Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models starting at $599 and $799 respectively, the iPad Air with M3 promises nearly double the speed of its M1 predecessor, alongside support for Apple Intelligence.
Pre-orders began Tuesday, with units hitting stores and customers on March 12. This launch blends serious performance upgrades with affordability, targeting students, creators, and travelers alike.
The M3 chip is the star here, delivering an 8-core CPU that’s 35% faster than the M1 for multithreaded tasks, per Apple’s testing. The 9-core GPU ups graphics performance by 40%, introducing dynamic caching, mesh shading, and ray tracing—tech terms that boil down to smoother, more realistic visuals for games and creative apps like Procreate Dreams.
Compared to the A14 Bionic iPad Air, it’s up to 3.5 times faster, making it a portable powerhouse for editing 4K video or rendering complex 3D models on the go. The Neural Engine, 60% faster than M1’s, also supercharges AI features in iPadOS 18, like the Image Wand tool that turns sketches into polished visuals.
The new Magic Keyboard enhances versatility without breaking the bank—starting at $269 for the 11-inch model. It sports a bigger trackpad, a 14-key function row for quick controls, and a sleek aluminum hinge with USB-C charging. Magnetically attached, it keeps the floating design fans love, now in a crisp white finish. For students tapping into education pricing ($249), it’s a no-brainer upgrade for note-taking with Apple Pencil Pro.
Apple’s move keeps the iPad Air competitive, blending M-series power with a price that undercuts premium tablets. The M3’s graphics leap means better gaming and pro workflows, while Apple Intelligence—think AI-driven photo cleanup or conversational Siri—adds practical smarts.
Official specs from Apple confirm the gains, and early buzz on X suggests enthusiasts are eyeing this for its value. With TSMC’s U.S. chip plants ramping up, per Bloomberg reports, supply could stay steady, avoiding past shortages. For tech users, this is a timely win—more power, same wallet-friendly entry point.
Are you looking forward to trying the new iPad Air? Let us know on social media!
