March 4, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Apple Launches Enhanced iPad Air Featuring Advanced M3 Chip and Updated Magic Keyboard
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA — Today, Apple unveiled the revamped iPad Air powered by the cutting-edge M3 chip. This new iteration introduces Apple’s advanced graphics architecture to the iPad Air, elevating its renowned efficiency and portability to unprecedented levels. The iPad Air with M3 boasts nearly double the speed of the M1 model, and up to 3.5 times faster performance compared to the A14 Bionic model. This rapid processing power enhances users’ experiences, whether they’re creating captivating content or engaging in graphics-intensive gaming. The iPad Air is offered in two sizes and four stunning finishes, with the 11-inch version being ultra-portable and the 13-inch model offering an expansive display for enhanced creativity and productivity. Additionally, the new Magic Keyboard, designed for the iPad Air, adds versatility at a competitive price. With iPadOS 18, compatibility with Apple Intelligence, advanced cameras, fast 5G connectivity, and support for Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), the latest iPad Air promises an exceptional user experience.
Maintaining the same starting prices of $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air presents outstanding value. For educational institutions, the starting price is just $549 for the 11-inch model and $749 for the 13-inch variant. Customers can now pre-order the iPad Air with M3 and the new Magic Keyboard, with shipments set to commence on Wednesday, March 12.
“The iPad Air’s popularity stems from its unmatched performance, portability, and extensive accessory support—all at a reasonable price,” noted Bob Borchers, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Whether you’re a college student using Apple Pencil Pro for note-taking or a traveler needing powerful on-the-go productivity, the iPad Air with M3, enhanced by Apple Intelligence and the refreshed Magic Keyboard, represents a significant step forward in versatility and value.”
Enhanced Performance with M3
The iPad Air with M3 allows users to harness their productivity and creativity anywhere, from aspiring artists using demanding applications to travelers editing content while on the move. The M3 chip features an 8-core CPU that is up to 35% quicker for multithreaded tasks than the M1 and a 9-core GPU that delivers up to 40% improved graphics performance over its predecessor. For the first time, M3 introduces advanced graphics architecture to the iPad Air, enabling dynamic caching and hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. This transformation results in performance that is up to four times faster for graphics-intensive tasks, ensuring realistic lighting and shadow effects for a truly immersive gaming experience.3
The upgraded Neural Engine in M3 enhances AI functionality within iPadOS, making it 60% faster for AI-driven tasks compared to M1. Moreover, the M3-equipped iPad Air features support for Apple Intelligence, choices between 11-inch and 13-inch models, and compatibility with advanced accessories like the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.
iPad Air: Designed for Apple Intelligence
The iPad Air is tailored for Apple Intelligence, a personal assistant delivering insightful and relevant guidance.4 The Clean Up tool in Photos allows users to easily eliminate distractions from images, while natural language search helps locate specific photos or videos by simply describing them. With the Image Wand tool in Notes, users can transform basic sketches into sophisticated images just by drawing around them with their Apple Pencil. They can circle empty spaces in notes, and Image Wand will intelligently create a fitting image to enhance their notes visually.
Apple Intelligence sparks creative expression through features like Image Playground and customizable emoji creation with Genmoji, alongside enhanced writing tools. Siri can now understand typed commands and has improved conversational abilities, allowing it to follow context throughout user interactions. Additionally, Siri has extensive product knowledge to help users with inquiries about device features and settings.
Furthermore, ChatGPT is integrated into both Writing Tools and Siri, enabling users to leverage ChatGPT’s capabilities seamlessly without switching apps. Users can access ChatGPT for free, with built-in privacy protections ensuring that their IP addresses are masked and that OpenAI won’t retain the requests. Users maintain full control over when to activate ChatGPT and what information to share.
Apple Intelligence prioritizes user privacy through on-device processing; most operational models function entirely on-device. For larger model access, Private Cloud Compute extends iPad’s security into the cloud, ensuring user data remains private and only used to process specific requests.
New Magic Keyboard for iPad Air
The all-new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air amplifies user capabilities at a lower price point. A larger built-in trackpad enhances precision for detailed tasks, and a new 14-key function row allows quick access to essential features like volume and brightness controls. This Magic Keyboard connects magnetically, utilizing the Smart Connector for immediate power and data coupling without Bluetooth setup; it also incorporates a USB-C charging port within a robust aluminum hinge. Now priced starting at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model, the new Magic Keyboard showcases a floating design cherished by customers and is offered in white.
iPad Updated with Increased Storage and A16 Chip
In addition, Apple has updated the iPad with double the starting storage and powerful A16 chip, elevating value for consumers. The A16 chip enhances everyday task performance, ensuring all-day battery life. Compared to its predecessor, the updated iPad with A16 is nearly 30% faster,5 with an impressive 50% performance leap over the A13 Bionic model.6
Robust Features with iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18 delivers powerful features to enrich the iPad experience, offering versatility and intelligence:7
- The newly designed Calculator allows for innovative use of Apple Pencil to solve mathematical expressions. With Math Notes, users can write complex equations or type them for instant solving, including the creation of variables and equations for graph insertion. Math Notes can be accessed in the Notes app, integrating seamlessly with other note functionalities.
- In Notes, the handwritten note experience becomes more dynamic. Smart Script offers powerful new functions for editing handwritten text, enabling space adjustments and easy pasting of typed text in their handwriting. Handwriting is refined in real-time for improved legibility and smoothness as users write with Apple Pencil.
- With new Audio Recording and Transcription, the iPad can effortlessly capture lectures or discussions, syncing transcripts with the audio for easy reference.
- The Home Screen offers enhanced customization options, with the ability to modify app icons and widgets to fit personal style preferences. A redesigned Control Center simplifies access to everyday tasks, including organizing tools from third-party applications.
Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
The new iPad Air and updated iPad are designed with sustainability in mind. As part of Apple 2030, the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire ecosystem by decade’s end, transitioning to renewable energy for manufacturing and investing in wind and solar initiatives worldwide. Presently, all Apple facilities run on 100% renewable energy, including data centers powering Apple Intelligence.
To fulfill the Apple 2030 commitment, the company is utilizing more recycled and renewable materials in its products, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. The new iPad Air and iPad contain at least 30% recycled content, featuring 100% recycled aluminum and rare earth elements in magnets. The batteries incorporate 100% recycled cobalt and, for the first time in iPad history, over 95% recycled lithium. Both devices adhere to Apple’s rigorous energy efficiency standards and are free from harmful substances such as mercury and PVC. The packaging is entirely fiber-based, moving Apple closer to eliminating plastic packaging entirely by the end of the year.8
Pricing and Availability
- Pre-orders for the new iPad Air with M3 begin today, March 4, at apple.com/store and through the Apple Store app in 29 regions, including the U.S. The devices will be shipped and available in Apple Store locations starting March 12.
- The 11-inch and 13-inch models of iPad Air with M3 come in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
- The prices for the 11-inch iPad Air start at $599 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $749 (U.S.) for Wi-Fi + Cellular. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799 (U.S.) for Wi-Fi and $949 (U.S.) for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
- For educational customers, the new 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 (U.S.), and the 13-inch model begins at $749 (U.S.). This pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students, their parents, and educators at all grade levels. For more information, visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.
- The new Magic Keyboard, available in white, is compatible with both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air, starting at $269 (U.S.) for the 11-inch model and $319 (U.S.) for the 13-inch model. Educational pricing for the 11-inch Magic Keyboard starts at $249 (U.S.) and $299 (U.S.) for the 13-inch model.
- Customers can also pre-order the updated iPad with A16 beginning today, March 4, at apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 29 countries, with availability starting on March 12.
- The new iPad starts with 128GB of storage and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB option. The Wi-Fi models, available in blue, pink, yellow, and silver, start at $349 (U.S.), while Wi-Fi + Cellular models begin at $499 (U.S.). Educational pricing for the Wi-Fi models starts at $329 (U.S.) and $479 (U.S.) for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
- The Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad is priced at $249 (U.S.) and is available in white, with an educational price of $229 (U.S.).
- The new iPad Air is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), while older models support Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (1st generation). The Apple Pencil Pro is available for $129 (U.S.) and $119 (U.S.) for education, while the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is priced at $79 (U.S.) and $69 (U.S.) for education.
- Apple provides excellent trade-in options for those looking to purchase the latest iPads. Customers can receive credit toward a new device by visiting apple.com/shop/trade-in.
- U.S. customers using Apple Card can opt for monthly payments at 0% APR through Apple Card Monthly Installments while receiving 3% Daily Cash back at checkout. More details about eligibility and terms can be found at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.
About Apple
Apple transformed personal technology with the launch of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple continues to lead innovation with products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s software platforms—including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS—deliver seamless experiences across all devices, complemented by exceptional services such as the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s team of over 150,000 dedicated employees is committed to creating the finest products and fostering a better world.
- Testing conducted by Apple in January and February 2025. For further details, visit apple.com/ipad-air.
- Testing conducted by Apple in January and February 2025 on preproduction iPad Air 11-inch (M3) and 13-inch (M3) units alongside production iPad Air (4th generation) units. Performance tests reflect the approximate performance of iPad Air.
- Testing conducted by Apple in the same timeframe using specific models to evaluate performance under various conditions.
- Apple Intelligence features are available for iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models from M1 onward, initially in localized English for select countries, with additional languages rolling out later.
- Performance data regards iPad units with A16 and A13 Bionic, confirming A16’s superiority in key tasks.
- Performance metrics also emphasize the A16’s performance against popular tablets available in the market.
- Feature availability may vary by location. For more information regarding iPadOS 18, visit apple.com/ipados/ipados-18.
- Apple’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices is evidenced by its packaging policies, with a target to eliminate plastics.
Press Contacts
Tara Courtney
Apple
tcourtney@apple.com
Skylar Eisenhart
Apple
s_eisenhart@apple.com
Apple Media Helpline
media.help@apple.com