CPU benchmarks for M4 iPad Air show comparable scores to M4 iPad Pro

Apple’s M4 iPad Air Makes Its Debut: Geekbench Scores Reveal a Different Performance Tier

Apple’s latest refresh of the iPad Air has arrived, and with it comes the company’s newest custom silicon: the M4 chip. But while the M4 in the iPad Air may share a name with the powerhouse M4 in the iPad Pro, early benchmarks reveal that these two chips are not created equal.

Geekbench scores for what is almost certainly the M4-equipped iPad Air—listed as “iPad 16,11” in the database—have surfaced, confirming what many industry watchers suspected: the iPad Air’s M4 is a distinct variant, tuned for efficiency and cost rather than absolute performance leadership.

The scores, first spotted by MacRumors, show the iPad Air with M4 posting multi-core results in the low 8,000s—solid, but noticeably below the iPad Pro’s M4, which routinely breaks the 9,000-point barrier. On the single-core side, the Air’s M4 hovers around the 3,000-point mark, again trailing the Pro’s roughly 3,300. These numbers aren’t just a rounding error; they reflect architectural differences that Apple has carefully engineered to differentiate its product tiers.

So what’s behind the gap? While Apple hasn’t disclosed the full details, the iPad Pro’s M4 is believed to feature a higher core count—possibly ten CPU cores versus eight in the Air—and a more robust GPU configuration. The Pro also boasts a next-generation display with tandem OLED technology and a new Ultra Retina XDR panel, features that demand more graphical horsepower. The iPad Air, by contrast, sticks with an upgraded Liquid Retina display and a more modest thermal design, both of which influence the chip’s performance ceiling.

This isn’t the first time Apple has taken this approach. The M1 iPad Air, for example, used a slightly detuned version of the M1 found in the Pro models. By scaling the chip’s capabilities to match the device’s positioning, Apple can offer a more accessible price point while still delivering generational performance gains over previous Air models.

For most users, the difference may be academic. The M4 in the iPad Air is still a massive leap over the M1 and M2 generations, offering fluid multitasking, snappy app launches, and excellent battery life. Creative professionals and power users who need the absolute best performance—and are willing to pay for it—will still gravitate toward the Pro. But for students, casual creators, and everyday users, the Air’s M4 strikes an appealing balance.

The Geekbench results also underscore a broader trend in Apple’s silicon strategy: rather than simply repurposing the same chip across its lineup, the company is increasingly tailoring its processors to the specific needs and price points of each device. This allows for a clearer value proposition at every level, from the entry-level iPad to the top-tier iPad Pro.

As more M4-equipped iPad Air units make their way into the wild, we can expect additional benchmarks and real-world performance analyses to flesh out the full picture. For now, though, one thing is clear: the M4 iPad Air is no slouch, but it’s not quite the beast that the iPad Pro is—and that’s by design.

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