Apple Announces New iPad Air With M3 Chip, Updated Magic Keyboard

Apple today introduced new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 chip, along with an updated Magic Keyboard for the device.

M3 iPad Air
With the M3 chip, the new iPad Air should offer up to 20% faster performance compared to the previous-generation model with the M2 chip, which was released in May 2024. In addition, the M3 chip brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the iPad Air for the first time, providing improved graphics rendering in games.

The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air features a larger trackpad, and function keys for easy access to features like display brightness and volume controls. The new Magic Keyboard attaches to the iPad Air magnetically, and the Smart Connector immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth. The keyboard is also equipped with a USB-C port in its hinge for pass-through charging of other accessories.

We have yet to discover any other changes for the new iPad Air beyond the M3 chip and the updated Magic Keyboard. The new 11-inch and 13-inch models continue to have a 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera, 12-megapixel Wide rear camera, Touch ID power button, USB-C port with up to 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Storage capacities continue to range between 128GB and 1TB, and battery life is unchanged compared to the previous model.

Apple Intelligence is available on any iPad Air model with the M1 chip or newer.

The new iPad Air can be pre-ordered starting today, and it will launch on March 12. In the U.S., the 11-inch model continues to start at $599, and the 13-inch model continues to start at $799. The device remains available in the same Space Gray, Starlight, Blue, and Purple color options that were offered for the previous model.

The new Magic Keyboard comes in white. In the U.S., it is priced at $269 for the 11-inch iPad Air, and at $319 for the 13-inch iPad Air.

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

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Top Rated Comments

nortonandreev Avatar
8 months ago
LMAO... was expecting the MacBook Air.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abatabia Avatar
8 months ago
No M4? Interesting. Literally no reason to upgrade from my M1.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H_D Avatar
8 months ago
With iPad OS I've seen almost no difference between my iPadPro pre-M1 and the new M4 because most software just doesn't use the processor power. On the Studio/MBP you really notice, but not with this kind of pared-down OS. Should be even less of a difference here, making AI the only buying argument (and frankly, Apple AI... has a way to go).

What would be nice: A week of AIR: iPad Air, MB Air, AirPods Pro 3 and AirTags :-D
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
8 months ago
The issue with the iPad isn’t the m chip, the m1 is still over kill for an iPad so what’s the difference
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unregistered 4U Avatar
8 months ago

No M4? Interesting. Literally no reason to upgrade from my M1.
Even if there was an M5, there would still be no reason other than “you want to spend money”. :) For those millions on older iPads though? Oh yes!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brofkand Avatar
8 months ago
the price of these keyboards is insane IMO.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)