This week marks the arrival of Apple’s M3 iPad Air, with the first reviews now available. Here’s a summary of the main points you need to know about the enhanced iPad Air.
M3 vs M2 chip: Is there a noticeable difference?
Last year, Apple made significant upgrades to the iPad Air. The 2024 model brought a 13-inch version for the first time, delivering an iPad Pro-like experience in an iPad Air form. It was powered by a robust M2 chip.
This year, aside from a new accessory, the fresh iPad Air features just one key change: it’s equipped with an M3 chip instead of an M2.
Here’s what critics are saying about this chip upgrade.
David Pierce from The Verge:
I didn’t notice any difference at all. Apps launch at the same pace, games perform identically, and even creative apps like Procreate and Logic are just as responsive.
This is more a testament to the M2’s excellence than anything lacking in the M3. Overall, it feels like the M3’s performance is closer to the M2 than the M4 iPad Pro, which still boasts a slight speed advantage across the board.
Scott Stein from CNET:
Apple’s M series chips are incredibly impressive, but I believe their advancements on the iPad may be less apparent unless you’re a power user engaged in AI, graphics, or serious video and photo editing… However, even Apple doesn’t highlight the year-over-year enhancements of the M chip. The differences compared to the M2 are modest. It will feel like a major upgrade if you’re using an M-series iPad for the first time.
Introducing the new and enhanced Magic Keyboard
When the M4 iPad Pro launched with an improved Magic Keyboard, I quickly became a fan. Its enhancements, including a function row, larger trackpad, aluminum palm rest, and more, made significant improvements over the previous model.
Now, the new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air inherits many of those benefits. While the absence of an aluminum palm rest is a letdown, most of the primary enhancements from the iPad Pro’s keyboard are included here.
Nathan Ingraham from Engadget:
It’s slimmer and lighter than the previous iPad Air keyboard, has a useful function key row, and the trackpad has been enlarged. While these changes may not seem monumental, they significantly enhance the keyboard experience this year. However, it lacks a few features found on the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard: the top case is smooth plastic rather than aluminum, the keys aren’t backlit, and the trackpad relies on a physical click instead of haptic feedback. Still, this keyboard comes at a $30 lower price than its predecessor.
Tony Polanco from Tom’s Guide:
The typing experience is quite decent, even for those with larger hands like mine. The keys have good travel distance, and the responsive touchpad is enjoyable to use. This makes a great accessory for anyone looking to use the iPad Air as a laptop alternative. […]
The only significant downside of these otherwise excellent peripherals is their respective prices.
Conclusion and video reviews
After exploring a variety of reviews for the M3 iPad Air, the consensus appears to be: it’s an outstanding tablet, just like last year’s M2 Air. In essence, it’s quite similar since it essentially remains the same device.
Also notable is that if you already possess an M2 model, the new Magic Keyboard is fully compatible.
The primary grievances from reviewers mostly relate to the iPad Air lacking additional features found in the iPad Pro. For example, Nathan Ingraham expressed:
I’m disappointed that it still uses Touch ID instead of Face ID, and I believe it’s time for the iPad Air to upgrade its display.
However, on the whole, if you’re considering purchasing an iPad Air, you now have an even more future-proof option than before, along with a Magic Keyboard that enhances its utility for full-time computing.
The M3 iPad Air is currently being offered at a discounted price for both the 11-inch and 13-inch variants.
