iPad Air M4 preorders: I'm a deals expert and this is when I expect the first deals

There's a new iPad in town. Apple quietly refreshed its tablet lineup this morning with the addition of the iPad Air M4. Available in 11-inch ($599) and 13-inch ($799) sizes, iPad Air M4 preorders will begin Wednesday, March 4 at 9:15 a.m. (ET) with availability starting on March 11.

In terms of upgrades, the biggest change is the addition of the new M4 chipset, which Apple claims is 30% faster than its predecessor. All of the new tablets also support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Otherwise, there are no other significant changes between the iPad Air M4 and its predecessor.

If you're looking for iPad Air preorder deals, you'll have to wait for other retailers to offer their preorders. Amazon and Best Buy, for instance, usually offer dollar-off discounts on new Apple products. They generally start with a modest $20 off, but quickly offer up to $50 off within week of the new iPad Air's availability.

(Make sure to follow our iPad deals coverage as retailers discount the current-gen tablets to make room for the newer ones. Also check out our Apple March Event live blog for more announcements this week).

How to Pre-Order iPad Air M4

Apple 11" iPad Air (WiFi/128GB): $599 at Apple

The 2026 iPad Air packs Apple's M4 processor, which Apple states is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3. It also has an 11-inch LED (2360 x 1640) display, 128GB of storage, 12MP rear camera, and 12MP front camera. The tablet now supports Wi-Fi 7 a well as Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Otherwise, it's nearly identical to its predecessor.

View Deal

Apple 13" iPad Air (WiFi/128GB): $799 at Apple

This larger size iPad Air sports the same M4 processor, but it's coupled with a 13-inch LED (2732 x 2048) display. Otherwise, it packs the same 128GB of storage, 12MP rear camera, and 12MP front camera. You also get Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The larger display and more potent CPU should make this a great tablet for gaming.

View Deal

What's new in iPad Air M4

What about iPad Air M3 deals?

If you're looking for deals on the outgoing iPad Air M3, you're not alone. That's why I suggest acting fast on any iPad M3 deals you may see as they'll likely sell out very fast. At the time of this writing, Amazon has the 11-inch iPad Air M3 (WiFi/5G) on sale for $599. That's just $10 shy of its all-time price low. Meanwhile, the 13-inch iPad Air M3 (WiFi/5G) is on sale for $799 at Amazon. This is an all-time price low for this tablet.

Note: The Wi-Fi only versions are currently sold out at Amazon. However, Best Buy has the 11-inch iPad Air M3 (WiFi) on sale for $549. That's $50 off, but we've seen this model sell for as low as $399 in the past.