While most people were expecting the launch of the M4 MacBook Air, Apple has surprised everyone by introducing the new iPad Air instead. In my previous article, I had hinted at this possibility since the iPad Air was also due for an update. And here it is – Apple has officially launched the M3-powered iPad Air with 11-inch and 13-inch models.
The iPad Air with M3 is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models. It has a Liquid Retina display with 264 ppi pixel density, oleophobic coating, and P3 Wide colour. The 11-inch model boasts 500 nits brightness and the 13-inch model has 600 nits brightness.
The Apple M3 chip brings a 35% faster CPU and 40% faster graphics performance than the M1. This means smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and an overall boost in productivity. The M3 chip also introduces ray tracing and hardware-accelerated mesh shading to iPad Air. It makes gaming and creative workflows more immersive, with realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. The M3 chip also has a faster Neural Engine that brings Apple Intelligence features like smarter Siri interactions, advanced image editing, and natural language processing.
Apple is integrating AI-powered tools into iPadOS 18, which makes the iPad Air even more useful for creators, students, and professionals. Here’s a list of Apple Intelligence features coming to the new iPad Air.
- Photo Editing: The new Clean Up tool in Photos helps remove unwanted objects from images effortlessly.
- Notes App Enhancements: With Image Wand, users can turn rough sketches into polished visuals using Apple Pencil.
- Smarter Siri: Siri now supports typed queries, which maintains context between requests and provides detailed answers about Apple devices and settings.
- ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now seamlessly integrate ChatGPT. It allows users to access AI assistance directly without switching apps. ChatGPT can be used without an account, and privacy protections ensure that requests are not stored.
- On-Device Processing: Most AI tasks run directly on the iPad Air. It ensures better privacy and security. For complex queries, Private Cloud Compute processes data securely in the cloud without storing or sharing it.
The design remains unchanged. The device features a Liquid Retina display, Touch ID on the top button, stereo speakers, and an ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage support for better video calls.
The device features a 12 megapixels camera on the back with f/1.8 aperture and Smart HDR 4. It also features 12 megapixels Ultra Wide camera with support for Centre Stage.
It has Wi-Fi 6E for faster and more stable wireless performance. There’s also an optional 5G model with eSIM support. It also has Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 and Bluetooth 5.3. The battery remains the same, and it promises up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours on 5G.
New Magic Keyboard
Apple has also launched a new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. It offers a larger built-in trackpad for precise navigation. The keyboard has a 14-key function row with quick access to brightness and volume controls. It also has magnetic attachment & Smart Connector to connect to the iPad. It features a Machined aluminum hinge with a USB-C charging port. The good thing is that it carries a lower price than the previous Magic Keyboard.
Apple iPad Air (2025) Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 11″ (2360×1640) / 13″ (2732×2048) Retina True Tone, P3 Color Gamut, 500 nits brightness |
| Processor | Apple M3 Chip (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB RAM, 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Storage |
| Operating System | iPadOS 18 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP (f/1.8) with 4K video recording at up to 60fps |
| Front Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.0) with Center Stage |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Optional 5G (eSIM), Thunderbolt 3 |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours (Wi-Fi) / 9 hours (5G) |
| Security | Touch ID on the top button |
| Dimensions & Weight | 11“: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm (460g Wi-Fi / 462g 5G) 13″: 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm (616g Wi-Fi / 618g 5G) |
| Colors | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Grey |
Apple iPad Air 7th Gen – India Pricing
| Model | Wi-Fi Price | Wi-Fi + Cellular Price |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Air 11″ 128GB | ₹59,900 | ₹74,900 |
| iPad Air 11″ 256GB | ₹69,900 | ₹84,900 |
| iPad Air 11″ 512GB | ₹89,900 | ₹1,04,900 |
| iPad Air 11″ 1TB | ₹1,09,900 | ₹1,24,900 |
| iPad Air 13″ 128GB | ₹79,900 | ₹94,900 |
| iPad Air 13″ 256GB | ₹89,900 | ₹1,04,900 |
| iPad Air 13″ 512GB | ₹1,09,900 | ₹1,24,900 |
| iPad Air 13″ 1TB | ₹1,29,900 | ₹1,44,900 |
Magic Keyboard & Accessories Pricing
| Accessory | Price |
|---|---|
| Magic Keyboard for 11″ iPad Air | ₹26,900 |
| Magic Keyboard for 13″ iPad Air | ₹29,900 |
| Smart Folio for 11″ iPad Air | ₹8,500 |
| Smart Folio for 13″ iPad Air | ₹10,900 |
It is now available to order on apple.com/store, and in the Apple Store app in 29 countries and regions, including India. Shipping starts on March 12th.
