Apple has introduced the latest version of the iPad Air featuring an M3 chip which the technology company says brings “Apple’s advanced graphics architecture to iPad Air for the first time.”
The global tablet market, which Canalys reported grew 5.6% year on year in Q4 2024, reaching 39.9 million units, has seen increasing demand for devices that bridge smartphone and laptop capabilities.
“iPad Air is so popular because of its unmatched combination of powerful performance, portability, and support for advanced accessories, all at an affordable price,” Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing says. “For everyone from college students taking notes with Apple Pencil Pro, to travelers and content creators who need powerful productivity on the go, iPad Air with M3, Apple Intelligence, and the new Magic Keyboard take versatility and value to the next level.”
What is inside the new iPad Air?
The M3 chip brings notable improvements, with Apple claiming the new iPad Air is:
- Nearly 2x faster compared to the iPad Air with M1
- Up to 3.5x faster than the iPad Air with A14 Bionic
- Featuring a more powerful 8-core CPU that is up to 35% faster for multithreaded workflows
- Equipped with a 9-core GPU offering up to 40% faster graphics performance
“The faster Neural Engine in M3 means iPad Air users can enjoy even more AI capabilities in iPadOS. Compared to M1, the Neural Engine in M3 is up to 60 percent faster for AI-based workloads,” Apple says. “Other improvements over iPad models with A-series chips include support for Apple Intelligence, the choice of 11- and 13-inch sizes, and support for advanced accessories, including the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.”
As usual, with every new device Apple introduces, a key highlight is the integration of Apple Intelligence which has been released in bits with every iOS update. Apple Intelligence brings several smart features to the new iPad Air including:
- Clean Up tool in Photos to remove distracting image elements
- Natural language photo and video search
- Image Wand in Notes for transforming sketches
- Enhanced Siri capabilities with more conversational interactions
The technology company has also integrated ChatGPT, allowing users to access the AI tool directly without creating a separate account, with built-in privacy protections.
Apple has also featured a magic keyboard which Apple says features a larger trackpad for enhanced precision, a 14-key function row for easier control of screen brightness and volume, and a machined aluminum hinge with a USB-C charging connector. The 11-inch model of the keyboard is now available at $269 and the 13-inch model at $319, with a white color option.
Apple also says it has doubled the starting storage of its iPad Air. Where the previous model started at 64GB, the new iPad Air begins at 128GB. Users can now choose between 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and a new 1TB top-tier option.
The new iPad Air offers competitive pricing across its range. With the 11-inch model starting at $599 (approximately ₦899,183.53) and the 13-inch model beginning at $799 (approximately ₦
1,199,626.19). Education pricing starts at $549 (approximately ₦824,281.18), excluding shipping and retailer markup costs.
Apple continues to dominate the tablet market, with Canalys reporting a 42.3% global market share in Q4 2024. The device ships with iPadOS 18, introducing features like advanced Calculator functionality and improved Notes app capabilities.
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