# Apple iPad Air 61 Hacker News commenters recommended Apple iPad Air and 69 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 6 years (8 owners). **Verdict:** Powerful tablet people recommend for reading, media, portable work and long life, though iPadOS limits general computing. ## Why people recommend it - Lasts for many years (4 comments): "Apple's tablet is Good Enough for everyone, and they last forever." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47966907)) "these new generation iPads will easily go for the next 10 years" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47218865)) "it will probably last you a decade before it needs replacing" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47226183)) - Comfortable reading and media use (4 comments): "I'd rather have a normal iPhone and an iPad Air. Cheaper, and better for mobile use and for couch media consumption." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50280543)) "let me read The New Yorker more comfortably than I can on my laptop of phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47222960)) "the readability of ebooks (my most common use) is superior" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47219750)) - Can replace a laptop for many (3 comments): "They _are already_ PC replacements for many of the people who buy them." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47222577)) "handles everything you throw at it, does video editing, office, etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48133067)) "Everything "just works" and you can handle surprisingly high amount of work this way" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221636)) - Portable with optional cellular data (3 comments): "The huge advantage for some people: you can get a cellular data connection for an iPad." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47229066)) "fit nicely into a bag and afford me the option of taking only the iPad Air" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47874636)) "the form factor would make it a very suitable on-the-go device" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47227104)) ## What people warn about - Locked out of general-purpose computing (6 comments): "totally locked out of being used for general purpose computing" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47223257)) "It is fully capable of running a full blown general purpose OS, but artificially restricted to be a YouTube machine." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221774)) "An amazingly powerful, affordable device that is totally locked out of being used for general purpose computing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47226511)) - Awkward for laptop-style use (3 comments): "It doesn't do a normal mouse and there are some limitations to things like screen dimensions." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47222022)) "it solves it well! but it's still a little weird when you try to use it like a laptop" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47252808)) "it would be more annoying to read something on an ipad vs laptop because I'd have to hold the ipad up or prop it up somehow" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47226855)) - Software restrictions feel artificial (3 comments): "The software-based rejection is not good enough and I am very willing to go back to the older look of the iPad if offered." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47220626)) "I don't want to have to do a bunch of sysadmin just so my wife and I can both see our own YouTube subscriptions on an iPad" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47224047)) "it's wild my AppleTVs now ask for which profile is using it but the iPad still hasn't gotten this" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47221928)) - Pricing feels marketing-driven (2 comments): "They don't need it. Apple is introducing new hardware for the sake of introducing new hardware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47218784)) "they're putting M-series chips in them and marketing (and pricing) them like PC replacements" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47222343)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Apple iPad](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-ipad.md): 268 recommend - [iPad Pro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-pro.md): 95 recommend - [iPad mini](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-mini.md): 53 recommend - [Apple iPad with Magic Keyboard](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-with-magic-keyboard.md): 14 recommend - [Samsung Galaxy Tab](https://hackerapproved.com/p/samsung-galaxy-tab.md): 7 recommend ## Where to get it - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Apple+iPad+Air+M4&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link) - [Official site](https://www.apple.com/ipad-air/) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Apple iPad Air", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipad-air/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).