Honestly, the iPad Air fourth generation was a massive pivot for Apple. Before this thing hit the shelves in late 2020, the "Air" branding felt like it was stuck in a weird middle ground between the budget-friendly base model and the overkill Pro. Then, suddenly, Apple dropped this redesign. It looked like a Pro. It felt like a Pro. But it didn't cost like a Pro.
That’s why people still obsess over it.
If you’re looking at one now, you’re probably wondering if that A14 Bionic chip can still keep up or if the screen is going to feel ancient compared to the newer M1 or M2 models. It’s a valid concern. Tech ages fast. But there is something about the 2020 Air that makes it a bit of a "sweet spot" in the used and refurbished market.
What the iPad Air Fourth Generation Actually Changed
Before this model, the Air had huge bezels and a physical home button. It felt old. The fourth generation changed the game by moving Touch ID to the top power button. It was a clever move. It allowed for that nearly edge-to-edge 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display without the massive price hike of the Face ID sensors found in the Pro line.
The screen is gorgeous, but let’s be real about one thing: it lacks ProMotion. If you’re used to the 120Hz refresh rate on a newer iPhone or a Pro tablet, you will notice the 60Hz here. It’s not "laggy," but it isn't buttery smooth either. It’s just... standard. For drawing with the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen, it's still excellent, though professionals might miss that instantaneous response time.
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough is the USB-C port. This was the first Air to ditch Lightning. That's huge. You can plug in external SSDs, cameras, or even a USB hub to hook it up to a monitor. It turned the Air from a "big phone" into a legitimate workstation for a lot of people.
Performance: The A14 Bionic in 2026
We have to talk about the chip. The A14 Bionic was the same silicon powering the iPhone 12 series. In tablet terms, it’s a workhorse.
Can it edit 4K video? Yes. I’ve seen LumaFusion runs just fine on this hardware, provided you aren't stacking ten layers of color-graded effects. Can it handle Genshin Impact or Zenless Zone Zero? Sure, but you’ll probably want to keep the settings at medium to high rather than "cranked to the max" to avoid thermal throttling after twenty minutes.
The real bottleneck isn't the CPU; it's the RAM. With only 4GB of RAM, the iPad Air fourth generation can sometimes struggle with heavy multitasking. If you have twenty tabs open in Safari and try to swap over to a heavy design app like Procreate, you might see some refreshing. It’s not a dealbreaker for most, but it’s the main reason the newer M-series iPads feel "snappier" over long periods of use.
Battery Life and Real-World Longevity
Apple always claims ten hours of "web surfing or video watching." In the real world? It depends on your brightness. If you’re sitting outside trying to answer emails at 100% brightness, you’ll be lucky to hit six hours.
The battery health is something you really need to check if you’re buying one of these used. Since these devices are now several years old, many units on the market are sitting at 80% or 85% maximum capacity. That makes a difference.
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- Charging speed: It supports 20W fast charging.
- Accessories: It works with the Magic Keyboard, which is a game-changer for typing.
- Audio: It has landscape stereo speakers. They sound great for movies, way better than the old bottom-firing ones.
- Camera: The 12MP back camera is fine for scanning documents, but don't expect it to replace your phone for photography.
The front-facing camera is probably the biggest "bummer." It’s a 7MP sensor and it’s located on the short side (portrait orientation). When you’re in a Zoom call in landscape mode, it looks like you’re looking off to the side. It’s awkward. Apple finally fixed this in later models, but on the fourth gen, you’re stuck with the "side-eye" look.
Why Some People Prefer This Over the iPad Air 5 or 6
You might think, "Why not just get the M1 Air?" Well, price is the obvious answer. But there’s also the heat. The M-series chips are powerful, but they can get quite warm under load. For basic note-taking, Netflix, and light sketching, the A14 stays remarkably cool and efficient.
There’s also the color factor. The iPad Air fourth generation came in some of the best colors Apple has ever done—that Sky Blue and Green were iconic. Subsequent generations muted those colors significantly.
Common Issues to Watch Out For
No device is perfect. Some users reported "backlight bleed" on the edges of the 10.9-inch display. You usually only see it on a completely black screen in a dark room, but it’s there on some units.
Another thing is the storage. The base model started at 64GB. That is tiny. By the time you install a few big games and a couple of movies, you're out of space. If you find a 256GB model, grab it. If you're looking at a 64GB unit, you better be comfortable living in the iCloud.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you are currently hunting for an iPad Air fourth generation, don't just click "buy" on the first eBay listing you see.
- Check the Battery Cycle Count: If buying used, ask the seller for a screenshot of the battery analytics or use a tool like iMazing to check the health. Anything under 85% will feel noticeably short-lived.
- Verify the Screen Condition: Look for white spots or pressure marks on the LCD. These are common if the device was carried in a cramped backpack without a hard case.
- Audit Your Storage Needs: Download your "must-have" apps on your current phone and see how much space they take. If it’s over 40GB, skip the 64GB iPad model entirely.
- Compare Refurbished Prices: Often, a refurbished iPad Air 4 from a reputable vendor costs almost as much as a sale-priced iPad Air 5. If the gap is less than $50, always go for the 5th gen to get the M1 chip and 8GB of RAM.
- Test the Touch ID: Since the sensor is in the power button, make sure it clicks properly and doesn't feel mushy. A broken Touch ID on this model is a nightmare to repair because it's tied to the logic board.
The iPad Air fourth generation remains a solid piece of tech for students and casual creatives who want the modern Apple aesthetic without the modern Apple price tag. It’s a tool that still does 90% of what the newest Pro models do for a fraction of the cost. Just be mindful of that base storage and the battery health, and you’ll likely find it’s more than enough tablet for your daily life.