the best iPad and it's not just because of the new colors and new design. It's what's inside that counts.

• Touch ID
• 10.9-inch size
• iPad Pro design language
• Apple Pencil 2 support
• Magic Keyboard for iPad support
• Fastest ever A14 processor
• colors
• Wi-Fi 6

• Face ID
• New, fuller screen design
• 12.9-inch size
• ProMotion display
• LiDAR scanner
• Ultra-wide camera lens
• TrueDepth camera
• Lots of storage options

iPad Air 4 review: Completely new design

2020 is the year of Apple's redesign. It started with the iPad Pro in 2018 with a flat edge, flat screen design. This year, Apple changed the look of the iPhone and the iPad Air to reflect this same look, and frankly, I'm loving it.

The iPad Air 4 looks nearly identical to the 2018 iPad Pro, even down to case size and camera (the 2020 iPad Pro is a dead giveaway because of the LiDAR scanner). An expert inside Apple would barely be able to tell the difference without turning on the screen.

The only notable difference is that the Sleep/Wake button on the iPad Air 4 is shiny and black instead of the brushed aluminum of a standard button. That's because of Touch ID. The iPad Air 4 doesn't have a dedicated Home button and it doesn't support Face ID. Instead, the biometric scanner comes in the form of a one-inch long, quarter-inch wide (if that) fingerprint scanner where the Sleep/Wake button is. And, yes. It also functions as a Sleep/Wake button.

Another difference, though barely noticeable at all, is that the iPad Air 4 has a couple of millimeters more of a bezel than the iPad Pro. I had to get out my ruler to be sure. It's only noticeable when the two are side-by-side and you're really staring at the bezels.

The iPad Air 4, unlike its predecessor, does not have a headphone jack. If you're hoping to listen to audio with headphones or earbuds, you're going to have to either use Bluetooth or a USB-C cable or adapter. This is not at all an issue for me, since I've been using Bluetooth headphones for many years now. I do realize, however, that some people just prefer wired headphones and this may be a disappointment to you.

In terms of weight and thickness (or should I say thinness), the iPad Air 3 and iPad Air 4 are nearly identical, which is remarkable considering the completed design change. It weighs just one pound (the Wi-Fi Only model is 2 grams heavier but the cellular model is 4 grams lighter) and measures 6.1mm in thickness.

When holding the iPad Air 4 without any case (especially a keyboard case), it's so incredibly svelt that it's hard to believe that much technology can be so light.

I've loved this flat design since the iPhone 4 and was overjoyed to see it on the iPad Pro, and now the iPhone 12 and the iPad Air. I hope Apple sticks with this design language for many years to come, and I hope we see it in future Mac redesigns.

iPad Air 4 review: Stagnating display technology

The iPad Air 4 display is a half-inch bigger than its predecessor at 10.9-inches and just a few millimeters smaller than the 11-inch iPad Pro because of a slightly thicker bezel. With 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution, it has a beautiful bright screen that's easy on the eyes.

It has the same P3 wide color gamut of the iPad Air 3 and the current-generation iPad Pro, as well as, the same True Tone, and 500 nits brightness. The iPad Air 4 also has a fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating, which definitely does not make it a lot easier to use out of doors, but it's better than the standard iPad, which doesn't have this coating.

It has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is the same as the iPad Air 3, but does not support ProMotion technology, which dynamically ranges from between 60Hz and 120Hz. If you've never used an iPad with ProMotion, you won't even be able to notice anything significant, but if you put the iPad Air and the iPad Pro side-by-side and do some fast scrolling on both screens, you're going to notice that the latter has a smoother look as things move fast down the screen while the former has a little bit of a stutter. The screen sort of flashes almost imperceptibly.

While this should never be the deal-breaker for why you wouldn't get the iPad Air, it is a little unusual that after so many years, Apple still hasn't perfected 120Hz screen technology. The iPhone 12 is still at 60Hz, too. ProMotion's adaptive refresh rate on the iPad Pro is a very successful bit of technology and I was really hoping to see it on the iPad Air 4. It's possible that Apple wants to keep this advanced technology to the pro model until it can improve the display of the pro model even more. There's gotta be something that sets it apart from the rest.

iPad Air 4 review: Faster processor

The A14 processor chip inside the iPad Air makes it lightning fast. So much faster than my 2018 iPad Pro that I practically want to throw my iPad Pro in the garbage (not really, but it's noticeably slower than the Air). The processor in the iPad Air 4 is a huge boost over its predecessor, which runs on an A12 chip, and it's even faster than the current-generation iPad Pro, which runs on an A12Z chip. Now, I strongly believe that the iPad Pro will get a processor chip upgrade within the next six months, so if you have your heart set on the iPad Pro, do not buy just yet. It'll get a faster processor soon enough.

If, however, you've got your eye on the iPad Air 4 and are wondering if it stacks up against the iPad Pro, for most daily tasks, it's a resounding yes, but keep in mind that the iPad Pro has more cores for CPU and GPU and 6GB of RAM compared to the iPad Air's 4, so demanding programs like compressing video editing are going to perform better on the iPad Pro. If you don't do video editing or music engineering on an iPad, the iPad Air 4 is more than enough processing power for you.

iPad Air 4 review: Camera updates

The iPad Air 4 got a nice little camera upgrade from its predecessor, going from an 8MP camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture to a 12MP camera with an ƒ/1.8 aperture. This means clearer pictures and better low-light photography. Video recording has also been upgraded to 4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps. Both of these specs are more closely related to the camera in the iPad Pro (except for the ultra-wide lens and LiDAR scanner). It's a nice upgrade for a mid-level iPad.

Most people aren't going to take pictures or video with an iPad. This sort of feature is reserved for a very niche group that are likely to be in the film industry or at least a hobby movie maker. If you fit into this category of people, you're probably better off with the iPad Pro.

For the rest of us, the iPad Air 4 camera is absolutely fine. Here's the thing, maybe you don't plan on ever using your iPad Air to take photos or videos, but you know how the saying goes ... the best camera is the one you have with you. If you're having a morning cup of coffee out on the porch when a deer wanders into your yard and you've been reading the news on your iPad Air 4 you're going to be very happy that it has a 12MP camera and can record in 4K.

iPad Air 4 review: Touch ID not Face ID

Oh wow. Can I just say how impressed I am with the speed and accuracy of the fingerprint scanner on the iPad Air 4? It's not that the technology exists at all in button form (because that's been around for years), but it's about how zippy it reads and responds to your fingerprint right out of the gate. It's a very smooth experience.

When you go to unlock the screen, you can press the Sleep/Wake button and it will wake the screen and confirm your identity and unlock it all in a fraction of a second. The only time this can cause a bit of a misstep is if your screen is already awake, but locked. If you press the button while the screen is awake, you'll just end up putting the screen to sleep again. I only accidentally did this once or twice and quickly got used to remembering the differences, especially since there is a friendly reminder right on the screen to touch the button for Touch ID.

Since I've been using an iPad Pro with Face ID for the past two years, my general feeling about Touch ID on the iPad is that it's less convenient. I love it on the iPhone SE because I leave the house with my iPhone, which means my face is covered and I have to manually type in my password if I'm using a phone with Face ID, but on an iPad, most people will be less likely to be carrying it around while wearing a face mask, so Face ID isn't as much of a pain point to unlock it.

If I'm using the iPad Air 4 with a keyboard case, which I do most of the time, there's that first moment when I go to unlock the screen and I have to reach out to use Touch ID ... and at this point, I may as well just type in my passcode because it's nearly as convenient. This isn't a complaint, but an acknowledgment that Face ID on an iPad is more convenient than Touch ID if you use a keyboard and trackpad to do most of your heavy lifting.

iPad Air 4 review: Sound quality

I'm not the kind of person that would ever listen to music straight out of any device's built-in speakers. I'm a little too much of a music snob to do that, but I did it with the iPad Air 4 just for you, dear reader.

The iPad Air 4 has two sets of stereo speakers and if it's the only method you have for listening to music, it'll do, but only just. The true stereo sound makes for a pleasant experience, you're getting sound out of both sides of the iPad Air. But, it still sounds like you're listening to music in a metal box. It's tinny and flat. If you're watching a movie in bed or listening to music in an office and have to keep the volume down, it's a pretty great experience. When you keep the volume down, you get a very clear sound.

If, however, you want or need to pump up the volume ... let's just say the iPad Air 4 isn't winning any awards for its sound output.

iPad Air 4 review: USB-C replaces Lightning

The iPad Air 4 moves into the future with USB-C mostly what that means is that it has faster charging speeds and a nice bump in transfer speeds. It's not iPad Pro fast but it's a noticeable jump in speed when you're backing up your entire photo library onto an external hard drive or moving a bunch of documents into the Files app.

If you're new to USB-C on an iPad, you'll discover that it opens up a whole new computing world, including the ability to connect directly to an external monitor, even a 4K monitor.

iPad Air 4 review: Gaming

With a faster processor than even the iPad Pro, I immediately thought of gaming on iPad. Apple has successfully increased its revenue for services in the past year and that is due, in part, to Apple Arcade. Apple products have never been thought of as gaming devices, but an A14 processor on a mobile device with a 10.9-inch liquid retina screen is a recipe for some really fun gaming.

I tested out as many fast-paced, graphics-heavy games that I could think of in order to push the iPad Air to its limits, and its limits were never hit.

Pairing a controller with the iPad Air 4, like the Playstation DualShock controller or Xbox Wireless controller, and you're taking gaming to the next level. No, we're not talking about PS5 or Xbox Series X level gaming, but it's absolutely on par with Nintendo Switch.

Drop another two GB of RAM into the iPad Air 4 and I could absolutely see it as thee mobile device to play Xbox Game Pass games on if it actually ever happens.

iPad Air 4 review: Just the right size

Though the screen is larger on the iPad Air 4 than it was on the iPad Air 3, the case dimensions are actually a slight bit smaller. It's not much, about 6mm in height and about 4mm in width, but it's also about 4 grams lighter, which can make a small difference when you're holding it in your hand for a long period of time.

The size difference between the two is definitely not enough of a reason to upgrade from the iPad Air 3. If the completely new design doesn't win you over, the size difference is not going to impress you either.

It's the little things that count, though. And a larger screen on a smaller iPad is a wondrous thing.

The 11-inch iPad (in this case, 10.9-inch) is my ideal iPad size. It's not as large as a Macbook, but that's why I like it. If I need more screen than 11-inches, I'll just switch over to my MacBook Pro. I am happy to give up a larger screen in exchange for the lighter, more portable size. If you want the biggest display of any iPad, you should consider the 12.9-inch iPad Pro instead. Maybe someday Apple will offer a 12.9-inch iPad Air, but not this year.

iPad Air 4 review: All the colors

Colors finally come to the iPad. Well, more colors than just gold/rose gold. This year, you can pick from the tried-and-true silver, space gray, and rose gold finishes, or you can go wild with green or sky blue. If you've already bought the new iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro in one of the blue colors, why not make 2020 the blue year? For that matter, if you're rocking the midnight green iPhone 11 Pro or green iPhone 11, the green iPad Air 4 is a nice compliment.

iPad Air 4 review: Stingy storage

Storage options haven't changed for the iPad Air 4. You have your choice of either 64GB or 256GB. I'm the sort of person that puts everything in the cloud, so I've never had a problem with running out of storage on my iPhone or iPad, but I've learned that I'm more of the exception than the rule.

With this new empathy for others, I can definitely say that 64GB on an iPad is just ... so ... 2018. Storage costs have gone down and storage needs are going up. To play an Apple Arcade game, for example, you must download it on to your device. That starts to add up. In 2020, no Apple device should start with less than 128 GB of storage.

To add salt to the wound, you can't even get an iPad Air with 128GB of storage. You can either have 64GB or quadruple your storage to 256GB. Now, it's a nice deal, it's only $150 more for four times the storage, but if you only want a little more storage or you have a strict budget, this only other option is a bit of a disappointment.

iPad Air 4 review: Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard support

What now? That's right. The iPad Air 4 joins the iPad Pro in being the only devices that support Apple Pencil 2. This is big news for people that prefer the magnetic connector for wireless charging, the touch-based tool switching, and the matte texture. The second-generation Apple Pencil is definitely superior to the first-generation, though only a little. Buyers will really appreciate that they can get the mid-level iPad with the latest-generation Apple Pencil.

Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro now works with the iPad Air 4 because they're pretty much the same case. This is a good move on Apple's part. The Magic Keyboard for iPad is, in my opinion, the best keyboard case for an iPad ever, and I'm a diehard fan of Logitech's keyboard cases. There is just something so satisfying about the tactile key feedback and low-profile travel.

Until now, these two accessories have been exclusive to Apple's most expensive, most pro model iPad. This is yet another reason why the iPad Air 4 is now the iPad for most people more than ever before.

iPad Air 4 review: The price is ... right?

The iPad Air 4 costs $100 more than last year's model and accessories cost more, too. Investing in this iPad is going to take more out of your wallet than any previous iPad Air ever has. So it's important to think about whether this is the iPad you will want for years to come.

The price increase seems like a lot to swallow but when you consider that it's currently more powerful than the iPad Pro and has many of the same features, the additional $100 seems fair.

Is it worth ponying up an additional $200 for the iPad Pro At this time, I don't think so. If you need the pro features, I recommend waiting a few more months. I think we will see an update to the iPad Pro in the spring.

If $599 is an unacceptable price for you, take a look at the 8th-gen iPad, which also received an update this year. The standard iPad is the least expensive in Apple's iPad lineup and with a processor upgrade to the A12 chip, it's a solid value buy. Remember, the current iPad Pro is still running an A12X chip, which isn't that much faster than the A12 chip. If your budget is tight, you have options.

There is also the $399 iPad mini, which doesn't get nearly as much love as it deserves. At just 7.9-inches it's the perfect portable iPad when you really don't need to do a whole lot with it. If you just want an iPad and don't think you'll use it for more than reading, taking notes, playing games, browsing the web, and emailing, it's a solid little investment.

iPad Air 4 review: Bottomline

For years, there was a clear delineation between the different models of iPad, but this year, the feature gap has narrowed, at least for now. For $100 more than last year's model, you can get the new iPad Air with a blazing fast processor, completely redesigned case, larger but lighter size, a better camera, a brand new (to Apple) Touch ID technology, and Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard support. For $200 more than the iPad Air, you can get the iPad Pro, which has more RAM, a better camera system, and better display technology, but has a slower processor than the iPad Air.

Though I'm in love with the iPad Air 4, I do think there are some things Apple could do better. Storage options being one. A 64GB base option seems a bit stingy, especially when the only other option is to spend $150 more for 256GB. No in-between. I also think the screen technology of the iPad Air 4 is a bit behind the times. Hopefully, 2021 will be a big year for iPad screen upgrades.

Even at $100 more than its predecessor, the iPad Air is still the best iPad for most people, and this year, the best iPad for most people is practically as good as the premium iPad Pro.

If you're in the market for an iPad right now, this is the perfect time to get the iPad Air 4. It's significantly improved over the iPad Air 3 and is even so powerful that it competes with the 2020 iPad Pro.

What you need to know

• Apple has a new iPad Air 4 ad out.
• Titled Boiiing, the ad features colorful iPad Airs and some accessories.
• The new iPad Air 4 is on sale now.

Apple today released the new iPad Air 4 alongside iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Seemingly keen to remind everyone that it exists, the company has also now shared a new YouTube video showing off the new tablet and its whimsical colors.

The ad, titled Boiiing, shows multiple iPads and in different colors as a slinky bounces across them. It's typical Apple ad, playful without actually telling you anything about the device it's advertising. But it works, so who am I to tell Apple it's doing ads wrong?

Check it out and see for yourself.

The new iPad Air 4 is available now, starting at $599 for the 64GB version. You can choose between Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue when ordering.

What you need to know

• Apple's iPad Air comes out on Friday.
• Your favorite creators have already got their hands on it.
• Here's a roundup of all the latest iPad Air 4 (2020) unboxings and more.

Rene Ritchie

MKBHD

The Verge

Sara Dietschy

APPLE IPAD AIR (2020) REVIEW: TAKE IT FROM THE PRO

Tom's Guide

iPad Air 4 (2020) review

TechRadar

iPad Air 4 (2020) review

The Wall Street Journal

iPad Air Review: Pro Tablet Features for (a bit) Less

UrAvgConsumer

Janice Studies

SuperSaf

Engadget

CNET

Justin Tse

Dave Lee

Christopher Lawley

What you need to know

• An iPad Air 4 unboxing video has appeared online.
• We're shown a Sky Blue iPad Air 4 being unboxed to a lovely spot of music.
• We get a closer look at the Touch ID button, too.

Everyone's attention might be squarely on the arrival of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro this week but there's something else on the horizon. Apple's iPad Air 4 will go on sale this weekend and the first unboxing video of the new tablet has appeared online.

We've already seen some videos of the tablet via a few sources in China, but another one is always welcome.

Shared by YouTube channel Tech107, the video is backed by an odd choice of music but still gets the job done. The Sky Blue color is shown off as is the Touch ID button that now lives in the Top button. That's the sleep/wake button, in case you were wondering.

There's no indication where this iPad Air 4 came from and this is the first video the YouTube channel seems to have uploaded. We never see the person's face, either, so it's a safe bet that they weren't supposed to be showing this thing off.

Still, I'm glad they did!

What you need to know

• Apple's new iPad Air is available to pre-order.
• The new device can now be bought from Apple, starting at $599.
• It features a massive design overhaul and Apple's superfast A14 processor.

Apple has officially opened pre-orders for its brand new iPad Air 4 (2020), announced at its September 'Time Flies' event.

Apple announced its brand new iPad Air 4 at its September 15 'Time Flies' event. The new iPad Air 4 features a brand-new design overhaul, bringing the iPad Air in line with the iPad Pro lineup. That means square edges, thinner bezels, and the end of the Home Button. It now has a 10.9-inch edge-to-edge Retina display.

iPad vs. iPad Air: Which should you buy?

Under the hood, Apple's new iPad Air 4 is the first to feature Apple's brand new processor, the A14 Bionic. An absolute rocket, the new chip is the first made on 5nm architecture, meaning increased power efficiency and massive performance increases. The new A14 chip is 40% faster than the chip in the previous iPad Air.

The new iPad Air 4 supports Apple Pencil 2 complete with magnetic charging.

Apple has also ditched the Lightning port, meaning the iPad Air 4 will charge using a USB-C cable just like the iPad Pro. As mentioned, a new design means Apple's Home Button is gone. Users will instead unlock the device using Touch ID embedded in the top button (power button) of the new device.

The iPad Air 4 also boasts a 12MP camera, 7MP front-facing FaceTime camera, three new colors, and more.

Prices start at $599 for 64GB of storage.

What you need to know

• Walmart has opened up preorders for the iPad Air 4.
• All colors were opened up for preorder in 64GB and 256GB configurations.
• Multiple colors are already sold out.

Apple is rumored to be opening up preorders for the new iPad Air 4 tomorrow along with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and some of the new MagSafe accessories. It appears that is almost certain now, as Walmart has seemingly jumped the gun and opened up preorders for Apple's new tablet the night before.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, you can now preorder the new iPad Air 4 on Walmart's website with a delivery date of next Friday, October 23. This falls in line with most rumors surrounding its preorder and release date.

The company opened up preorders for all five of the new colors in both 64GB and 256GB configurations. At the time of publishing this article, the Sky Blue, Silver, and Green colors are already completely sold out. The only colors that remain are Space Gray and Rose Gold, with the Rose Gold only available in 64GB. Notably, Walmart seems to be running a sale on the new tablet, taking $40 off.

You can check the iPad Air 4 page on Walmart's website to see if you can grab one. If not, it seems all too likely that Apple is planning to open up its own preorders tomorrow morning along with the new iPhone.

What you need to know

• Apple's iPad Air 4 just went through the FCC.
• That means that it's likely to launch pretty soon.
• The tablet is expected to go up for pre-order on October 23.

Apple's iPad Air 4 has gone through the FCC which would suggest that it's getting ready for launch. The tablet was announced last month, but we're still waiting for it to be made available for pre-order.

Earlier today we saw Best Buy accidentally list the new iPad Air as being available on October 23, matching the date previously given by Jon Prosser.

The new iPad Air is the best ever and it borrows heavily from the current iPad Pro line. It will also see the arrival of a Touch ID sensor built into the "top button" for the first time.

We now expect the iPad Air 4 to be made available for pre-order on October 16, while tablets will ship to people the following Friday, OCtober 23.

What you need to know

• Apple's iPad Air 4 should be released very soon.
• Best Buy has listed the device with a release date of October 23.
• That's the same date suggested by leaker Jon Prosser.

Best Buy has listed the iPad Air 4 with a release date of October 23, seemingly confirming previous rumors about the device's availability.

Jon Prosser was tipped off earlier this morning about a listing for the new device with a release date of October 23, 2020.

The reveal corroborates with Jon Prosser's own most-recent information claiming the iPad Air 4 will be made available to pre-order on October 16, with a release date the following Friday, October 23. We had previously heard rumors this timeline would be announced at the iPhone 12 event earlier this week, although that particular rumor didn't materialize.

Best Buy has since updated the listing, removing the listed date from its website. Apple's own website denotes 'October', meaning Apple has just a few more days left to announce the iPad Air. All the signs now suggest the launch is imminent.

Apple's new iPad Air will feature an all-new redesign similar to the iPad Pro, Apple's A14 processor, Touch ID in the top button, and more. From Apple:

What you need to know

• Apple leaker Jon Prosser has new info on the iPad Air release.
• The leaker says that Apple is holding up the release of the new tablet in order to ship alongside the new iPhone 12.
• Apple will put pre-orders live on October 16.

Fresh new information from Jon Prosser says Apple will release the iPad Air for preorders on Friday, October 16, with a launch the following week, Friday 23.

Prosser posted the info shortly after the iPhone 12 event.

We had previously heard Apple would announce the release of the tablet at the iPhone 12 event alongside other products, although this didn't materialize.

Apple's iPad Air 4 features a brand new design with an edge-to-edge display, Touch ID in the top button, and Apple's brand new A14 processor.

From Apple:

Apple just rounded off its iPhone 12 October event, where it announced the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and HomePod mini.

The new iPhone 12 lineup features 5G, an A14 processor, and an all-new design featuring squared edges, new colors, and more. New features include a Super Retina XDR display, camera improvements, and new MagSafe charging capabilities.

Apple's HomePod mini is a smaller version of its smart speaker.

What you need to know

• Two of Apple's VPs have sat down with Engadget to talk about its new A14 chip.
• Tim Millet, Apple's Vice President of Platform Architecture, talks about how its architects approach chip design.
• Tom Boger, Apple's Senior Director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing, says the new chip may outperform the A12Z in the iPad Pro in some cases.

In a new interview with Engadget, Tim Millet, Apple's Vice President of Platform Architecture, and Tom Boger, Apple's Senior Director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing, discuss the company's new A14 processor and Apple's approach to designing its chips.

The A14 is Apple's first processor built on a 5-nanometer process, which has increased the transistors from 8.5 billion (A13 Bionic) all the way up to 11.8 billion.

Millet says that Apple's chip architects don't necessarily think about end-user features when building new a new processer, but that their work on improving core technologies are eventually realized when it gets into the hands of developers.

One of the big improvements in the A14 comes with the Neural Engine. The new processor is able to compute 11 trillion operations per second, a feat made possible by packing 16 cores into the engine.

Boger notes that, because of the performance of the new CPU cores in the A14 processor, the new iPad Air may actually outperform the iPad Pro in certain scenarios.

Apple is expected to announce the release date of the new iPad AIr, which features its new A14 chip, at its "Hi, Speed" event tomorrow. Tim Cook and team are also expected to announce the new iPhone 12 lineup, which should also come equipped with the A14.

What you need to know

• Apple's Tim Millet sat down for an interview to talk A14.
• The Vice President of Platform Architecture believes that machine learning will continue to grow faster.
• He also stressed how Apple builds chips for developers, not for the sake of building faster chips.

Tim Millet, Apple's Vice President of Platform Architecture, helped unveil the new A14 chip at the company's "Time Flies" event back in September, where Tim Cook and team announced the new Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, 8th generation iPad, and new iPad Air.

Now, the executive has sat down with Stern to talk more about the new A14 processor and what it means for the future of Apple computing. Millet says that, with the A14, machine learning will bring about a new advent of computing.

Millet says that Apple sees itself with a "really strong roadmap" for its processors, saying that the chip team is "far from finished" in taking things to the edge of where they can go.

The executive explains that developers are always in mind, even with the chip team, to ensure that what they build will be useful to everyone.

The new iPad Air will be the first to feature Apple's A14 chip, which is also expected to power its iPhone 12 lineup. While an exact release date is still unknown, Apple has promised that its latest iPad will get into customers' hands in October. The release appears to be imminent, as stores are already getting marketing material for the new tablet.

What you need to know

• Apple's upcoming iPad Air features 4GB of RAM.
• The exact amount was identified in a new Geekbench 5 score.
• This marks a 1GB jump over the previous generation of iPad Air.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Apple new A14 chip posted impressive performance boosts over the previous generation. The new benchmarks showed that the new iPad Air 4, which has yet to be released, will be at least forty percent faster than its predecessor.

Now, another detail of Apple's new iPad Air 4 has leaked. Spotted over the weekend, a new Geekbench 5 score has confirmed that Apple's latest mid-range tablet is sporting 4GB of RAM.

That gives the new iPad Air 4 a 1GB jump over the previous generation. As noted, it still falls 2GB behind the current iPad Pro models.

As the previous benchmark reports shows, however, the amount of RAM in the iPad plays only one part in determining overall performance. Apple's new A14 chip, as shown in the scores, is the driving force behind the new iPad Air 4's 40% jump in performance compared to the previous model.

Trying to figure out if the upcoming iPad Air 4 is for you? Compare all of Apple's iPads with our buying guide.

Apple says that the new iPad Air 4 will launch to customers in October, but the tablet is still missing an exact release date. The release does seem imminent, however, as stores have begun to receive marketing materials for the new device.

Apple's newest tablet looks a lot like this year's iPad Pro, except that it's packed with many firsts. The iPad Air 4 is the first Apple device to include an A14 Bionic chip and Touch ID in its top button. It also introduces the first green and blue tablets of the iPad era. The iPad Air 4, our choice for the best Apple tablet of the year, is available in five distinctive color choices: silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue. Unlike previous models, the iPad Air 4 has a near bezel-less design, meaning the stunning Liquid Retina display is the same on any model you select.

Silver iPad Air 4

Silver is the most traditional choice of all when picking a color for your iPad Air 4. It's a classic color that never goes out of style. A finish long used on Apple's unibody MacBooks, the tried-and-true color option won't draw much attention, but perhaps that's probably the point! It does a terrific job of hiding little nicks that appear over time and careful hides fingers as well.

Space Gray iPad Air 4

For those who want to add a touch of class and professionalism to their iPad Air 4, space gray is the right color for you. It's nearly as traditional as the silver finish but darker.

Rose Gold iPad Air 4

The Rose Gold finish found on the iPad Air 4 is distinctive and stylish, and ready and waiting for its close-up. If you've grown tired of silver and space gray and not prepared to leap to green and blue, get the Rose Gold iPad Air 4.

Green iPad Air 4

Last year, Apple introduced the Midnight Green iPhone 11 Pro. For 2020, it's shifting to a much lighter green hue for the iPad Air 4. However, because this green isn't nearly as light as the Sky Blue iPad Air 4, this might be a better choice for anyone looking to stand out in a whole new way.

Sky Blue iPad Air 4

The Sky Blue iPad Air 4 could just as easily be called light blue, but that wouldn't sound as nearly as awesome. If you are concerned about fingerprints but have grown tired of silver, this is the tablet for you.

The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, a cover that features a built-in keyboard and trackpad, is entirely compatible with the new iPad Air 4. Specifically, the model that fits the 11-inch iPad Pro is the same one that will fit the iPad Air.

The iPad Air 4 and 11-inch iPad Pro are the same height and width (the iPad Air 4 is a scant 0.2mm thicker). This means that accessories, such as the Magic Keyboard, where the thickness of the tablet doesn't really matter, should be cross-compatible between the two tablets.

You will, of course, be able to use both the trackpad and keyboard to their full functionality on either device.

The Magic Keyboard is an excellent accessory if you want your iPad to behave a little more like a laptop, but still, be free to be used as a tablet at a moment's notice. The trackpad functionality, first introduced in its current form in iPadOS 13.4, feels more like a laptop trackpad than you'd expect, with a uniquely-iPad spin.

Your iPad attaches to the Magic Keyboard magnetically and provides the keyboard power and data through the Smart Connector. I've long been a proponent of Smart Connector accessories, as they are plug-and-play, requiring no additional pairing or setup. Because it attaches magnetically, you can also just pull the iPad from the Magic Keyboard when you want to use it as a tablet, such as for drawing or handwriting.

The keyboard is fully backlit and features full-sized scissor-switch keys (as opposed to the shallower butterfly switches on the Smart Keyboard folio). The iPad hangs is suspended over the base of the keyboard as you use it, and resembles something like a small, futuristic iMac.

There are two downsides, one functional and one financial. The functional downside is the lack of a function row, which would have been useful. The financial downside is, of course, the price. The Magic Keyboard for iPad starts at $299 without any discounts, and if you plan to get it with an iPad Air, that's 60% of the price of the base model of iPad Air.

If the Magic Keyboard costs too much for you, Logitech has a solution (well, will have). In October, presumably, when the iPad Air launches or sometime soon after, Logitech will release a version of the Folio Keyboard for the iPad Air 4. It provides the same keyboard/trackpad functionality as the Magic Keyboard, except it has a function row, works as a protective case, and, most importantly, is a lot less expensive.

Unlike the Magic Keyboard, the current Folio Keyboard for iPad Pro won't work for the iPad Air 4. Because of the integrated protective casing, which is a bit rigid, Logitech needs to produce a version built for the slightly thicker iPad Air. But the company says that it will launch in October, just like the new iPad, so you shouldn't have to wait long to get your hands on one.

What you need to know

• Adorama's summary page for iPad Air 4 shows an official ship date.
• It appears that it will ship on Sept 30.
• Apple has not confirmed this information officially.

If you are hoping to preorder the iPad Air 4, you can actually do that now from Adorama, and you can even use Apple Pay to purchase it. Interestingly, there is a little disclaimer showing that the iPad Air 4 will ship on Sept. 30. This is not something Apple has made official yet.

This little note is not official, so either someone at Adorama used it as a placeholder to build the page and forgot that there still isn't an official release date, or the online store knows something the rest of us haven't heard officially yet. This was first surfaced on reddit but as of this writing, you can still see the shipping notice and you can still preorder the iPad Air 4. As far as I know, there is no other place to preorder this model.

If you want to make sure your color and storage size is available, I highly recommend preordering from Adorama. You can purchase with Apple Pay and you won't be charged until it ships. If you wait for Apple to open up orders, you may not get the color or storage size you want.

Apple announced the iPad Air 4 on September 15 but did not provide an official release date. Apple's online store shows it as "coming in October."

The iPad Air 4 has been completely redesigned using the same design language as the iPad Pro. It's new features include a 10.9-inch edge-to-edge display, Apple Pencil 2 support, Touch ID in the sleep/wake button, USB-C charging, and five different colors, including the new rose gold, green, and sky blue brushed aluminum hues. It uses Apple's latest A14 processor chip and it has a six-core CPU, with four high-efficiency cores and two high-performance cores. This is the fastest iPad Air Apple has ever made by leaps and bounds over its predecessor. It's our pick for the best iPad of all models in the lineup for its value combined with affordability.

The second-generation Apple Pencil, or Apple Pencil 2, as it's sometimes called, is what you'll want to get for drawing, handwriting, and other such tasks on the iPad Air 4. To pair it to the iPad, you'll just attach the Pencil's magnetic flat side to the small charging area on one side of the iPad (the right side if you're holding the iPad in portrait orientation with the Touch ID button on top).

The reason you can only use the Apple Pencil 2 with the iPad Air 4, and not the first-generation Pencil, comes down to a few factors. The first-generation device, for instance, can't even pair with the iPad Air 4. To pair that stylus, you need to plug its Lightning connector into a Lightning port. The iPad Air 4 doesn't have a Lightning port, as it's switched to USB-C.

After two years of being confined to Apple's high-end iPad Pro line, it's good to see the second-generation Apple Pencil expand down to more of Apple's tablet line. That being said, the iPad Air 4 might not cost as much as the iPad Pro, but it's definitely out of the "budget" category.

It's superior in every way to the first-generation Apple Pencil. It doesn't need to pair and charge in the iPad's Lightning port (or via a dongle attached to a Lightning cable). Instead, it magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad Air or iPad Pro and is charged inductively by a small plate built into the iPad. That charging/pairing spot also means you can easily store and retrieve the Apple Pencil when you need to do so.

The flat side of the Apple Pencil 2 serves a dual purpose. First, is to connect to your iPad. The second, however, is to let you switch what tool your Pencil controls while you're using it with your iPad. By default, double-tapping the flat side of the iPad closer to the tip will switch between whatever your current tool is in your current app (a pencil, pen, paintbrush, etc.) and an erasure function. This can be customized a bit in Settings or the settings of individual apps.

It's a little pricier, but the second-generation Apple Pencil offers a much better stylus experience than its predecessor.

The iPad Air 4 doesn't launch until some point in October, but if you want a powerful, highly portable iPad, but don't want to pay iPad Pro prices, it'll be worth the wait. The iPad Air 4 will be the best iPad for many people, especially those who want an iPad as a powerful supplementary device to their existing stable of gadgets.

The iPad Air 4, one of the best iPads of 2020, features a new design that takes some (but not all) of its cues from the iPad Pro. It's because of this change that cases for previous iPad Air models won't fit the new one. Though the market will eventually get flooded with iPad Air 4 cases, they'll be in limited supply for a while until the production chain does its thing and pushes out accessories for the new tablet.

This year's iPad Air measures 9.74-by-7-by-0.24 inches and weighs one pound. By contrast, the previous model measured 9.8-by-6.8-by-0.24 inches, and also weighed one pound.

The iPad Air 4 features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina True Tone display and an all-new A14 Bionic chip. Unlike previous models, it doesn't include a Home button. Instead, the top button serves as a Touch ID sensor. You'll also find a USB-connector (bye, bye Lightning), a magnetic connector for a second-generation Apple Pencil, and two speakers, among other features.

Although the new iPad Air won't work with cases created for older iPad Air models, there's another way you can go. Some, but certainly not all, cases designed for the 11-inch iPad Pro will work with the iPad Air 4. It's because the devices are almost identical in size, although the iPad Air 4 is slightly thicker. Short of having a very tight-fitting case, you shouldn't have compatibility issues.

If you already have cases for an 11-inch iPad Pro, keep it until your iPad Air 4 arrives to confirm that it fits. Otherwise, hang tight and wait. The iPad Air 4 doesn't even arrive until October, so you still have time.

Beyond cases, other iPad Pro-compatible accessories work with the iPad Air 4, including the Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and second-generation Apple Pencil.

Apple's iPad lineup is worth buying at any price, but it is also will sometimes go on sale on Black Friday. Check out this year's Black Friday iPad deals going on now!

When it comes to an iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4 comparison, it's essential to look inside and out. Overall, the iPad Pro offers more, but it also costs more than the newer iPad Air. That's why even though it's a lesser machine, we're recommending the less expensive iPad.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: So much is the same

First introduced in March 2020, the current-generation iPad Pro is available in two sizes, 11-inch and 12.9-inch. By contrast, the iPad Air, arriving in October 2020, is only available in one size, 10.9-inch. The differences between the models extend beyond screen size.

The current-generation iPad Pro and iPad Air are the two best Apple tablets in the history of the product line. Both include a great list of features that should keep it upgrade-proof for many years to come. In comparing the two models, let's start with the similarities before moving onto the differences.

Both iPad models support the second-generation Apple Pencil. The iPad Air 4 is the first non-iPad Pro to use the pressure-sensitive stylus, which burst onto the scene in 2018. Similarly, both devices use a USB-C connector; again, the iPad Air is the first non-iPad Pro to support this.

Moving on in our iPad Pro vs. iPad Air comparison, both offer an LED-backlit Liquid Retina display with Multi-Touch and IPS technology. The fully laminated/anti-reflective screen includes fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, the company's Wide Color standard, and True Tone. This all works to make sure you have the best picture possible.

Both support Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio. The one for the 11-inch iPad Pro is also usable with the 10.9-inch iPad Air.

Finally, when it comes to battery life, both provide up to 10 hours of use while surfing the web or watching video while connected to Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours when doing the same connected to cellular.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: But there are significant differences

Intended for creatives and professionals, the iPad Pro offers key features the iPad Air does not, starting with ProMotion technology and a LiDAR Scanner. The former delivers refresh rates of up to 120Hz, which means fluid scrolling, better responsiveness, and smoother motion content. ProMotion technology also improves display quality and reduces power consumption.

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that lets you scan and map your environment by firing out laser beams. For many on iPad Pro, its use will focus on augmented reality or AR. Because of this, the iPad Pro features a 10MP Ultra Wide camera, which also improves photo- and video-taking.

The iPad Pro also includes a better front-facing camera. Where it offers a TrueDepth 7MP camera, the iPad Air has a less robust FaceTime 7MP camera. Improved goodies on the iPad Pro include portrait mode, portrait lighting, Animoji, and Memoji.

Digging deeper, the iPad Pro is available with as much as 1TB of storage versus 256GB found on the iPad Air. The Pro model also includes four speakers, not two. Finally, keep in mind, only the iPad Pro includes Face ID, while the iPad Air (2020) comes with a Touch ID that's built into the top button.

When the iPad Air 4 was announced, one couldn't help but notice it offers an A14 Bionic processor, the first Apple device to do so. The iPad Pro includes an A12Z Bionic processor, by contrast. Until experts get a chance to test both processors side-by-side, one might assume the A14 bests the A12Z. However, that will likely be proven incorrect.

A12Z Bionic is an 8-core CPU that's been designed for both speed and energy efficiency. The A14 offers a 6-core CPU, with two of those for performance and four for efficiency. In other words, the iPad Pro handles graphics- and computation-heavy apps much better, even if the processor is older.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: Who should buy the iPad Air?

The iPad Air (2020) is the *best* Apple tablet for most people. If you plan on using it for writing, video-consuming, and casual game-playing, you'll be amazed, while also saving a lot of money. As a bonus, you get to choose from five consumer-friendly colors, include the all-new Sky Blue and Green.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: Who should buy the iPad Pro?

The well-reviewed iPad Pro (2020) is the ideal choice if you're a graphics designer or plan on embracing AR. Need more storage or the largest display possible? Have the money to spend? There's nothing better than the iPad Pro.

Apple's iPad lineup is worth buying at any price, but it is also will sometimes go on sale on Black Friday. Check out this year's Black Friday iPad deals going on now!

The way Apple describes the iPad Air, its job is to bring some iPad Pro-level features down to a more affordable tablet. The iPad Air 4 does that in spades this year, with a brand new design, a powerful new chip, and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. While the iPad Air 3 is still a capable machine right now, and you're probably fine skipping the iPad Air 4 if you already have one, a year-and-a-half-old iPad that's on its way out won't last you nearly as long as one that just debuted a brand new system-on-a-chip.

But there's one other point against the iPad Air 3: the 2020 iPad. The baseline iPad, at 10.2 inches, has a display only 0.3 inches smaller than the iPad Air 3. Its casing is the same size, too. But the 2020 iPad also runs on an A12 system-on-a-chip and supports the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. There's also how you can get more storage in the 2020 iPad (128GB) for less money than you can get 64GB in the iPad Air 3.

Between the new iPad Air 4 on the higher end and the iPad (2020) on the lower end, there's no real reason to pick up an iPad Air 3 anymore.

iPad Air 4 vs. iPad Air 3: What are the differences?

Maybe you're wondering, "what's the difference between the iPad Air 3 and 4?" That answer's actually pretty full.

While Apple sometimes offers iterative updates between one generation of its products and the next, this is not one of those occasions. There are several hardware changes between the two tablets, from design to processor, and the answer to the question above is actually straightforward: everything.

Outside of the storage configurations (64GB and 256GB), there doesn't seem to be any overlap between the iPad Air 4 and iPad Air 3. Here's how the two devices break down spec-for-spec.

The differences between these two products are practically night and day. If you already have an iPad Air 3, you're probably just fine sticking with it for now and waiting until a theoretical iPad Air 5 comes out. However, if you're looking to pick up an iPad Air, and trying to decide between an iPad Air 3 that's still in stock or an iPad Air 4 that's coming out next month, I'd encourage you to wait for the newer model.

You're going to be getting a better product by every metric except price, including a much faster chip, Apple Pencil 2 support, USB-C, support for the Magic Keyboard, and a larger display. While it's too bad that it costs $100 more than the iPad Air 3 for the same amount of storage, the iPad Air 3 isn't exactly a winner there, either.

Because if price is your main concern and you don't mind an older processor, then the new 10.2-inch 2020 iPad is the best iPad to fill that role. It has the same A12 chip as the iPad Air 3, and offers more storage for less money at its high end that the iPad Air 3 does at its low end.

Between the sheer power of the iPad Air 4 versus its predecessor, and the better value provided by the iPad (2020), if you're looking to get an iPad Air with iPad Pro-like features at a much lower price, then you should get the iPad Air 4 over the iPad Air 3, no question. If money is on your mind, get the regular 2020 iPad.

What you need to know

• Logitech has announced the Folio Touch for iPad Air 4.
• It's a "versatile and flexible keyboard case".
• It'll cost $159.99 from October.

Logitech has announced its own keyboard and trackpad combination that's designed with the newly announced iPad Air 4 in mind. The new Logitech Folio Touch will ship in October and will cost $159.99.

The new keyboard and trackpad combo is very similar to a keyboard by the same name that's designed for the iPad Pro. It's also a direct competitor to Apple's Magic Keyboard, too.

This keyboard isn't just about typing, though. You can use it for watching movies or even drawing, too.

The built-in trackpad is designed with iPadOS 14 in mind, making use of its advanced pointer support. That lets this keyboard not just give you a way to type, but also turns the iPad Air into a full desktop replacement, too.

It isn't available yet and you can't pre-order it, but Logitech says the Folio Touch will be available from its own online store and Apple's web store, too.

The website is live. The YouTube stream is prepped. The invitations, virtual as they may be, have gone out. That's right. This is not a drill. This is. Finally. For really real. Apple's September 15 event has been set. For tomorrow. Yeah.

Time Flies

Here's what Apple's invitation says:

If you tap into the graphic on an ARKit enabled device, it goes from Apple Logo to data in one hot twisted minute flat.

And yeah, that's one hell of a location-flex for a first tweet, Greg Jozwiack, former vp of product marketing, fresh new svp of all marketing. (Seriously, though, welcome to Twitter, Joz. Thanks for the new #AppleEvent hashtag.)

Tea Leaves

Now, as soon as people saw the event logo and timeline, there was insta-speculation as to what it could all mean. Of course, we go through that every year. Just all the tea leaf reading.

The way it works though, is that Apple marketing communications, marcomms, hands off a spec to the graphic design team, GD, who then come up with the art. In other words, they don't have any inside info when making the actual design. It's just based on what they're told by the people who do. So, think big themes rather than specific Easter eggs.

Blue could mean the color of a new device, the ribbons could mean something Apple Pencil drawn or related, or the mapping of body movement by an Apple Watch through 3D space.

The use of AR and the Time Flies tag could mean a time of flight sensor, aka, LiDAR on the iPhone. Or Time Flies could just be a play on the Apple Watch and sometimes a clever model is just a model. One that combines the logo with the date.

So, what can we realistically expect?

No iPhones

A couple of Apple beat reporters in the biggest business news outlets added a line to their event coverage saying not to expect the new iPhone 12 next week. That this was going to be an Apple Watch and iPad Air focused event.

That kinda reminds of when these same pubs say "no new hardware" when covering a WWDC keynote announcement. In other words, a way to set expectations.

So, yeah, sure, we could have a whole, fully blown September event, just like usual. And I already made a video covering what an event exactly like that would look like. So, I'm not going to recapitulate that all here.

Let's just assume that when Apple CFO, Luca Maestri said iPhones were running a few weeks later than usual, he meant it. So, having an iPhone event a few weeks from now, with iPhones shipping a couple and several weeks after that, just makes the kind of sense that does. And this will be a smaller event, focused on the Apple Watch and iPad Air.

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch Series 6, already? What, do they do these once a year now or something? Heh. I know some people will worry about whether or not there's enough differentiation to get Apple Watch buyers to upgrade, especially after how incremental the last update seemed.

As much as Apple doesn't really target year-over-year upgraders with the iPhone, though, they really don't target year-over-year upgraders with the Apple Watch. Unlike the iPhone, where almost everyone who wants a phone has a phone already, and it's all about targeting those 2-4 year upgrade cycles, most people still don't have an Apple Watch. So it's about continuing to add feature and remove issues until the vast majority of people have bought in.

Improving battery life helps there. So do things like sleep tracking and blood oxygen levels. Especially with someone like Apple's VP of health, Sumbal Desai, up on stage walking us through how blood oxygen alerts would work for sleep, exercise, and maybe even the pandemic.

Maybe Julz Arney to show off Apple Watch integration via GymKit on those new Peleton bikes… if not Apple's new fitness+ service proper.

Also super interesting is the idea of an Apple Watch SE — something to replace the Series 3 in the lineup. Still offering that great entry level price of $199 but upping the feature set.

My question is, would it get the new design, new features like fall detection and ECG? How much can Apple pack into that price point?

And, of course, what will the latest fall fashions mean for color and bands?

Let me know what you want to see in the comments.

iPad Air 4

Here's where the iPad lineup gets interesting. The 2019 iPad Air 3 was a 2017 iPad Pro with slightly worse display, processor, and camera. So the 2020 iPad Air 4 should be a 2018 iPad Pro without the ProMotion, X-on-the SoC, or LiDAR compared to the 2020 Pro.

But... it looks like it could be even more than that.

The current iPad Air has the old design and old A12 processor. The new iPad Air is rumored to be getting something closer to the new iPad Pro design. But that iPad Pro is still on the A12Z processor. Which is 2 more CPU cores and 4 extra GPU cores.

Would Apple keep the Air on the A12 just so it doesn't upstage the Pro? And if not, if Apple bumps it to the A13 or A14, what does that mean for the Pro? If Apple also announces a new Pro with an A14X, maybe 5G, maybe even miniLED, nothing. But if not?

Especially if this new rumored-to-be 10.8-inch design has bezel enough to fit on the 11-inch Magic Keyboard. Or gets a Magic Keyboard all its own?

Again, hit up the comments and let me know what you think.

Apple One

Yeah, subscription fatigue… it's real. Sure, time was you could only afford a couple of CDs or DVDs or a few magazines or personal training sessions a month. Now you can get almost all of that for just one low sub a month. Never in the course of human history have we been able to get so much for so little. But, especially right now, when it's all adding up, it still feels like it's still… so much.

That's why Apple's folding all these services down to just one. Apple One. A way for everyone to get as much as they want… for as little as possible.

I don't know what to make of the rumors about this new bundle yet, because the more you add the more you save just doesn't sound very… One. Like the contents of the rumor tin just don' match what's on the rumor label.

Accessories

The other big questions is what else we might see. I mean, Apple's calendar feature has the show clocking in at the usual 2 hours and… this doesn't seem like enough for that. Assuming there are no iPhones. Probably not any Apple Silicon Macs yet either, though who knows? Maybe the placeholder calendar is just that — a placeholder? Maybe the event won't last 2 hours at all?

Assuming it does, though, what else could take up that time?

Gold masters for iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7, sure. We need watchOS 7 for the new watch and that means we need iOS 14. Even if that means the new iPhones, when they ship, ship with iOS 14.1 or something.

But what about AirTags, Apple's FindMy-network-based tracker? A finally fixed up AirPower? Over the ear AirPods Studio? A HomePod mini? The new A12X Apple TV?

All of those have been rumored for this year as well. It's just a matter if Apple thinks the story and the demos would better fit a watch and iPad event now or an iPhone event later?

I'm guessing Apple waits on the iPhone event for anything even vaguely iPhone related. But that's just a guess. Let me know what you think. And keep it locked to iMore for your full-n event coverage for the rest of the week.

Well, Apple has announced an event for September 15. It's speculated that we'll see a brand new Apple Watch there, but also a brand new iPad Air. The iPad Air 2020 is rumored to be a major update for Apple's mid-level tablet.

I might be a heavy iPad Pro user, but I'm still intrigued to see what Apple has in store for the new iPad Air. Here's what I hope to see in the iPad Air 2020.

The iPad Air goes pro

I deeply love the design language that Apple introduced with the iPad Pro 2018 and continued with the iPad Pro 2020. The flat edges harken back to my favorite iPhone designs, the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. And the screen, with its rounded corners and even bezels on all sides, is one of Apple's best.

I've long wanted this iPad Pro design to come to other iPads, and it seems that, with iPad Air 4, I may finally get my wish. The design of the iPad Air 3 has been in use in one form or another since the original iPad mini in 2012 with tweaks here and there over time. Frankly, it's time for a new take.

And like the current iPad Air 3, I would expect the iPad Air 2020 to retain the physical dimensions of the 11-inch iPad Pro, even if the bezels were slightly thicker, which would account for the slightly smaller screen.

One thing that this design would enable, at least in theory, is Apple Pencil 2 support, which is great because…

Apple Pencil 2 moves down the line

Right after adopting the iPad Pro's design language, I want to see Apple bring support for the Apple Pencil 2 down to the iPad Air. From the charging/pairing situation to its look and feel, I think the Apple Pencil 2 is superior in every respect to the first-generation model currently supported by the iPad Air.

If Apple is indeed bringing the iPad Pro's design language to the iPad Air 2020, there's a better than zero chance that it will also add the magnetic inductive charging area for the Apple Pencil 2. This is one of the things that makes the Pencil 2 a joy. Instead of plugging the Pencil into the port on the bottom of the iPad and having it stick out awkwardly, the iPad Pro enables the Apple Pencil 2 to magnetically attach to its side and charge inductively, giving you easy charging and transport in one convenient spot.

I suspect that Apple will bring this support to a redesigned iPad Air. First, doing so would increase sales of the more-expensive Apple Pencil 2. Second, they already have the parts to do so. And third, it might be a little difficult to charge a first-generation Apple Pencil if my next wish also comes true.

USB-C makes everything more compatible

The addition of USB-C to the iPad Pro was one of my favorite features back in 2018, and it remains a highlight of the device to this day. I regularly use it to transfer large images to an external drive, move files from my mirrorless camera to my iPad for editing, and when I need to make a backup of my iPad Pro to my Mac, it's so much faster than it used to be.

All of these use cases and more would be equally valid on the iPad Air. When it launched, the iPad Air 3 was a surprisingly capable machine, and I see no reason to believe that the iPad Air 2020 will be any less capable. If that's the case, then the iPad Air 4 will be an excellent machine for creative professionals, office workers, students, and more.

USB-C lets you plug in all sorts of accessories without an adapter. Cameras, disks, even USB audio interfaces for use with XLR microphones. I've used all of these and more with my iPad Pro, and I'd love to see these capabilities expand down the iPad lineup.

A hard truth to Face (ID)

This one, I don't actually think we'll get, but I would love to be wrong. Look, I'm on the record believing that Face ID is generally superior to Touch ID on the iPhone. But I think it's vastly superior to Touch ID on the iPad. This is particularly true if you regularly use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad with your iPad.

You don't often think about the things you need to authorize in a given day, but if you're me, it's kind of a lot. Each individual placement of my finger on a Touch ID sensor isn't a difficulty, but add them up over the course of a day, a week, a month, and it can get tedious in the aggregate.

With Face ID, I don't need to do anything. That's what makes it so much better. While an individual hand movement to touch a fingerprint scanner might not be a hardship, compared to doing nothing at all, it's practically work for goodness' sake. It's just so convenient.

Unfortunately, I don't think Face ID is happening for the iPad Air 2020. Current rumors indicate that Apple is putting a new Touch ID sensor in the sleep/wake button on the iPad Air, and I don't think we'll see Face ID in the tablet just yet due to the added costs of the TrueDepth camera.

A magical typing experience

The support for trackpads and mice has been a game-changer for my iPad use. I now use my iPad Pro for most of my everyday work in a way that I just couldn't before. The Magic Keyboard has also proven to be an excellent (if absurdly expensive) accessory for the iPad Pro. I'd love to see it come to the iPad Air.

Now, you might say to yourself that the Magic Keyboard is $299. The iPad Air is (likely) going to cost $499. You want to add 60% to your purchase price. Well, I certainly don't. But support for the current Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro would also mean support for another accessory: the Logitech Folio Touch.

The Logitech Folio Touch is a keyboard/case combo for the 11-inch iPad Pro from, you guessed it, Logitech. The keyboard on the case comes with a built-in trackpad, as well as a function row, something many lamented the absence of on the Magic Keyboard. It's an all-in-one keyboard/trackpad solution that also uses the iPad's Smart Connector, rather than Bluetooth or USB, for power and data.

You'll also find that the Logitech Folio Touch is much less expensive than the Magic Keyboard, coming in at $160, rather than $299. That's a much easier pill to swallow. And since I think it's likely that the new iPad Air has the same physical dimensions as the 11-inch iPad Pro, that would make it compatible not only with the smaller Magic Keyboard but the Logitech Folio Touch, too.

All of this would make turning your iPad Air into a laptop alternative much more financially viable.

What do you want to see?

So these are the features I want to see on the iPad Air 2020. What about you? Do you have any particular desires for Apple's upcoming mid-range tablet? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• A new iPad Air will reportedly arrive in March 2021.
• A new iPad Pro is coming much, much sooner.
• If the report is right, a new iPad Pro will arrive next month.

Apple will launch a new iPad Air 4 tablet in March 2021, according to a new report by Chinese website MyDrivers. The tablet will also reportedly make use of the upcoming Apple A14 processor, too.

Citing "foreign sources," the report claims that an ipad Air 4 will ship in March of next year while taking some of its cues from the 11-inch iPad Pro that's currently on sale. Notably, a larger display and USB-C charging.

Pricing is thought to be around the $649 mark, depending on the storage configuration.

As for iPad Pro, MyDrivers reckons we will see a refresh as soon as next month, likely alongside new iPhones and Apple Watch Series 6.

The MyDrivers name is one that was pretty hot a few years ago but it's been much quieter of late. It's certainly possible these "foreign sources" have some weight behind them, and these rumors do match some others we've seen in the past.