The 4th-generation iPad Air sports larger edge-to-edge 10.9-inch display, a new Touch ID sensor, USB-C connector, and comes in five stylish finishes.
During the September 2020 event at Cupertino, Apple revealed, together with an upgraded basic iPad model, a completely revamped iPad Air model that borrows many features from top-shelf iPad Pro models launched in March.
The most stunning, and widely expected feature is an all-screen design that makes iPad Air 4 look like the 11-inch iPad Pro. The screen measures 10.9 inches, with 3.8 million pixels, full lamination, True Tone, and anti-reflective coating.
The new Touch ID sensor is integrated into the top button, making it easier than ever to unlock the iPad, use Apple Pay, or log into apps.
Thanks to Apple’s most advanced A14 Bionic chip that’s packed with 11.8 billion transistors for increased performance, the new iPad delivers a massive boost in performance compared to the previous generation model.
iPad Air 4 joins iPad Pro models when it comes to connectors. It sports a fast USB-C port that supports up to 5Gbps data transfer for connecting to hard drives, external monitors, or cameras.
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iPad Air 4 (2020) specs and facts – Q&A
Does iPad Air 4 have the same screen as iPad Pro 11?
Both models have the same width and height, and offer the same look and feel, but iPad Air 4 has smaller screen with worse parameters.
- iPad Air 4 comes with 10.9-inch LED display with IPS technology, offering 2360 × 1640 px resolution.
- iPad Pro 11 comes with 11-inch Liquid Retina LED display with ProMotion, True Tone, and Wide color display, offering 2388 × 1668 px resolution.
How much RAM memory does iPad Air 4 have?
Many sources claim that iPad Air 4 comes with 4 GB of RAM memory.
The same RAM size was featured in iPad Pro 2017. iPad Air 3 came with 3 GB of RAM memory, while the newest iPad Pro models released in spring 2020 are equipped with 6 GB RAM.
How many speakers does iPad Air 4 come with?
Apple does not make it clear whether iPad Air 4 has four or two integrated speakers.
There are four speaker grills (two at the top and two at the bottom), but most tech reviewers believe iPad Air 4 sports two stereo speakers.
For the best stereo effect, play music or videos in a landscape mode.
Can I use Apple Pencil 1 with the new iPad Air 4?
No, only Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with iPad Air 4.
Will my Air 3 case fit the newest iPad Air 4?
No, iPad Air 3 and 4 have different dimensions and locations of ports, buttons, and cameras.
You can find the best iPad Air 4 compatible cases in this updated roundup.
Will iPad Pro 11 case fit iPad Air 4?
Yes and no. Both models have the same width and height, but they differ in depth (6.1 mm in Air 4 versus 5.9 mm in iPad Pro 11). What’s more, speaker grills in Pro 11 are positioned differently than in Air 4.
Therefore, you can only use the iPad Pro 11 case that hold the device in place using corner straps.
Does iPad Air 4 have Face ID?
No, it doesn’t. To securely unlock the device you can use Touch ID.
Where is Touch ID located in the iPad Air 4 (2020)?
Touch ID is integrated into the button located on the top side of the top-right corner.
Is Magic Keyboard compatible with iPad Air 4 released in 2020?
Yes, the top-shelf Apple keyboard, featuring a trackpad, is compatible with the latest iPad Air 4.
Does iPad Air 4 come with ultra-wide camera?
No, the device only sports the 12 MP wide camera on the back.
Does iPad Air 4 have LiDAR scanner?
LiDAR scanner shoots laser beams at an environment, calculating the distance to objects, and creating 3D maps.
Unfortunately, LiDAR technology is not available in iPad Air 4.
Is iPad Air 4 a good replacement to iPad Pro 11?
It all depends on what you need the iPad for. If you want the top-shelf display, advanced ways to use augmented reality, or the best cameras, you should pick up iPad Pro (either 11 or 12.9).
If you need a fast tablet that you can use as a laptop, with unlimited possibilities for drawing and handwriting, iPad Air 4 is more than enough.
Does iPad Air 4 come with USB-C port?
Yes, the new iPad features the same port as top-shelf iPad Pro models.
USB-C lets you transfer data with a speed reaching 5Gbps, which is ten times faster than in previous generation.
You can use USB-C port for connecting external hard drives, cameras, and monitors up to 4K.
Is iPad Air 4 (2020) good for reading?
Yes, as any other iPad model, the new iPad Air 4 is a great reading device. However, if you need a tablet mainly to read ebooks, you can pick up the most affordable Apple tablet – iPad 10.2.
iPad Air 4 – location of ports and buttons
Take a look at where the buttons, ports, speakers and Touch ID are located.
iPad Air 4 (2020 release, 4th generation) – full tech specs
All specs of the newest iPad Air 4 tablet that were revealed by Apple, are added to the table below.
| Screen | 10.9-inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology |
|---|---|
| Screen resolution | 2360 × 1640 px |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi |
| Storage capacity | • 64 GB • 256 GB |
| microSD card | No |
| RAM memory | 4 GB |
| Processor | • A14 Bionic chip with 64‑bit architecture • Neural Engine |
| Camera | 12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture, Hybrid IR filter, 5-element lens |
| Body colors | • Silver • Space Gray • Rose Gold • Green • Sky Blue |
| Battery | Built‐in 28.6‐watt‐hour rechargeable lithium‑polymer battery, non-removable |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video |
| Charging | Charging via power adapter or USB‑C to computer system |
| Weight | 16.16 oz / 458 g |
| Dimensions | 9.74 × 7.03 × 0.24 in / 247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6; simultaneous dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz); HT80 with MIMO |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 technology |
| Ports and connectors | • USB-C • Smart Connector |
| Operating System | iPadOS 14 |
| Sound | Two integrated speakers |
| Sensors | • Touch ID • Three‐axis gyro • Accelerometer • Barometer • Ambient light sensor |
| In the box | • iPad Air 4 (2020) • USB‑C Charge Cable (1 meter) • 20W USB‑C Power Adapter |
| Compatible with Apple Pencil | Yes, Apple Pencil sold separately |
| Compatible with Smart Keyboard Folio | Yes, Smart Keyboard Folio sold separately |
| Compatible with Magic Keyboard | Yes, Magic Keyboard sold separately |
| Launch dates | • Announcement – September 15, 2020 • Pre-orders – October 16, 2020 • Release – October 23, 2020 |
| Prices | • 64 GB / WiFi – $599 • 64 GB / WiFi + Cellular – $729 • 256 GB / WiFi – $749 • 256 GB / WiFi + Cellular – $879 |
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iPad Air 4 (2020) – highlights
Here are the main benefits of the newest iPad Air 4 from the official product page on Apple website.
iPad Air 4, 2020 release, 4th generation
Sky Blue / 64 GB
Powerful. Colorful. Wonderful.
iPad Air does more than a computer in simpler, more magical ways. And now with more features and capabilities, it’s more versatile than ever.
Your creative studio on the go.
With A14 Bionic, you have the power to bring your ideas to life. Shoot a 4K video, then edit it right on iPad Air. Use the second‑generation Apple Pencil to paint and illustrate with dynamic brushes and subtle shading. And with the enhanced graphics and machine learning performance of A14 Bionic, you can unlock new creative possibilities with photo editing, music creation, and more.
The notepad where your best ideas are born.
With Apple Pencil, you can easily take notes, organize your thoughts, and mark up screenshots, email, and more. And with iPadOS 14, your handwriting becomes as powerful as typed text. Convert your sketches into perfect shapes, turn handwritten notes into typed text, and write in any text field with Scribble.
Power up your leisure time.
The incredible graphics of A14 Bionic and the stunning iPad Air display make all your entertainment completely captivating. Watch movies on the gorgeous Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color and enjoy an immersive audio experience with high‑quality landscape stereo speakers. Or play games with console‑level graphics, and even connect a controller.
Make working hard feel like hardly working.
With the incredible versatility of iPad Air, you can work any way you want. Use the Smart Keyboard Folio, or attach the Magic Keyboard for responsive typing and a built‑in trackpad. It’s perfect for the things you need to do, like sending an email. Or the things you want to do, like writing a short story. And with all‑day battery life, iPad Air is ready to work for as long as you need it.
Interested in the iPad and iPhone? Keep exploring:
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