You know that feeling when you pick up a device and it just clicks? That was the big shift with the 2020 iPad Air. Before this model, the Air lineup was basically just a "Pro-lite" with huge forehead and chin bezels and a physical home button that felt a bit dated. Then Apple dropped the 4th generation. It changed everything about the iPad Air 4th gen size, footprint, and ergonomics.
It's sleek.
Honestly, if you're looking at one today, you might get it confused with the 11-inch iPad Pro. They look almost identical at a glance. But once you start living with it, the nuances of that 10.9-inch frame start to show. It’s a specific kind of middle ground that Apple nailed, even if it created some weird confusion for people trying to buy cases.
The Actual Dimensions: Breaking Down the iPad Air 4th Gen Size
Let’s get the raw numbers out of the way because they matter for your backpack and your hands. The iPad Air 4th generation measures exactly 9.74 inches (247.6 mm) in height and 7.02 inches (178.5 mm) in width. It’s thin. Like, 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) thin.
That 6.1mm depth is actually thinner than the iPhone 15 or 16. It feels substantial but airy—hence the name, I guess. When you hold it, you notice the flat edges. Apple moved away from the tapered, curved back of the 3rd gen Air, and that makes the iPad Air 4th gen size feel slightly more industrial and "grippy."
Weight is the other factor. The Wi-Fi model sits at 1.0 pound (458 grams), while the cellular version adds just a tiny bit of heft at 1.01 pounds (460 grams). It's light enough to hold for a Netflix binge in bed, but heavy enough that you won't forget it's in your bag.
🔗 Read more: The Pilcrow: Why That Weird Paragraph Symbol Still Rules Your Screen
Why the 10.9-inch Screen is a Lie (Sort of)
Apple markets this as a 10.9-inch display. If you measure it diagonally, that's what you get. But here’s the kicker: the physical body of the device is the exact same size as the 11-inch iPad Pro.
Wait, what?
Yeah. If you put them side-by-side, the chassis is identical. The reason the Air is "10.9 inches" instead of "11 inches" is simply because the black borders—the bezels—are a tiny bit thicker on the Air. We're talking fractions of a millimeter here. In real-world use, you don't notice the smaller screen area, but you definitely notice that it fits into all the same high-end accessories.
Fitting Into the Ecosystem: Cases and Keyboards
Because the iPad Air 4th gen size mimics the 11-inch Pro, it opened up a whole world of accessories that were previously "Pro-only." This was a huge win for users.
You can slap a Magic Keyboard on this thing and it fits perfectly. The magnets align. The Smart Connector on the back hits the pins exactly where it should. However, there is one small snag people ran into: the camera bump. The Air 4 has a single circular lens, whereas the Pro has that big square housing for the LiDAR and multiple lenses. If you buy a Pro case for an Air, it fits, but the camera cutout looks a bit cavernous and empty.
It works, though.
✨ Don't miss: State Bank of India App: What Most People Get Wrong About YONO 2.0
If you're hunting for a sleeve, look for anything labeled for the 11-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, or 3rd Gen) or the iPad Air 5th Gen. They are effectively interchangeable in terms of external dimensions. This is one of the few times Apple didn't change the chassis between generations, which is a relief for our wallets.
Portability in the Real World
I've taken this thing on cross-country flights and to coffee shops. The iPad Air 4th gen size is the "Goldilocks" of the tablet world.
The iPad Mini is great for reading but sucks for multitasking. The 12.9-inch Pro is a beast that basically requires its own luggage. The Air? It disappears into a sleeve. You can pull it out on a cramped airplane tray table and still have room for a ginger ale. That’s the utility of this specific footprint. It’s large enough to actually get work done—especially with the split-screen view in iPadOS—but it doesn't feel like a burden.
Comparing the Bulk: Air 4 vs. The Rest of the Family
If you're coming from an older iPad, the shift in feel is dramatic. The 3rd Gen Air was taller and narrower. It felt like a "tall" tablet. The 4th Gen feels more like a "window."
- iPad Air 3: 10.5-inch screen, but bigger physical footprint because of the home button.
- iPad Air 4: 10.9-inch screen, smaller physical footprint because the screen goes edge-to-edge.
- iPad 9th/10th Gen: These are thicker and heavier. They feel "clunky" compared to the refined Air 4 profile.
When you hold the Air 4, you're holding a piece of glass and aluminum that feels like it was machined out of a single block. There’s no flex. Even though it's thin, it's rigid.
Does the Size Affect Battery?
Usually, when things get thinner, battery life dies. Apple managed to cram a 28.6-watt-hour battery into this 6.1mm frame. In my testing, that gets you the standard 10 hours of video or web surfing. If you’re pushing the A14 Bionic chip with heavy video editing in LumaFusion or playing Genshin Impact, that time drops fast. But the iPad Air 4th gen size doesn't seem to have compromised the longevity much compared to the bulkier base-model iPads.
Ergonomics: How it Feels to Actually Use
Let's talk about the Touch ID sensor. Since the size didn't allow for Face ID sensors in the bezel (that's a "Pro" feature), Apple put the fingerprint reader in the top power button.
It’s a bit of a reach.
If you’re holding the tablet in portrait mode, your index finger lands naturally on it. In landscape? You’re hunting for it on the left side. It’s a minor ergonomic quirk caused by the pursuit of that "all-screen" look within these specific dimensions.
Also, the Apple Pencil 2 support is a game-changer here. The pencil magnetically snaps to the long side of the frame. Because the iPad Air 4th gen size features those flat edges, the pencil stays put much better than it ever did on the old curved models. It feels like a cohesive unit, like a digital notebook that actually fits the scale of a standard Moleskine.
Screen-to-Body Ratio and Why it Matters
The screen-to-body ratio on the Air 4 is roughly 81.3%. Compare that to the old-school iPads that were hovering in the 70s. What this means for you is that you’re carrying less "dead space." Every millimeter of the iPad Air 4th gen size is working for you.
When you're drawing with the Apple Pencil, those slightly thicker bezels (compared to the Pro) are actually a blessing. They give your thumb a place to rest without triggering accidental touches on the canvas. It's a "feature," not a bug. Designers at Apple clearly thought about the "grip-ability" of a device this thin.
👉 See also: چرا هنوز دنبال دانلود تلگرام اصلی قدیمی هستیم؟ حقایقی که کسی به شما نمیگوید
Common Misconceptions About the Air 4 Physicality
I see people online all the time asking if the Air 4 will fit in their old iPad Air 2 or 3 cases.
The answer is a hard no.
The move to USB-C and the removal of the Lightning port changed the bottom layout, and the lack of a home button changed the face. Even though the "Air" name stayed the same, the 4th generation was a total ground-up redesign. If you buy one, you are entering the "modern" iPad ecosystem. You'll need all new gear.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re on the fence about whether the iPad Air 4th gen size works for your lifestyle, do these three things:
- Check your current bag: Measure the internal pocket. If it fits a standard 10-inch tablet, the Air 4 will be tight. You really want a sleeve or pocket designed for 11-inch devices.
- Go to a store and hold an iPad Pro 11-inch: Since the Air 4 is often replaced by newer models on display, holding an 11-inch Pro will give you the exact same hand-feel. If it feels too big, look at the Mini. If it feels like a toy, look at the 12.9-inch.
- Audit your charging cables: Remember that this size transition also meant a port transition. You’re moving to USB-C. Any old Lightning accessories you have for your previous iPad won't work without adapters.
The iPad Air 4th gen size is arguably the peak of Apple's tablet design language. It’s the point where they stopped making "budget" looking mid-range tablets and started making professional-grade hardware for the rest of us. It’s light, it’s thin, and it’s plenty of screen for almost anyone.
Grab a high-quality tempered glass screen protector and a slim magnetic folio. These two things preserve the thinness of the iPad Air 4th gen size without adding the bulk of a ruggedized case. You want to feel that 6.1mm engineering, not hide it under two inches of plastic. If you treat it right, this form factor will stay relevant for years, especially since Apple kept the exact same dimensions for the 5th gen (M1) and subsequent refreshes. You're buying into a size standard that Apple seems committed to for the long haul.