Apple has unveiled the 2025 iPad Air lineup, featuring the M3 chip and offering two size options: 11-inch and 13-inch. This latest generation bridges the gap between the standard iPad and the iPad Pro, delivering faster performance, enhanced graphics, and improved connectivity at an affordable price.
In this guide, we’ll break down the specifications, features, and comparisons to help you decide if the new iPad Air M3 is the right upgrade for you.
📋 iPad Air (2025) M3 – Key Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Air 13-inch (M3) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11” Liquid Retina, 2360×1640 | 13” Liquid Retina, 2732×2048 |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 600 nits |
| Chip | M3 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) | M3 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear Camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8 | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8 |
| Front Camera | 12MP Ultra-Wide (landscape) | 12MP Ultra-Wide (landscape) |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo | Landscape stereo |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi / 9 hours cellular | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi / 9 hours cellular |
| Charging Port | USB-C (10 Gbps) | USB-C (10 Gbps) |
| Apple Pencil Support | Apple Pencil Pro & USB-C | Apple Pencil Pro & USB-C |
| Keyboard Support | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Optional 5G | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Optional 5G |
| Operating System | iPadOS 18 | iPadOS 18 |
| Colors | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray |
🚀 Performance: M3 Brings a Huge Boost
The M3 chip in the 2025 iPad Air delivers significant improvements in performance compared to the previous M1 model. Featuring an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, the M3 supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic graphics.
This makes gaming, video editing, and AI-powered tasks smoother and faster than ever before.
🔹 Performance Comparison: M3 vs M1
| Feature | iPad Air (M1, 2022) | iPad Air (M3, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core M1 | 8-core M3 (35% faster) |
| GPU | 8-core M1 | 9-core M3 (40% faster) |
| Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine (60% faster) |
| Ray Tracing | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| External Display | 5K max | 6K max |
Apple states that the M3-powered iPad Air is nearly 2x faster than the M1 version, making it a fantastic upgrade for creators, students, and professionals who want desktop-like power in a portable form factor.
🖥️ Display: Bigger, Brighter, Better
The 2025 iPad Air comes in two sizes, offering more choice for users who want either a lightweight device or a bigger screen for work and media consumption.
| Feature | iPad Air 11-inch | iPad Air 13-inch |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2360 × 1640 | 2732 × 2048 |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 600 nits |
| True Tone | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Wide Color (P3) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Laminated Display | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
The fully laminated, anti-reflective display ensures sharp colors, better contrast, and a smoother touch experience. The 600-nit brightness on the 13-inch model makes it one of the brightest displays in the Air lineup.
📸 Camera: Enhanced for Video Calls & AI Features
The front camera is now landscape-oriented, making video calls more natural and comfortable.
| Feature | Rear Camera (Back) | Front Camera (FaceTime) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 12MP Wide (ƒ/1.8) | 12MP Ultra-Wide |
| Video Recording | 4K @ 60fps | 1080p @ 60fps |
| Center Stage | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Smart HDR 4 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
The rear camera stays at 12MP, but AI-powered image enhancements and Apple Intelligence optimizations provide better HDR, low-light performance, and AI-assisted photo editing.
🎨 Apple Pencil & Magic Keyboard Support
The iPad Air M3 supports Apple Pencil Pro, introducing new features like haptic feedback, squeeze gestures, and barrel roll rotation for enhanced drawing and note-taking.
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air also gets an upgrade:
| Feature | New Magic Keyboard (2025) | Previous Magic Keyboard (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Trackpad | Larger | Smaller |
| Function Row | ✅ Yes (14-key row) | ❌ No function row |
| Hinge Material | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Charging Port | USB-C (pass-through) | USB-C (pass-through) |
With a larger trackpad, improved hinge design, and a full function row, the Magic Keyboard makes the iPad Air more like a laptop than ever before.
📡 Connectivity: Faster Wi-Fi, Optional 5G
Apple has upgraded the connectivity features, bringing Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and optional 5G.
| Feature | iPad Air (M1) | iPad Air (M3) |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E (faster) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| 5G Support | ✅ Yes (Optional) | ✅ Yes (Optional) |
These improvements enable faster downloads, lower latency, and better overall connectivity for streaming, gaming, and cloud-based work.
💰 Pricing & Configurations
| Model | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| 11-inch (128GB) | $599 | $749 |
| 11-inch (256GB) | $699 | $849 |
| 11-inch (512GB) | $899 | $1049 |
| 11-inch (1TB) | $1099 | $1249 |
| 13-inch (128GB) | $799 | $949 |
| 13-inch (256GB) | $899 | $1049 |
| 13-inch (512GB) | $1099 | $1249 |
| 13-inch (1TB) | $1299 | $1449 |
🎯 Should You Upgrade to the iPad Air M3?
✅ Upgrade if You:
✔ Want M3-level performance for gaming, editing, and AI tasks
✔ Prefer a larger display option (13-inch)
✔ Need Apple Pencil Pro support
✔ Want laptop-like productivity with Magic Keyboard
❌ Skip if You:
✖ Already own an M1 iPad Air and don’t need extra power
✖ Need ProMotion (120Hz) – iPad Pro is better for that
🚀 Final Verdict: 9/10 – The best iPad Air yet, bridging the gap between standard iPads and the Pro lineup.
iPad Air Features and Specifications
The iPad Air comes in various storage options to suit different needs. You can choose from:
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 512GB
- 1TB
These storage capacities help you store apps, photos, videos, and files based on how much space you need.
Dimensions and Physical Features
The iPad Air is available in two sizes with sleek dimensions:
11-inch Model:
- Width: 7.02 inches (178.5 mm)
- Height: 9.74 inches (247.6 mm)
- Depth: 0.24 inch (6.1 mm)
13-inch Model:
- Width: 8.46 inches (214.9 mm)
- Height: 11.04 inches (280.6 mm)
- Depth: 0.24 inch (6.1 mm)
Each iPad Air comes with:
- USB-C Charging Cable (1 meter)
- 20W USB-C Power Adapter
Display Technology
Both iPad Air models feature impressive Liquid Retina displays with advanced technology:
11-inch Display:
- 10.86-inch viewable area (measured diagonally)
- 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution at 264 ppi
- 500 nits brightness
- P3 wide color gamut
13-inch Display:
- 12.9-inch viewable area (measured diagonally)
- 2732 x 2048 pixel resolution at 264 ppi
- 600 nits brightness
- P3 wide color gamut
Both screens include:
- True Tone technology
- Fingerprint-resistant coating
- Fully laminated design
- Antireflective coating
- Apple Pencil support (Pro and USB-C models)
- Hover capability
Processing Power
The iPad Air features impressive computing capabilities with:
- 8-core CPU (4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)
- 9-core GPU
- Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB RAM
It supports advanced video processing including:
- 8K HEVC and 4K H.264
- ProRes and ProRes RAW
- Dedicated video encode/decode engines
- AV1 decode support
The iPad Air also includes Apple Intelligence, a built-in system that helps with writing tasks and productivity while maintaining strong privacy protections.
Camera Capabilities
Rear Camera:
- 12MP Wide lens with f/1.8 aperture
- Digital zoom up to 5x
- Smart HDR 4
- Five-element lens design
- Sapphire crystal lens cover
Video Recording:
- 4K video at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
- 1080p HD at 25, 30, or 60 fps
- Slow-motion at 120 or 240 fps
- Time-lapse with stabilization
- Video stabilization for smooth footage
Front Camera:
- Landscape-oriented 12MP camera
- Center Stage technology that keeps you in frame
- f/2.0 aperture
- Smart HDR 4
- 1080p HD video recording
- Retina Flash with True Tone
Audio and FaceTime
The iPad Air provides rich audio with landscape stereo speakers and dual microphones for calls and recordings.
FaceTime Features:
- Video calls to any FaceTime-enabled device
- SharePlay for shared experiences
- Screen sharing capability
- Portrait mode
- Spatial Audio support
- Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes
Connectivity Options
All Models Include:
- Wi-Fi 6E with 2×2 MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.3
Cellular Models Add:
- 5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4×4 MIMO
- Gigabit LTE
- Support for numerous 5G NR bands
- eSIM technology
- Wi-Fi calling
Sensors and Security
The iPad Air contains multiple sensors:
- Digital compass
- Three-axis gyro
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Ambient light sensor
Security is handled through Touch ID, which lets you:
- Unlock your iPad
- Protect personal data in apps
- Make purchases from Apple services
Siri and Intelligence
The iPad Air features Siri with:
- Voice activation using “Siri” or “Hey Siri”
- Type to Siri option
- Strong privacy protections
- Natural, contextual responses powered by Apple Intelligence
Connectivity and Display Output
The iPad Air includes a versatile USB-C port supporting:
- Charging
- DisplayPort
- USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)
External Display Support:
- One external display up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
- Native DisplayPort output
- VGA, HDMI, and DVI with adapters
- AirPlay mirroring up to 4K resolution
Battery Life
Battery Capacity:
- 11-inch model: 28.93 watt-hour battery
- 13-inch model: 36.59 watt-hour battery
Both models provide up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi, making them suitable for all-day use without frequent charging.
Common Questions About the iPad Air
What Does the Screen Look Like on the Newest iPad Air?
The newest iPad Air features a Liquid Retina display with IPS technology. The 11-inch model comes with a 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution, while the 13-inch version offers even more screen space. The display uses LED backlight technology for bright, vivid colors.
Both screen sizes offer:
- Technology: Multi-Touch with IPS
- Type: Liquid Retina
- Quality: Sharp text and clear images
- Aspect Ratio: Approximately 41:59
How Fast Is the Latest iPad Air?
The current iPad Air runs on the A14 Bionic chip, making it powerful enough for most tasks. This processor handles everything from basic web browsing to more demanding apps with ease.
Performance highlights:
- 4GB of RAM for smooth multitasking
- Fast app loading and switching
- Handles graphics-intensive games well
- Works smoothly with creative apps like video editors
What Can the Cameras Do on Today’s iPad Air?
The iPad Air comes with solid camera options for photos, video calls, and scanning documents. The main rear camera is 12 megapixels with an f/1.8 aperture and wide-angle lens.
Camera features include:
- 4K video recording at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second
- HDR support for better photos in tricky lighting
- Dual pixel autofocus for sharp images
- Front-facing camera for video calls and selfies
How Much Space Do New iPad Air Models Have?
The current iPad Air offers two storage options to pick from. You can choose between 64GB or 256GB of internal storage space.
Storage considerations:
- 64GB: Good for basic use, web browsing, and some apps
- 256GB: Better for storing photos, videos, or many apps
- No memory card slot for adding more storage later
- Cloud storage options can help extend your space
How Long Does the Battery Last on the Latest iPad Air?
The iPad Air contains a 7606 mAh battery, designed to last through a full day of normal use. Actual battery life varies based on what you’re doing and your settings.
Typical usage times:
- 10+ hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi
- 9+ hours when using cellular data
- Less time when playing games or using power-hungry apps
- Standby time of several days when not in use
What Connection Options Does the Current iPad Air Support?
The iPad Air comes in Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + Cellular models, giving you choices based on your needs.
Connection options include:
- Wi-Fi for home and office use
- Optional cellular connectivity for on-the-go internet
- Bluetooth for connecting headphones and accessories
- USB-C port for charging and connecting devices
- Support for Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
