What are the "pros and cons" of the iPad Air 4? Is it the iPad for me?

The iPad Air 4 models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with current iOS details and more and can be quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these tablets on the used market.

Only you can decide if a used iPad Air 4 -- the iPad Air 4th Gen (Wi-Fi Only), iPad Air 4th Gen (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA), iPad Air 4th Gen (Wi-Fi+Cell Global), and iPad Air 4th Gen (Wi-Fi+Cell China) -- is the ideal iPad for you.

However, an independent and objective "pros and cons" can help you make a good decision.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air 4 with Smart Keyboard)

If you would prefer a more detailed take, Everyi.com also provides an in-depth comparison of the iPad Air 4 models.

For those who like a quick-and-easy rundown, on the other hand; this summary should be perfect:

Pros:

• Attractive and thin design with flat, easy-to-hold sides.
• Bright, high-resolution 10.9" LED-backlit 2360x1640 "Liquid Retina" display (264 ppi, 500 nits) fills the nearly the entire front.
• Quite fast, even faster than iPad Pro models available at the same time in some tasks.
• 4 GB of RAM.
• Solid battery life.
• System-wide mirroring support.
• Support for extensive 4G/LTE (29-31 bands) on cellular-equipped models in addition to 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
• Dual cameras (front and rear) with 4K support for the rear camera.
• USB-C support greatly expands connectivity compared to earlier models.
• Touch ID support is cleverly integrated in the power button.
• Support for the well-designed Apple Pencil 2.
• Support for iPadOS 17.

Cons:

• The battery is not intended to be replaced and self-replacement is quite difficult.
• Storage capacity cannot be upgraded and may be inadequate given increasingly large file sizes to display images and other content optimized for the high-resolution display.
• No SD card slot.
• Shooting photos and video with such a physically large device is awkward.
• No bundled headphones (a particularly miserly omission given the price of the device).
• Lacks support for Stage Manager with its improvements to multitasking and full external display capability.

So, is the iPad Air 4 right for me?

Ignoring subsequent tablets, the discontinued iPad Air 4 still remains a good choice for an Apple tablet. It provides faster performance in some tasks than more expensive iPad Pro models available at the same time and provides a high-quality design with an efficient almost all screen front, solid cameras, excellent connectivity (USB-C) and support for the high-quality Apple Pencil 2, a big jump up in quality compared to earlier iPad Air models.

The iPad Air 4 also is a good choice for anyone who finds the regular iPad too slow and out-of-date, the iPad mini 6 too small or slow, and the high-end iPad Pro too expensive. The iPad Air 4 packs a lot of value in a slick package.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad Air models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City may have used iPad models in stock, as well. All Macs and devices are available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.