Best iPad for Most People: iPad Air (M4) Still Wins

By Editorial Team | April 2026

The iPad Air (M4) is the one to buy if you want an iPad that actually earns its keep for work, study, and travel. It hits the sweet spot: fast M4 performance, a good 11-inch screen, and a price that stays below iPad Pro territory.

Our picks at a glance

Based on hands-on research, expert review consensus (RTings, Wirecutter, relevant subreddits), and current pricing.

Best overall: iPad Air (M4)

iPad Air (M4) — £578.99

This is the iPad that makes sense when you want one tablet to do most things well. Our score for it is 8.0/10, and that feels right: the M4 chip gives you headroom for split-screen work, heavier apps, and years of iPadOS updates, while the 11-inch size keeps it portable enough to carry every day.

Why we picked it:

• The M4 chip gives you proper multitasking room without the tablet feeling cramped by future apps.
• The 11-inch Liquid Retina display is sharp and colour-rich, which matters for reading, streaming, and long sessions.
• Wi-Fi 7 with Apple’s N1 chip is a real upgrade if your home network is modern and you care about fast, stable transfers.

The trade-off: the display is still 60Hz and the base 128GB storage is stingy if you keep lots of offline media or creative files.

If you want the one iPad most people should buy, buy the iPad Air (M4).

Best upgrade: Timecity Case for iPad Pro 13-inch

Timecity Case for iPad Pro 13-inch — £26.99

The premium move isn’t another tablet here — it’s more protection for the people carrying a big, expensive iPad around all day. This Timecity case is the upgrade pick because it turns a 13-inch iPad Pro into something you can travel with more confidently, with a rotating kickstand, shoulder strap, and built-in pen holder.

Worth it if: you own a 13-inch iPad Pro and want rugged, carry-friendly protection instead of a slim folio.

Best budget pick: iPad (A16)

iPad (A16) — £319

This is the smarter buy if you mainly want a reliable iPad for streaming, notes, FaceTime, and light multitasking without paying for Air-level performance. The A16 chip is quick enough for everyday use, and 128GB base storage finally makes the entry model feel less compromised.

Worth it if: you want the cheapest good iPad and do not care about Air-level speed, AI headroom, or a better overall screen experience.

Also worth considering

Fire HD 10 — £179.99

The Fire HD 10 is the cheap pick for people who mainly use a tablet as a couch screen. It’s good for Netflix, Kindle, YouTube, and casual browsing, but Fire OS and the lock-screen ads are the price you pay for the low cost.

TCL TAB A1 Plus — £259.99

This is the Android option for people who want a bigger screen and smoother scrolling than most budget tablets offer. The 12.2-inch 120Hz display and bundled pen make it appealing for notes and media, but the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is still entry-level.

SEYMAC Case for iPad A16 — £23.99

A sensible buy if your iPad lives a rough life in a school bag, kids’ hands, or a commuter backpack. The full-body shockproof build and built-in screen protector do the job, but the bulk is the obvious downside.

Timecity Case for iPad Air 11-inch M4/M3/M2 — £22.49

This is the better rugged-case pick for iPad Air owners who want protection first and fuss second. The shoulder strap and 360° rotating stand are genuinely useful, but it is not the case you buy if you want the Air to stay slim.

How we chose

We looked at the features that actually affect daily use: performance, display quality, storage, portability, battery life, and real-world value. We also checked current pricing and compared the subject product against credible alternatives people are actually buying right now.

Frequently asked questions

Is the iPad Air (M4) better than the standard iPad?
Yes, if you do anything beyond casual use. The Air is the better choice for multitasking, heavier apps, and longer-term value, while the iPad (A16) is the cheaper no-frills option.

Is the iPad Air (M4) worth £578.99?
Yes, if you want one tablet to cover most jobs and avoid iPad Pro pricing. No, if you only stream, browse, and take notes — the iPad (A16) is enough.

How much storage should you buy?
128GB is fine for light users, but if you keep lots of offline video, games, or creative files, you’ll feel the limit fast.

Also worth noting

If you’re deciding between the iPad Air (M4) and the iPad Pro 13-inch, the Pro is the better screen and the bigger spend. But for most people, the Air is the more rational buy because you get the speed and avoid paying for features you’ll notice once a week, not every day.