New iPad Air Marketing Materials Hit Retail Stores, Suggesting Imminent Launch

Last month Apple unveiled a redesigned iPad Air with slimmer bezels that it said would become available in October, but it didn't give an exact date for when it would start taking orders. With October now upon us, there are indications that the new ‌iPad Air‌ could launch imminently, rather than later on in the month.

ipad air 4 colors
According to a tweet late on Wednesday from well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, "Apple marketing materials for the new ‌iPad Air‌ are starting to land at retail stores, suggesting a launch sooner rather than later."

The new ‌iPad Air‌ is the first Apple device with Touch ID built into the power button. That has allowed Apple to add a fully laminated 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide color support, and an anti-reflective coating.

It's also the first time Apple has debuted a new AXX-series chip in an iPad before an iPhone. The new ‌iPad Air‌ is powered by the new 5nm-based, six-core A14 Bionic chip for up to 40 percent faster performance and up to 30 percent faster graphics than the previous-generation ‌iPad Air‌. It's the same chip expected to be used for the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro models, which are expected to be announced this month.


Apple's ‌iPad Air‌ is also the first ‌iPad‌ to offer unique color options similar to ‌iPhone‌ colors. The ‌iPad Air‌ is available in silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue.

Like the iPad Pro, the new ‌iPad Air‌ features a USB-C port instead of a Lightning connector, and similarly features a 12-megapixel rear camera for higher-resolution photos and 4K video recording.

The new ‌iPad Air‌ will be available on Apple.com and the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions when it launches. Wi-Fi models will start at $599, while cellular models will start at $729, with 64GB and 256GB storage capacities available.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
vision pro video recording

WSJ: Some Apple Vision Pro Buyers 'Feel Total Regret'

Friday May 16, 2025 7:43 am PDT by
Apple's Vision Pro headset has left many early adopters expressing dissatisfaction over its weight, limited use cases, and sparse software ecosystem, according to a new article from The Wall Street Journal. In the year following the device's launch, user feedback suggests that it has failed to meet expectations for comfort, software support, and social acceptance. In interviews conducted by T...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Could Debut Advanced Silicon Battery Tech

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00 am PDT by
The upcoming all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. According to DigiTimes, TDK CEO Noboru Saito revealed in a recent interview that the Apple supplier has accelerated its production timeline, moving shipments...
fortnite apple featured

Apple Says Fortnite for iOS Isn't Blocked Worldwide, Just the U.S.

Friday May 16, 2025 9:58 am PDT by
Apple today clarified that it has not blocked Epic Games from updating the iOS Fortnite app in the European Union, but it is not planning to allow Epic Games to offer Fortnite in the United States App Store at the current time. In a statement to Bloomberg, Apple said that Epic Games tied its U.S. App Store submission to the update that was also being submitted to the Epic Games Store for iOS ...

Top Rated Comments

brilliantthings Avatar
61 months ago

It takes 2 secs to pull the mask down lol.
Not an option in every workplace
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
otternonsense Avatar
61 months ago

It takes 2 secs to pull the mask down lol.
You cannot keep doing that every single time. It's a total nuisance.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Laptopdog78 Avatar
61 months ago

Just don’t understand why someone would pick this up over a second hand iPad Pro 11 for roughly the same cost. Fast refresh > A14
Seriously you don’t see why? It is because a lot of people (including myself) love that the shiny new gadget that they have bought is totally brand new and unused.....To me, the slight cost difference for the brand new air is much more appealing than a slightly cheaper second hand pro.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
61 months ago

Just don’t understand why someone would pick this up over a second hand iPad Pro 11 for roughly the same cost. Fast refresh > A14
Colors.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Techwatcher Avatar
61 months ago
These are going to sell very well.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brilliantthings Avatar
61 months ago

Just don’t understand why someone would pick this up over a second hand iPad Pro 11 for roughly the same cost. Fast refresh > A14
I love that I'll be able to use touch ID at work while wearing a mask.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)