Upcoming 11-Inch and 13-Inch iPad Air Models Set to Launch This Year with M4 Upgrade and Similar Design

Apple’s M4 chip made its first appearance in the high-end 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models. Nearly a year later, rumors suggest that the technology giant may introduce this advanced System on a Chip (SoC) into its more budget-friendly iPad Air lineup. Presently, the iPad Air models feature the M2 chip, but a recent report indicates that refreshed versions equipped with the M4 are expected to launch later this year. While users might be eager for a design revamp, Apple seems to be sticking with the existing aesthetics and display dimensions. However, the transition from the M2 to the M4 is anticipated to result in significant improvements in both performance and efficiency.

Expected Release and Pricing of New iPad Air Models

The updated iPad Air is likely to debut during the spring, and Apple may entice consumers by maintaining a similar price range as the previous models. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, as detailed in his ‘Power On’ newsletter, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air devices will feature the M4 chip, coinciding with the launch of the iPad 11, which will be equipped with the A17 Pro. While specific specifications beyond the chipset upgrade have not been disclosed, it’s reasonable to anticipate minimal changes apart from the new chip.

The current generation of M2 iPad Air devices starts at $549 on Amazon for the base model, which comes with 128GB of internal storage. On the other hand, the 13-inch version is available for $699 after a $100 discount. If Apple maintains a starting price around $599 for the upcoming M4 iPad Air series, it could drive substantial interest due to its competitive value proposition.

Performance Boost with the M4 Chip

Notably, the M4 chip benefits from TSMC’s cutting-edge second-generation 3nm process, offering a significant leap in performance over previous custom chipsets. Benchmarks indicate that the M4 chip is up to 45% faster than the M2 when tested on Geekbench 6. It also outperforms the M3 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite. This enhancement is largely attributed to the inclusion of ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension, which equips the SoC with the capability to efficiently manage more complex workloads.

Moreover, the M4 chip excels at delivering impressive frame rates in older AAA games, proving capable of running titles such as *Death Stranding* smoothly on devices powered by this Apple Silicon. Interestingly, Apple appears to be bypassing the M3 chip for the new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models, suggesting that the M3 may have been a temporary solution rather than a substantial upgrade. Although the new iPad Air models are expected to lack premium features such as tandem OLED and ProMotion support found in the latest iPad Pro versions, these omissions are likely a strategic decision to keep prices affordable.

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