The 4th-generation iPad Air introduced the new "Pro-style" flat-edge design, USB-C, and the A14 Bionic chip. Apple replaced it with the M1 and M2 iPad Airs, then the dual-size M2 Air in 2024. Here are the iPads that succeed it for similar use cases.
M-series iPad Airs are dramatically more capable — desktop-class CPU, full Stage Manager support, faster external display output, and access to Final Cut / Logic. The A14 in the 4th-gen Air is still usable for everyday tasks but won't run the heaviest iPadOS 18 features.
The iPad Air (4th gen) was discontinued in 2022. M-series iPad Airs are dramatically more capable — desktop-class CPU, full Stage Manager support, faster external display output, and access to Final Cut / Logic. The A14 in the 4th-gen Air is still usable for everyday tasks but won't run the heaviest iPadOS 18 features. If you find one new or refurbished at a deep discount, it can still be a sensible buy — otherwise the alternatives below offer meaningful upgrades for the same money.
M-series iPad Airs are dramatically more capable — desktop-class CPU, full Stage Manager support, faster external display output, and access to Final Cut / Logic. The A14 in the 4th-gen Air is still usable for everyday tasks but won't run the heaviest iPadOS 18 features. Manufacturers typically retire a flagship after two to three generations to focus engineering and software updates on newer hardware.
Based on our scoring, the Apple iPad Air 11" M2 Wi-Fi – Space is the strongest direct Apple successor — see the full list below for scoring and price details.
Apple typically provides software support for several years after retiring a product, but new feature rollouts (such as on-device AI capabilities) are generally exclusive to the newest hardware. Check Apple's official support pages for the current update window.
Compare every model we've scored — sortable by price, score and release year.
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