The M4 iPad Air: Powerful, But Still Lacking One Crucial Feature

As we navigate the tail end of 2025, Apple's M4-powered iPad Air has solidified its position as a formidable tablet, a true workhorse for creatives, students, and professionals alike. Its blazing-fast M4 chip, stunning display, and refined design make it an undeniable technological marvel. Yet, amidst all its advancements, one prominent omission continues to spark debate and, frankly, frustration: the persistent absence of Face ID.

For years, Face ID has been the gold standard for secure and seamless authentication across Apple's high-end devices, from the iPhone Pro line to the iPad Pro.

Its intuitive nature, allowing users to unlock their device, authorize purchases, and log into apps with a simple glance, has become an expected luxury. So, why does the otherwise pro-level M4 iPad Air continue to rely solely on Touch ID, embedded within the power button?

While Touch ID is a robust and reliable technology, its placement on the power button, particularly when using the iPad in landscape mode with accessories like the Magic Keyboard, can feel less natural and occasionally cumbersome.

Users often find themselves adjusting their grip or searching for the button, breaking the flow of their work or entertainment. Face ID, by contrast, offers a truly hands-free, glance-and-go experience that perfectly complements the iPad's large, immersive screen.

The argument often cited for its exclusion in the Air models typically revolves around product differentiation and cost-saving measures.

Apple needs to keep some features exclusive to the iPad Pro to justify its higher price point. However, with the M4 iPad Air now boasting a chip that rivals (and in some cases, surpasses) older iPad Pro models, and a price tag that positions it firmly in the premium segment, this differentiation strategy feels increasingly outdated and penalizing to users who opt for the Air.

Imagine the enhanced productivity and convenience: seamlessly unlocking your iPad when you sit down at your desk, making an Apple Pay purchase without lifting a finger, or quickly switching between user profiles in a shared family device.

These are the quality-of-life improvements that Face ID brings to the table, and their absence on a device as capable as the M4 iPad Air feels like an unnecessary compromise.

The technology is mature, proven, and widely adopted across Apple's ecosystem. Integrating Face ID into the iPad Air wouldn't be a revolutionary engineering feat at this stage.

It would, however, represent a significant user experience upgrade, bringing the Air closer to the seamless, intuitive interaction that Apple users have come to expect from their premium devices. It’s time for Apple to recognize that a device of the M4 iPad Air's caliber deserves nothing less than the best in biometric authentication.

The M4 chip provides the power; now let's give the user the ultimate convenience.