Apple Unveils New M3 iPad Air Series With Up to 40% Enhanced CPU and GPU Performance Over M1, Omitted M2 Comparisons

In a recent announcement that surprised many, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the launch of the highly anticipated M4 MacBook Air series. However, Apple diverged from expectations by unveiling the new M3 iPad Air lineup instead. This iteration retains the 11-inch and 13-inch models, which now benefit from a substantial chipset upgrade, although Apple has opted to compare the M3’s performance primarily against the older M1 chip, rather than the more recent M2.

Price Structure Remains Unchanged in the M3 iPad Air Series

Despite the significant update to the chipset, Apple has kept the pricing for the M3 iPad Air lineup consistent with the previous generation. The base model starts at $599, while the larger 13-inch variant is priced at $799. Students can take advantage of a discounted starting price of $549. This static pricing will likely raise eyebrows considering the transition to the M3 chip.

Performance claims accompanying the M3 reveal an 8-core CPU that offers 35 percent better multi-threaded performance compared to the M1 iPad Air. On the graphics front, the upgraded GPU featuring nine cores promises a 40 percent increase in performance. Notably, the M3 is the first in the Apple Silicon line to incorporate hardware-accelerated ray tracing—a feature that remains present in this new range—as well as a faster Neural Engine capable of handling AI workloads up to 60 percent faster than its predecessor. Remarkably, the new iPad models also facilitate generative AI features and are compatible with the latest Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.

One of the more surprising aspects of the announcement was the absence of performance comparisons with the M2, which might suggest limited improvements. The lack of a move to M4 chips for the 11-inch and 13-inch models could signal that these devices may not be able to achieve a significantly better price-to-performance ratio that many had hoped for. Nevertheless, those interested can pre-order the new M3 iPad Air models from Apple’s online store in 29 countries, including the United States.

Official availability across various regions is set for March 12, with color options including Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray. Storage choices will range from 128GB to a generous 1TB capacity.

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