Apple iPad Air M3 overview: Predictably nice

The brand new iPad Air got here considerably as a shock. When Apple teased a brand new “Air” launch, like most others, I assumed that might come within the type of an M4 MacBook Air. To make certain, that launch got here too — however alongside it, Apple up to date the iPad Air too, even if the previous-generation mannequin was launched lower than a yr in the past.

The brand new iPad Air is actually precisely what you’ll count on it to be. Is that sort of boring? Certain, however solely from the angle of somebody who tries each new iPad because it’s launched. The iPad Air definitely wasn’t in want of a serious refresh, however with the M3 chip and up to date equipment, the M3 iPad Air will get that additional bit higher for these contemplating a brand new iPad, with out a rise in worth.

All that to say, the M3 iPad Air is an excellent pill.

iPad Air M3 specs

iPad Air M3 overview: Design

The iPad Air M3 retains the identical design because the earlier era iPad Air, which is an efficient factor. Certain, it’s been a variety of years now since Apple’s mid-lineup pill bought a serious design refresh, however it nonetheless appears trendy and premium, with an edge-to-edge show and flat sides that guarantee it appears prefer it belongs in Apple’s present lineup.

Like final yr’s mannequin, the iPad Air M3 is accessible in an 11-inch or a 13-inch variant. I’m reviewing the monster 13-inch iPad Air, which is fairly enormous. In terms of tablets, I favor the 11-inch dimension for versatility, however those that plan on largely utilizing their iPad as a sort of laptop computer substitute could go for the bigger mannequin as a substitute. Simply concentrate on the truth that the 13-inch dimension could be a little unwieldy in some settings, like when you’re making an attempt to make use of it in mattress.

As you’ll count on from a contemporary iPad, the iPad Air M3 feels very premium and well-designed. It’s accessible in 4 colorways, together with Blue, Purple, Starlight, and House Grey. I’ve the Blue mannequin, which I fairly like, regardless of its very refined tone. Just like the previous generation models, the pill has a Contact ID energy button on the highest proper when utilized in vertical orientation, and on the highest of the left edge when used horizontally. This has been round for a while now, and I actually like that Apple prompts you so as to add a number of fingerprints whenever you first arrange the pill, because it ensures you may simply unlock the pill regardless of how you utilize it.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

On the again of the pill, you’ll discover a single digicam together with a shiny Apple brand, however that’s it. Apparently, Apple has eliminated the iPad Air label discovered on the earlier era fashions, making for a extra minimalistic and stark look. It’s a small change, however I prefer it.

Apple didn’t want to revamp the iPad Air, and it didn’t. The pill nonetheless feels premium, and I like that it’s nonetheless accessible in two sizes.

iPad Air M3 overview: Show

The display screen on the iPad Air can also be the identical as final yr, which principally implies that whereas it’s nowhere close to pretty much as good because the display screen on the iPad Pro, it nonetheless appears nice.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

Irrespective of which iPad Air dimension you get, you’re getting an LED show with a 264-pixel-per-inch decision and a 60Hz refresh fee. The brightness is barely completely different between the 2 fashions, with the 11-inch mannequin getting 500 nits of brightness and the 13-inch mannequin reaching 600 nits. They’re handsome screens, and whereas the black ranges aren’t as deep or as managed because the OLED panel on the iPad Professional, for probably the most half, colours are vibrant and distinction is sweet.

It will be good to see a better refresh fee someday quickly although. These tablets might not be as premium because the iPad Professional, however they’re nonetheless not low-cost, and whereas I can definitely perceive not together with a 120Hz panel on the bottom iPad, it feels prefer it’s about time for this mannequin to get one.

iPad Air M3 overview: Efficiency

There’s one massive distinction between the earlier era iPad Air and this yr’s mannequin, and that’s the replace from an M2 chip to an M3 chip. I say it’s an enormous distinction, however in actuality, for many customers, it’s truly not revolutionary. Nonetheless, upgraded efficiency is at all times welcome.

So what do you truly get from that spec bump? The iPad Air M3, in line with Apple, is sort of two instances extra highly effective than the M1 iPad Air — however you in all probability gained’t actually really feel that distinction all that a lot proper now. The very fact is that even the M1 iPad Air is a really highly effective pill and it will probably nonetheless deal with every little thing you throw at it in 2025.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

That mentioned, higher efficiency will come into play in the direction of the tip of the lifespan of the gadget. As these tablets begin to age, they’ll decelerate, and the M1 mannequin will cease getting new working system updates and different new options effectively earlier than the M3 mannequin, if historical past is something to go by. In different phrases, like with any telephone, laptop computer, or anything with a chip, shopping for a extra highly effective mannequin will assist future-proof the gadget for individuals who plan on holding onto their buy for so long as attainable. Relaxation assured that for tablet-focused duties like media consumption and cell gaming, the M3 iPad Air excels.

Listed below are the benchmark outcomes we achieved with the M3 iPad Air:

• GeekBench 6: 3,051 single-core, 11,731 multi-core
• 3DMark Wild Life Excessive: 6,468

These are excellent scores, however they’re, as anticipated, not as spectacular because the M4-equipped iPad Pro. Which may appear apparent, however the reality is that Apple typically differentiates merchandise primarily based on options than efficiency. For now, nevertheless, when you’re on the lookout for probably the most highly effective pill you may get, the iPad Professional continues to be the most suitable choice.

iPad Air M3 overview: Battery life

The general battery lifetime of the iPad Air M3 is similar because the M2 mannequin, however that’s not essentially an enormous deal. Certain, higher battery life might need been good, however most pill customers don’t use their gadgets like they do a smartphone or a laptop computer, so even with the Apple-rated 10-hour internet browsing battery life, most will get at the least just a few days of use. For those who are on the lookout for a pill to make use of for work moderately than leisure, most workflows will nonetheless have the ability to get by a full day of use.

After all, your precise battery life will range relying on how precisely you utilize the gadget. Cellular avid gamers will get lower than 10 hours, whereas those that carry out quite simple duties and preserve the show brightness low will doubtless get extra. 

iPad Air M3 overview: Digital camera

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

On the again of the iPad Air M3 may be discovered a 12-megapixel digicam with an f/1.8 aperture. I’m not going to dive too deep into how the digicam appears as a result of I don’t suppose most individuals use their rear-facing digicam for precise images. As a substitute, it’s solely turned on to indicate individuals one thing in a video chat. For that objective, it’s greater than adequate, capturing decently shiny pictures. Certain, they’re nowhere close to pretty much as good because the pictures you’ll get from a contemporary iPhone, however once more, they don’t actually should be.

On the entrance, you’ll get one other 12-megapixel digicam, however this one is vast sufficient to help Apple’s Middle Stage, which I’ve truly discovered to be fairly useful. Middle Stage basically permits the gadget to intelligently comply with you round whenever you transfer throughout the limits of the ultra-wide lens. To be clear, this isn’t new for this era of iPad Air — the earlier mannequin had it too.

iPad Air M3 overview: Equipment

Maybe probably the most life-altering change for the iPad Air M3, for now, comes within the type of up to date equipment. Like earlier than, the iPad Air M3 helps Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, together with the Apple Pencil Professional. Not like earlier than, nevertheless, the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air lastly has a row of operate keys. That is one thing that was already accessible on the iPad Professional, however it’s very useful. I take advantage of these keys rather a lot for issues like media playback, quantity, and show brightness — and whereas I perceive wanting to maintain the keyboard rather less cramped, I feel the Magic Keyboard is significantly better with these keys, even on the smaller 11-inch mannequin.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

Aside from this addition, the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Professional work the identical as they do on different merchandise. The Magic Keyboard is a wonderful accent, holding the iPad in place firmly sufficient to forestall accidents, however smooth sufficient to make it straightforward to take away the pill as wanted. Not solely that, the keys on the keyboard really feel nice, with stable journey and a tactile really feel. In traditional Apple style, the touchpad is head and shoulders above the overwhelming majority of the competitors.

I actually like utilizing these equipment and have even been capable of get used to utilizing an iPad with a Magic Keyboard for laptop-like duties. To be clear, I’ve a MacBook, and I actually solely use an iPad as a laptop computer in sure conditions, like after I’m in an financial system airplane seat and don’t wish to expend the house {that a} laptop computer takes up. However I might get used to utilizing an iPad as a laptop computer substitute in a pinch, particularly for duties like emailing, internet shopping, and writing.

Conclusions

Right here’s the factor: Apple isn’t making base iPads or iPad Airs for the varieties of people that wish to improve their pill each single yr. From that perspective, the iPad Air M3 makes whole sense. In case you have an iPad Air M2 and even an M1 mannequin, you shouldn’t purchase the iPad Air M3. As a substitute, in case your seven or eight-year-old iPad has slowed down sufficient to the place you may’t get what you need from it anymore, then the iPad Air M3 is a wonderful improve. This pill will final years to return, similar to your earlier one did. Certain, you may purchase a used M2 mannequin if you would like, however spending that additional bit of money for the M3 variant will doubtless make sure that your shiny new pill lasts that additional bit longer down the road.

The competitors

Let’s be trustworthy, the most important competitors to the iPad Air comes from different iPads, within the type of the bottom iPad and the iPad Professional. The iPad Air is rather more highly effective than the bottom iPad, which implies that it’ll carry out higher for longer. To be clear, in 2025, the bottom iPad and the iPad Air will carry out equally in the case of issues like watching films and enjoying video games from Apple Arcade, however the energy that the M3 affords ensures that this iPad Air will stay quick and responsive for longer.

The inverse is true of the iPad Pro, however the iPad Professional feels just a little excessive for many patrons. Certain, that M4 chip makes for a better-performing pill, however with a beginning worth of $999, it is smart that the iPad Professional is just a little out of attain for many patrons. Principally, the iPad Air is a wonderful middle-ground.

Ought to I purchase the iPad Air M3?

Sure. It’s a wonderful pill.