Apple has introduced the new iPad Air, now powered by the M3 chip, delivering a significant boost in speed and performance. Designed for Apple Intelligence, the latest iPad Air brings Apple’s advanced graphics architecture to the lineup for the first time, nearly doubling the speed of the previous M1-powered model and offering up to 3.5 times the performance of the A14 Bionic version.
Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, the iPad Air provides flexibility for users on the go or those seeking a larger display for creativity and productivity. The device supports Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard, now offered at a lower price, enhancing the overall user experience. With iPadOS 18 and fast 5G connectivity, the new iPad Air is built to handle demanding tasks, from content creation to immersive gaming.
“iPad Air is so popular because of its unmatched combination of powerful performance, portability, and support for advanced accessories, all at an affordable price,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “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.”
The M3 chip introduces an 8-core CPU that is 35% faster for multithreaded tasks than its predecessor, along with a 9-core GPU delivering up to 40% better graphics performance. Apple’s advanced graphics architecture brings dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing to iPad Air for the first time, enabling more realistic lighting and reflections in games and rendering workflows.
AI capabilities also see a boost, with the M3’s Neural Engine offering a 60% performance increase over the M1, making iPadOS AI-powered features more efficient. The new iPad Air remains priced at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch, with educational discounts starting at $549 and $749, respectively.
Customers can pre-order now, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 12.