If you're shopping for a midrange iPad, Apple has an update to the Air that just arrived. And it makes the high-end iPad Pro released last fall maybe feel a little less necessary. The new iPad Air is available for preorder on Wednesday, March 4, arriving on March 11.

Apple's new M4-powered iPad Air promises laptop-level power, but the far cheaper base-level iPad still handles everyday tasks with ease. We break down performance, features, and real-world value to find out whether the M4 is a must-have upgrade.