New Apple iPad Air (2025): The M3 Chip Arrives to Give Apple’s AI Extra Power

Without much noise or fanfare, Apple has introduced not one but two new iPads: the iPad (2025) with the Apple A16 processor and the iPad Air with the M3 chip, the focus of this article. There are no major design changes—the iPad is a well-refined device—so the most relevant improvement lies in the new processor and its impact on performance and AI.

The device will be available March 12, with the same starting price as the iPad Air with M2: $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look.

iPad Air (2025) Specs

Same Design, Upgraded Internals

Externally, it’s identical to last year’s model. The size, screen, and weight remain unchanged. It’s a tablet available in two sizes (11 and 13 inches) and is just 6.1 millimeters thick. The back is minimalistic and clean, as Apple users have come to expect.

Apple has stuck with what has worked well for the display. The panels measure 11 and 13 inches, with resolutions of 2,360 x 1,640 pixels and 2,732 x 2,048 pixels, respectively, and still run at 60 Hz. The key highlight is compatibility with the Apple Pencil, both standard and Pro, as well as the new Magic Keyboard.

A More Powerful Engine

The real change is inside. Apple has a clear target audience for this tablet: users with an iPad Air powered by the M1 chip, especially those still using an A14-equipped model. The M3 chip is twice as fast as the M1 and up to three times faster than the A14.

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The M3 features an eight-core CPU (four performance and four efficiency), a nine-core GPU, and, most notably, a 16-core neural processing unit (NPU). The NPU handles AI tasks, a key element in the era of Apple Intelligence. The M3 chip also introduces a new graphics architecture that significantly enhances gaming performance.

According to Apple, the M3’s neural engine is 60 times more powerful than the one in the M1—something to keep in mind for AI-based tasks or low workloads. Otherwise, the iPad’s AI leverages familiar Apple Intelligence features, such as photo editing, emoji generation, and typing assistance.

The battery capacity remains the same as in previous models, but thanks to the efficiency of the new processor, battery life should be similar or slightly longer. Charging is via USB-C, which has become standard across Apple devices.

iPad Air (2025) Pricing and Availability

The iPad Air with the M3 chip will be available March 12. The 11-inch model starts at $599, while the 13-inch model starts at $799. As always, the final price will vary based on storage capacity.

Images | Apple

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