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Apple Announces New iPad Air Models with M4 Processor, Enhanced Connectivity

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Apple Launches New iPad Air with M4 Chip and Enhanced Connectivity

The new iPad Air, featuring Apple's latest M4 processor and updated wireless chips, is now available for preorder, with shipments set to begin in March.

Product Specifications and Features

The new iPad Air is powered by Apple's M4 processor, which is also used in the 7th-generation iPad Pro and certain 2024 MacBook Pro and Mac mini models. The device includes 12GB of unified memory, an increase from the 8GB in the previous M3 model.

For connectivity, the tablet integrates Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Cellular models are equipped with Apple's C1X modem.

Apple states the M4 chip provides up to a 30 percent increase in performance over the prior M3 iPad Air, and that the C1X modem offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance while using up to 30 percent less energy.

The design, 60Hz Liquid Retina display, and Touch ID button remain consistent with previous iPad Air models introduced in 2020.

Pricing and Availability

Preorders for the new iPad Air opened on March 4, with shipping set to begin on March 11. The tablets are available in two sizes and multiple configurations:

  • 11-inch model: Starts at $599 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of storage. The cellular model starts at $749.
  • 13-inch model: Starts at $799 for the Wi-Fi version. The cellular model starts at $949.

Both sizes are offered in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray color options. Storage is configurable up to 1TB.

Initial Review Assessments

Initial reviews published ahead of the launch describe the update as iterative.

Reviewers reported benchmark tests showing improved single-core, multi-core, and frame rate performance for the M4 model compared to its predecessor.

  • Some reviews highlighted specific AI and machine learning capabilities enabled by the M4 chip's Neural Engine, such as instant auto-captions in Final Cut Pro, Voice Memo transcriptions, and rapid image processing in third-party apps like Pixelmator and CollaNote.
  • One review outlet, Gizmodo, noted that the M4 chip in the iPad Air is a binned version with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU, a different configuration from the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU in the M4 MacBook Air.
  • Reviewers reported that the new N1 and C1X connectivity chips provided solid performance, with the C1X modem on 5G networks described as fast and reliable.

Product Line Context

The previous iPad Air model, released in early 2025, featured the M3 chip and enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities. The iPad Air is positioned in the middle of Apple's tablet lineup.