- Which is better for drawing and note-taking?
- The iPad Air (M4). It has current iPadOS support and 1 TB of storage for large files. The older iPad Air supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation), but its 64 GB fills quickly.
- Which lasts longer?
- The iPad Air (M4). It runs iPadOS 18.3 or later and will get updates for years. The older model is listed with iOS 8, which is long past current app support.
- Is the M4 model worth the extra money?
- Yes for most shoppers. At $638.00 at PC Richard & Son as of November 7, 2026, you get 1 TB of storage, a 10-hour battery, and current software. The older iPad Air only makes sense at a steep discount.
- Do both have cellular?
- Yes. The iPad Air (M4) uses eSIM for cellular data. The older iPad Air uses a physical SIM and 4G LTE, which is slower than current 5G networks.
- How much storage do I need?
- 64 GB is tight if you store video, games, or large app libraries. 1 TB on the M4 model leaves plenty of room, but most people would be fine with a smaller M4 configuration if it costs less.
- Which has the better camera?
- The iPad Air (M4). It has 12 MP front and rear cameras, 4K video, and Center Stage. The older listing mixes 1.2 MP and 8 MP figures with 12 MP claims, so its camera specs are unclear.
