Along with introducing new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models, Apple this week launched a refreshed version of the iPad Air. Little has changed, but the M3 chip is a solid upgrade over the M2, and Apple also debuted a new keyboard option.
The 2025 iPad Air refresh isn’t exactly exciting, and if you put an âM2â âiPad Airâ and an M3 âiPad Airâ next to one another, you’re not going to be able to see much of a visual difference, though the back of the 2025 model no longer says “âiPad Airâ.” In fact, Apple made no updates at all except for the chip inside. The design is the same, the colors are the same, and all other internal components are the same, too.
Apple’s upgraded M3 chip does bring some key improvements in performance that might matter to some users, though. The M3 isn’t a new chip, and it was previously used in the âMacBook Airâ, iMac, and other machines, but it is the first 3-nanometer chip that’s come to the âiPad Airâ. The âM2â was built on a 5nm process comparatively, and the newer 3nm process brings speed and efficiency improvements, though Apple is using a binned version with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU.
In benchmarks, the M3 CPU is up to 21 percent faster than the âM2â, and GPU performance is up to 15 percent faster. The M3 brings new graphics architecture with support for Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading. Dynamic Caching improves performance for games and pro apps that need a lot of GPU power, while hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading make console quality gaming possible on the âiPad Airâ.
The âiPad Airâ isn’t Apple’s most affordable tablet, nor is it the most powerful. It’s akin to the âMacBook Airâ, providing a balance between price and performance. If you need something for web browsing, gaming, and watching videos, you can get away with the more affordable iPad. The âiPad Airâ, though, has the power to do a lot of what a computer can do. With the M3 chip, the âiPad Airâ is basically as capable as the M4 iPad Pro, and differences come down to display technology, design, and authentication, as the âiPad Airâ has Touch ID while the âiPad Proâ has Face ID.
You can get the âiPad Airâ in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, like the âiPad Proâ. The 11-inch model is more portable and is ideal for use on the couch or when traveling, while the 13-inch model is a better size for more work-oriented tasks.
Both models are compatible with Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for the âiPad Airâ, which was updated this year. Compared to the prior version, it has a larger trackpad, function keys, a USB-C port for charging the âiPadâ, and the âiPad Proâ Magic Keyboard hinge design, but it doesn’t have the same aluminum build. Apple’s keyboards are expensive, starting at $269 for the âiPad Airâ, but the quality is generally worth it thanks to the super responsive Mac-like trackpad. If you have an âM2â âiPad Airâ, the new keyboard is compatible with it.
If you’re looking for a tablet that can do more than the âiPadâ but don’t need the bells and whistles of the âiPad Proâ, the âiPad Airâ is a solid middle ground, and a $599 starting price is not a bad deal for the M3 chip.
This article, “Hands-On With Apple’s New M3 iPad Air” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Â
â Along with introducing new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models, Apple this week launched a refreshed version of the iPad Air. Little has changed, but the M3 chip is a solid upgrade over the M2, and Apple also debuted a new keyboard option.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
The 2025 iPad Air refresh isn’t exactly exciting, and if you put an âM2â âiPad Airâ and an M3 âiPad Airâ next to one another, you’re not going to be able to see much of a visual difference, though the back of the 2025 model no longer says “âiPad Airâ.” In fact, Apple made no updates at all except for the chip inside. The design is the same, the colors are the same, and all other internal components are the same, too.
Apple’s upgraded M3 chip does bring some key improvements in performance that might matter to some users, though. The M3 isn’t a new chip, and it was previously used in the âMacBook Airâ, iMac, and other machines, but it is the first 3-nanometer chip that’s come to the âiPad Airâ. The âM2â was built on a 5nm process comparatively, and the newer 3nm process brings speed and efficiency improvements, though Apple is using a binned version with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU.
In benchmarks, the M3 CPU is up to 21 percent faster than the âM2â, and GPU performance is up to 15 percent faster. The M3 brings new graphics architecture with support for Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading. Dynamic Caching improves performance for games and pro apps that need a lot of GPU power, while hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading make console quality gaming possible on the âiPad Airâ.
The âiPad Airâ isn’t Apple’s most affordable tablet, nor is it the most powerful. It’s akin to the âMacBook Airâ, providing a balance between price and performance. If you need something for web browsing, gaming, and watching videos, you can get away with the more affordable iPad. The âiPad Airâ, though, has the power to do a lot of what a computer can do. With the M3 chip, the âiPad Airâ is basically as capable as the M4 iPad Pro, and differences come down to display technology, design, and authentication, as the âiPad Airâ has Touch ID while the âiPad Proâ has Face ID.
You can get the âiPad Airâ in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, like the âiPad Proâ. The 11-inch model is more portable and is ideal for use on the couch or when traveling, while the 13-inch model is a better size for more work-oriented tasks.
Both models are compatible with Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for the âiPad Airâ, which was updated this year. Compared to the prior version, it has a larger trackpad, function keys, a USB-C port for charging the âiPadâ, and the âiPad Proâ Magic Keyboard hinge design, but it doesn’t have the same aluminum build. Apple’s keyboards are expensive, starting at $269 for the âiPad Airâ, but the quality is generally worth it thanks to the super responsive Mac-like trackpad. If you have an âM2â âiPad Airâ, the new keyboard is compatible with it.
If you’re looking for a tablet that can do more than the âiPadâ but don’t need the bells and whistles of the âiPad Proâ, the âiPad Airâ is a solid middle ground, and a $599 starting price is not a bad deal for the M3 chip.Related Roundup: iPad Air Buyer’s Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPadThis article, “Hands-On With Apple’s New M3 iPad Air” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums   Read More MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – All StoriesÂ
#Techno #PCWorld
