Apple is giving the iPad Air a serious performance boost with the M3 chip, making it nearly twice as fast as the M1 version and 3.5x faster than the A14-powered model. Alongside the upgraded chip, Apple is introducing a larger 13-inch model for those who need more screen real estate, and a new Magic Keyboard that adds more functionality at a lower price.
The M3 iPad Air brings Apple’s advanced graphics architecture to the lineup for the first time, unlocking features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and dynamic caching, which improve gaming and creative performance. The Neural Engine is also 60% faster than the one in M1, making the iPad Air a capable device for AI-based workloads and Apple Intelligence, Apple’s new on-device AI system coming in iPadOS 18.
The new Magic Keyboard now has a larger trackpad for better precision, a function row for quick access to settings, and a redesigned aluminum hinge with a built-in USB-C charging port. It magnetically attaches to the iPad Air for a seamless experience, all while dropping in price to $269 for the 11-inch version and $319 for the 13-inch model.
M3 Brings a Huge Speed Boost to iPad Air
Apple claims the M3 chip in the iPad Air is:
– Up to 35% faster for CPU-intensive tasks than the M1 model
– Up to 40% faster in graphics performance
– Up to 4x faster in rendering workflows with ray tracing
The chip also gives Mac-level gaming and content creation performance, allowing users to run graphics-intensive apps, edit large video files, and play console-quality games with realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
Apple Intelligence and Smarter AI Features
The M3 chip unlocks Apple Intelligence, a personal AI system that enhances the iPad experience. With on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, Apple ensures that user data remains private. AI-powered features include:
– Clean Up Tool in Photos to remove unwanted objects
– Image Wand in Notes for auto-generating sketches
– Genmoji for personalized emoji creation
– Smarter Siri with ChatGPT integration, allowing users to get AI-powered answers without opening another app
Users can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account, and Apple ensures privacy protections like obscured IP addresses and no data storage by OpenAI.
iPad Air (M3) Pricing and Availability
The M3 iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch. Education discounts drop the price to $549 and $749, respectively. Pre-orders start today, with availability beginning March 12.
With the power of M3, support for Apple Pencil Pro, a larger screen option, and an all-new Magic Keyboard, the iPad Air is more versatile than ever—and remains Apple’s best balance of performance, portability, and price.
