Apple has launched the new iPad Air (8th Gen) as the successor to last year’s M3 model. The tablet is now powered by the latest M4 chip. It continues to come in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, both featuring Liquid Retina displays and Touch ID integrated into the top button.
The iPad Air (8th Gen) comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. The 11-inch model features a 2360 x 1640 pixels display, while the 13-inch model offers 2732 x 2048 pixels resolution. Both displays support True Tone, P3 wide color gamut, 500 nits brightness, and 264 PPI pixel density.
The biggest upgrade this year is the move from the M3 chip to the new M4 processor. The iPad Air (8th Gen) is powered by the Apple M4 chip. It features an 8-core CPU with three performance cores and five efficiency cores. The chip also includes a 9-core GPU.
Apple claims the new model delivers up to 30 percent better performance compared to the M3 iPad Air. It is also up to 2.3 times faster than the older M1 model. The 9-core GPU now supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. This helps in faster 3D rendering and improved graphics performance in games and creative apps.
The tablet includes a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says it can run AI tasks up to three times faster than the Neural Engine in the M1 chip.
Unified memory has been increased to 12GB, which is 50 percent more than before. It also offers memory bandwidth of 120GB per second. This should help in running local AI models and smoother multitasking with multiple app windows.
It runs on iPadOS 26 and includes native Apple Intelligence features.
The rear camera is a 12MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture, 5P lens, Smart HDR 4, and support for 4K video recording at up to 60fps. On the front, there is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with f/2.0 aperture. It supports Center Stage, Retina Flash with True Tone, and 1080p video recording at up to 60fps. The front camera is positioned on the landscape edge.
The tablet includes dual microphones and landscape stereo speakers. The 13-inch model offers enhanced audio output. Touch ID is integrated into the top button.
The device supports Thunderbolt 3, USB 4 up to 40Gbps, and USB 3 up to 10Gbps. Other connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7 802.11be 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 6, built-in GPS/GNSS, and optional 5G via eSIM.
The device features the new N1 wireless chip. It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says it improves 5GHz network performance and offers more stable local networking for features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
The cellular variants include the new C1X cellular modem. It supports 5G and eSIM functionality. Apple claims it delivers up to 50 percent faster cellular speeds while using up to 30 percent less power compared to the modem in the M3 iPad Air. It also includes built-in GPS support.
The 11-inch model packs a 28.93-watt-hour battery, while the 13-inch version includes a 36.59-watt-hour battery. Apple claims up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours on 5G.
The iPad Air (8th Gen) is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. This allows users to draw, take notes, and type with a full keyboard. Existing accessories for previous iPad Air models will also work with the new device.
iPad Air (8th Gen) Price in India
The new iPad Air comes in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Grey colours.
11-inch Wi-Fi Models
- 128GB – Rs. 64,900
- 256GB – Rs. 74,900
- 512GB – Rs. 94,900
- 1TB – Rs. 1,14,900
11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular Models
- 128GB – Rs. 79,900
- 256GB – Rs. 89,900
- 512GB – Rs. 1,09,900
- 1TB – Rs. 1,29,900
13-inch Wi-Fi Models
- 128GB – Rs. 84,900
- 256GB – Rs. 94,900
- 512GB – Rs. 1,14,900
- 1TB – Rs. 1,34,900
13-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular Models
- 128GB – Rs. 99,900
- 256GB – Rs. 1,09,900
- 512GB – Rs. 1,29,900
- 1TB – Rs. 1,49,900
The new iPad Air (8th Gen) will be available to order from March 4 on apple.com/store and through the Apple Store app in 35 countries, including India. It will go on sale starting March 11 via Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers.
