New iPad Air, powered by M4

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple’s new M4-powered iPad Air is praised as impressively fast hardware but widely criticized for being constrained by iPadOS and a still-unclear role between phones, laptops, the base iPad, and the iPad Pro. Commenters debate who actually needs this level of processing power when most real-world use is media consumption, light productivity, art, or gaming, and note that long hardware lifespans already make upgrades hard to justify. Recurring themes include frustration over limited multitasking and developer tooling, the lack of multi-user support on a pricey shared-home device, Apple’s “value” marketing and storage/RAM choices, and speculation that Apple is intentionally keeping the iPad from overlapping too much with macOS laptops.

Positioning, “Value,” and Product Line Confusion

  • Many see “value” messaging as the week’s marketing theme, with iPad Air and cheaper iPhones setting up contrast to high‑end Macs.
  • Several find the Air’s role unclear: it feels like a mid‑tier between base iPad and Pro with modest upgrades (M‑series chip, better screen, Pencil support), but not compelling for everyone.
  • Others argue the Air is the cheapest way to get M‑series performance, laminated/P3 display, 13" size, and better Pencil, so it fills a real middle slot.

Hardware: M4, RAM, Weight, and Display

  • M4 and 12 GB RAM are viewed as massive overkill for typical tablet workloads (web, video, casual apps), but some welcome it for:
    • 3D modeling, photo/video editing, music production, local AI image/LLM tools, heavy games.
    • Better perf‑per‑watt and “future‑proofing” as web/apps bloat.
  • Multiple comments note that Air is heavier than Pro and stuck at 60 Hz, while Pro keeps 120 Hz ProMotion and better speakers.
  • Camera bump causing wobble when writing on a table annoys some.
  • Thicker bezels are largely defended on ergonomic grounds (place to grip).

iPadOS Limitations vs Hardware

  • Persistent theme: Apple’s hardware team is far ahead of iPadOS.
  • Complaints:
    • No macOS, no proper VMs, restricted terminals, limited background processing, sandboxing.
    • “Gimped” pro apps (Logic, Final Cut, Resolve) compared to desktop.
    • Windowing/Stage Manager feels awkward, especially on small iPad Minis.
  • Some counter that iPadOS is already sufficient for many: students, field workers, artists, pilots, musicians, and remote‑desktop users.

Longevity, Performance Degradation, and Obsolescence

  • Many report iPads lasting 7–10+ years for media and light tasks; older Pro/A‑series models still fine for local apps but struggle on modern web.
  • Complaints about OS “bloat” and app developers dropping support; debate over how much is Apple vs third‑party decisions.
  • Frustration that Apple doesn’t unlock bootloaders for unsupported devices; some see this as environmental hypocrisy.

Multi‑User Profiles and Household Use

  • Strong demand for user profiles, especially for shared family/house devices and Vision Pro; lack of this keeps iPads as single‑person “toys.”
  • Several note that multi‑user exists on iPad via education/business MDM (“Shared iPad”), so its absence for consumers is viewed as a deliberate business choice.

Use Cases and “What Are iPads For?”

  • Common real‑world uses: “portable TV,” comics/PDFs, Procreate, sheet music, gym and kitchen screens, dashboards, kids’ YouTube, and mobile gaming.
  • Some conclude that for their needs a phone + laptop is superior; others say an iPad has become their main or only computer.