Apple Unveils Updated and ‘Perfectly Balanced’ iPad Air Tablet Powered by M3 Chip

The iPad Air is a rather controversial product from Apple. In one incarnation, it is the most attractive in the lineup due to the perfect combination of features and price. In another, it is too expensive and not advanced enough. Today, Apple introduced the next generation of the iPad Air based on the M3 chip, in which it tried to find the perfect balance.

Image source: Apple

In fact, nothing has changed with the iPad Air except for the change from M2 to M3. The new iPad Air is equipped with an updated M3 chip and, of course, supports Apple Intelligence features. Apple claims that the new model is twice as fast as the Air based on the M1 and the Air based on the A14 Bionic. The company refrained from comparing it with more modern chips. The improved Neural Engine AI accelerator expands the use of AI in the iPad Air. According to Apple, compared to the M1, the Neural Engine in the M3 is 60% faster for AI-based workloads.

According to Apple, the M3 chip “brings Apple’s advanced graphics architecture to iPad Air for the first time, with support for dynamic caching and hardware-assisted ray tracing. For graphics-intensive rendering workflows, iPad Air with M3 delivers up to 4x the performance of iPad Air with M1, enabling more accurate lighting, reflections, shadows, and incredibly realistic gaming experiences.”

The new product will be available in four colors, with 11- and 13-inch screens. The price of the tablets starts at $599 for the smaller model and from $799 for the larger one. The optional Magic Keyboard offers an additional row of function keys and a larger trackpad, which were previously available only on Pro models. The keyboard will cost $269 or $319 depending on the display size. The new tablet also received support for the Apple Pencil Pro.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a cryptic message on social media platform X ahead of the new tablet’s announcement, saying “there’s something in the Air,” but refraining from providing specifics, as is Apple’s long-standing marketing tradition. Experts believe Apple is looking to capitalize on a recent surge in tablet sales — last year’s iPad Pro and iPad Air were excellent and well-received devices, and Apple’s tablets in general tend to be among the devices that receive the latest technology.

Apple still doesn’t face much competition in the tablet market, and the iPad continues to improve. However, it’s a little odd that Apple isn’t offering its latest M4 chip in the updated Air. So the new model seems only relevant for owners of significantly older iPad Air predecessors, while others may need to wait for the next generation.

Apple also still hasn’t answered the question that’s been around for nearly two decades: What is the iPad really for? The new Air represents another in a long line of solid technical updates, but it’s not clear how much those updates change or improve the user experience.