iOS Today 793: iPad Air M4

Hosts: Micah Sargent & Rosemary Orchard
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Apple’s brand new iPad Air M4. Hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard discuss the device’s hardware specs, user experience, and its place in the iPad lineup, along with advice for potential buyers. The episode also covers Apple’s newly-announced Studio Display models and wraps with some practical app and life hacks for listeners.

Main Discussion: The iPad Air M4

Introduction & Specs Overview

• Launch Context & Features (02:32)
  • Apple recently announced the iPad Air M4, alongside the iPhone 17E.
  • Pricing: $599 (11"), $799 (13"). Pre-orders opened March 4; availability began March 11.
  • Color options: Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray.
  • Storage: 128GB up to 1TB.
  • Major hardware jump: 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU.
  • "30% faster than just the last gen of iPad Air, 2.3 times faster than the M1 version."
    — Micah Sargent, 03:00
  • New graphics capabilities: hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing.
  • Especially notable for potential gaming and creative work.

Device Positioning & Who Should Buy

• Debate on the Air’s Niche (03:45)
  • Micah: "I've always found the iPad air to be a complicated device in the tablet lineup... Where does this fit and who is it for? When we've got the standard iPad and we've got the iPad pro, what is it that the air does that sets it apart?"
    — 03:45
• Who Needs the Power? (05:43)
  • Rosemary: For most users, the iPad Air is plenty powerful. Only those doing high-end video editing or hardcore gaming might need a Pro.
  • "I've reached the maximum capacity limits of my iPad air in the sense...I'm not doing anything that feels like it's really taxing the machine."
    — Rosemary, 05:45
  • She emphasized she only upgrades if the form factor better fits her needs, not due to power.

RAM, Longevity & Upgrading Logic

• RAM, Family Recommendations (07:00)
  • Now with 12GB RAM.
  • Apple’s explicit comparison with M1 aims at users with older iPads.
  • Not really for annual upgraders because "it is a big investment to upgrade every single year."
  • Rosemary notes: "That's what I recommended for my mom... She did not need the pro."
    — 07:35

AI & Battery Life

• Apple Intelligence & Efficiency (09:20)
  • Micah notes Apple’s private cloud servers for AI (“Apple Intelligence”) are, curiously, seeing less use than expected.
  • Emphasis on efficiency improvements, including a new wireless chip and (in cellular models) a C1X chip.
  • "Apple is pretty well known for its battery life measurements being true to what you actually get in the end."
    — Micah Sargent, 10:55

Comparison: iPad Air vs iPad vs iPad Pro

• Notable Screen & Apple Pencil Differences (11:42)
  • Rosemary: The Air is better than the standard iPad, especially "if you are trying to use the iPad outdoors or anywhere vaguely sunny...the anti-reflective coating is surprisingly useful."
  • Supports Apple Pencil Pro—important for creatives.
  • "The m series processors are so ridiculously powerful that...it really does, you know, everything that you want."
    — Rosemary, 12:24
  • Advocates starting comparison with the regular iPad vs. Air, not Air vs. Pro.
• Storage: Up to 1TB for those who need to carry lots of media offline.
• Upgrade Logic: “Start [with the Air] and then look upwards rather than looking at the bottom one.”
  — Rosemary, 14:09

Real-World Use Cases & Form Factor

• Who Should Buy? (14:44)

  • For students, parents, retirees, or tech-averse family, the iPad Air is a versatile, easy-to-use device.
  • "I feel good about if someone I know needs to have access to the Internet without things getting super complicated...this is the device that can do those things."
    — Micah, 15:24
  • Works seamlessly with Apple accessories (Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard), pushing it near "computer replacement" territory.

• Tablet vs Computer? (16:58)

  • Rosemary: "I would not give my grandmother a MacBook of any kind... She has an iPad and it works perfectly for her and it helps just make her life easier."
  • iPad Air bridges the gap for general tasks, online access, or light productivity.

Apple Studio Display: New Options (News Segment)

• New Announcements (18:29)

  • Studio Display (with Center Stage 12MP camera, 3-mic array, improved sound, Thunderbolt 5) — $1,599.
  • Studio Display XDR (120Hz adaptive refresh, enhanced performance) — $3,299.
  • Noted “unlimited power” of new connectivity options.

• Are They Worth It? (20:16)

  • Rosemary: "If you own a first-generation Studio display...do I need to upgrade? The answer is almost certainly going to be no because...the original one's working brilliantly."
  • Notes on Nano-texture glass (+$300) and stands (adjustable height +$400).
  • VESA mount option available for flexibility.
  • Cautions users to use the correct Thunderbolt 5 cable and input ports to avoid issues.
  • Alternative: new BenQ 5K, 27" monitor for $999, for those seeking affordable options.

• Micah’s Experience (22:54)

  • Acknowledges the Apple Studio Display is "great...tied into all the stuff that Apple offers," but would hesitate to buy one with his own money due to price.

• Firmware Updates on Displays (23:47)

  • Rosemary shares initial nerves about updating her display but praises Apple’s quick bug fixes.
  • "Old man yells at Cloud, what has this world come to?"
    — Rosemary, 23:51

App Caps: Favorites of the Week

Micah’s Pick (25:30)

• Power Wash Simulator (Apple Arcade)
  • "You start by cleaning your own van...you get hired for a job and you are meant to clean, power wash this person's backyard."
  • No ads or free-to-play interruptions: "You can just power wash all day long."
  • For those in need of “mindless” gaming fun.

Rosemary’s Pick (28:05)

• Life Hack: Mesh Zip Bags for Cable Management
  • Spring cleaning recommendation: Organize cables by type and length in labeled mesh zip bags.
  • Examples: USB sticks, short/long Ethernet cables, Thunderbolt 5 cable labeled for easy retrieval.
  • “Nobody wants to go and pull out a bin of cables and be like okay, what is this? ...These plastic mesh zip bags...are fabulous for organizing your cables.”
  • Bonus: IKEA options and recycling tips included.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On iPad Air’s Purpose:
  "What gets defined as air versus just, you know, no name, no tag and pro... do I go this way, do I go that way?"
  — Micah Sargent, 03:45

• On Tablet Upgrades:
  "It is a big investment to upgrade every single year... I haven't reached a point where I've gone, oh, yeah, no, I really needed more, more, you know, processing power on my iPad pro."
  — Rosemary, 06:18

• On Apple’s Battery Life Honesty:
  "Apple is pretty well known for its battery life measurements being true to what you actually get in the end."
  — Micah, 10:55

• On Real-Life Use:
  “I would not give my grandmother a MacBook of any kind... She has an iPad and it works perfectly for her and it helps just make her life easier.”
  — Rosemary, 17:14

• On Expensive Monitors:
  "I don't know that if my job did not buy this display, I don't know that I would have... I would make this purchase on my own because there are other great displays out there."
  — Micah, 22:54

Timestamps by Segment

• iPad Air M4 Overview & Specs: 02:32–07:00
• Target User, RAM, Upgrading: 05:43–08:17
• Apple Intelligence, Efficiency, & Battery: 09:20–11:42
• Comparison with Other iPads: 11:42–14:44
• Who Should Buy (Use Cases): 14:44–18:29
• Apple Studio Displays (News): 18:29–23:47
• App Caps & Cable Organization Hack: 25:30–32:41

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive look at Apple’s latest iPad Air M4, dissecting its hardware, ideal user base, and value compared to other iPads. Rosemary and Micah’s firsthand advice stresses lasting value, careful upgrade decisions, and choosing the right device for your needs. Apple’s new displays are covered in detail, with practical buying advice and alternatives. The show finishes strong with accessible, clever organization and app recommendations, perfect for anyone in the Apple ecosystem.