M4 iPad Air Benchmarks Reveal Speed Gains Over M3
Quick Look
Generally, I think the M4 iPad Air is pretty fast, You see it’s about 17 percent faster in single-core and 8 percent quicker in multi-core than the older M3 Air, that’s a nice bump. Normally, I would not notice this, But the Geekbench numbers really stood out to me. Usually, I look at these numbers and think, okay, that’s nice, But this time I was like, wow.
Benchmark Details
Basically, two runs on the 13-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular model gave single-core scores of 3,438 and 3,714, average 3,576, while multi-core landed at 12,885 and 12,296, average 12,591, which is pretty cool. Normally, I would expect some variation, But these numbers seem pretty consistent. For instance, the M3 Air scored about 3,048 single-core and 11,667 multi-core on the same test bed, so the M4 is roughly 17 percent faster on one core and 8 percent quicker when all cores work together, which is a nice improvement.
What’s Inside the Chip
Apparently, Apple put an eight-core CPU inside the new Air, which is three performance cores and five efficiency cores, plus a nine-core GPU, that’s a lot of power. Generally, this means the Air will be faster and more efficient, which is great. Usually, the Air is not as powerful as the Pro, But this time it’s a nice step up from the M3. Normally, I would expect the Pro to be more powerful, But the Air is still a great option.
Pro vs. Air
Obviously, the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro scored 3,704 single-core and 13,805 multi-core, making it about 3.6 percent faster on single-core and 9.6 percent ahead on multi-core compared to the Air, which is a significant difference. Generally, I would expect the Pro to be more powerful, But the Air is still a great option. Normally, the Air would be the better choice for most people, But if you need the extra power, the Pro is the way to go.
Features & Availability
Basically, the Air ships with 12 GB unified memory, an N1 Wi-Fi 7 chip and optional C1X cellular modem, which is a lot of features. Normally, I would expect these features to make the Air more expensive, But it’s still a great value. Usually, pre-orders start at a reasonable time, But this time they start at 6:15 a.m. PT tomorrow, which is early. Generally, I would expect the Air to be available in stores soon, And it lands in stores March 11, which is nice.
Real‑World Impact
Generally, in daily use you’ll notice faster app launches and smoother multitasking, especially when you push the tablet with photo editing or light video work, which is great. Normally, I would expect the Air to handle these tasks with ease, And it does. Usually, most casual tasks won’t feel dramatically different, But the newer cores are more efficient, so you might see a bit longer battery life, which is a nice bonus.
Bottom Line
Overall, the M4 iPad Air is a solid incremental upgrade, it fills the gap between the entry-level M3 Air and the higher-end M4 Pro, giving you a nice blend of speed and efficiency without the Pro price tag, which is great. Normally, I would expect the Air to be a great choice for most people, And it is. Usually, if you’re looking to buy, the pre-order window is a good time to see if the performance bump fits your workflow, power users will love the extra juice, casual folks will still enjoy the newer chip’s efficiency, which is a win-win.
