iPad Air 4th Gen: Freezing, restarting, battery drops

Question

Level 1

28 points

iPad Air 4th Gen: Freezing, restarting, battery drops

iPad Air 4th Generation, Year 2020, Model No: A2316, Capacity 64Gb, 10.9” display, iPadOS 26.2

Has following battery issue.

iPad freezes then restarts after a few seconds. OR the Battery level drops from (eg) 80% to 1%, then I have to restart it. I have used the iPad on battery and connected to power. I’ve done a Factory reset and also full reset, connected to Mac. This caused the iPad to keep shutting down whilst setting up the iPad.

Is this a known issue? What can I do to ensure this issue stops happening?

iPad made June 2021.

Using BAST Battery Health Checker for iPad - Result at 31 January 2026 - iPadOS 26.2. - Battery Health 87%

Capacity 6541mAh - Cycle Count 309. Is the cycle count reasonably accurate for this iPad? Is this a known issue with Apple? Do I need an appointment with an Apple Genius to tell me it is bust, or needs new battery?Thanks.

iPad Air, iPadOS 26

Posted on Feb 1, 2026 3:35 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,912 points

Feb 1, 2026 5:23 AM in response to ianfarrar

As described, your iPad battery may have a fault, or may be reaching the end of its usable life. If the battery has failed or is failing, the iPad may unexpectedly turn-off - or may not successfully boot to a running state even when connected to its Power Adapter. Be aware that Battery Health utilities may not reliably report battery health of a failing/faulty battery.

Are you able to use the iPad while remaining connected to your Power Adapter? If yes, while monitoring the indicated battery state, disconnect the Power Adapter; if the indicated battery state suddenly falls, or the iPad shuts-off, this test demonstrates the iPad battery having reached the end of its usable life:

iPad Repair & Service - Apple Support

You might consider contacting Apple Support and requesting a remote diagnostic test of your iPad. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to hands-on test and assess your iPad:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

For practical purposes, for battery service of qualifying devices, Apple usually exchange the iPad for a renewed/refurbished iPad of the same model and specification. The cost of the exchange is the same as would otherwise be charged for battery replacement. When exchanged, the replacement iPad is yours to keep.

You can verify both eligibility and cost for your country/region here:

iPad Repair & Service - Apple Support

Reply