The Apple iPad Air is a versatile and powerful tablet designed for both productivity and entertainment. Here's an overview of its current and previous models:
Current Model: iPad Air with M3 Chip
- Performance: The latest iPad Air features the M3 chip, which offers significant performance improvements over its predecessors. It is nearly twice as fast as the M1 chip and up to 3.5 times faster than the A14 Bionic chip[1][6].- Design and Display: Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, both models feature Liquid Retina displays with True Tone technology. The design remains largely unchanged from the previous model, with an aluminum chassis and flat sides[1][4].
- Features: Supports Apple Intelligence, advanced cameras, fast wireless connectivity, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). It also includes a new Magic Keyboard designed to enhance productivity[1][5].
- Price: Starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model[1][9].
Previous Model: iPad Air with M2 Chip
- Performance: Equipped with the M2 chip, offering a balance of performance and efficiency. It supports an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU[10].- Design and Display: Also available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes with similar display specifications to the M3 model[10].
- Features: Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and supports advanced camera features like Center Stage[10].
Key Differences Between M2 and M3 Chips
- Performance: The M3 chip shows improvements in both CPU and GPU performance compared to the M2. It uses a 3nm process, resulting in a higher transistor count and better efficiency[2][3].- Graphics: The M3 supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a new GPU architecture, enhancing graphics capabilities[2][3].
- Media Engines: The M3 includes ProRes encode and decode engines, which are beneficial for professional video editing[5].
Citations:
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/
[2] https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2-vs-m3-chip/
[3] https://www.macrumors.com/guide/2025-ipad-air/
[4] https://www.wired.com/story/apple-new-ipad-air-m3-chip/
[5] https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/ipad-air-2025-vs-ipad-air-2024/
[6] https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/04/apple-launches-a-new-ipad-air-with-m3-chip/
[7] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/03/04/ipad-ipad-air-ipad-pro-buyers-guide-which-ipad-to-buy-in-early-2025
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1cwr90h/confused_between_ipad_air_m2_and_macbook_air_m3/
[9] https://mashable.com/article/march-4-ipad-air-preorder-2025
[10] https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-air-11-m2%2Cipad-air-13-m2