What to Know
- Apple's new iPad Air comes with an M3 processor built for Apple Intelligence.
- It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch" sizes. The 11-inch starts at $599 and the 13-inch starts at $799.
- The new Magic Keyboard comes with a larger trackpad and function key row.
On March 4, Apple announced its 2025 iPad Air with an M3 processor designed to support Apple Intelligence and a brand-new Magic Keyboard. Let's dive into these tablet upgrades and see if they might be right for you.
Jump To:
Pricing & Availability
2025 iPad Air
Size: 11-inch and 13-inch
Pricing: 11-inch starting at $599, 13-inch starting at $799
Availability: Pre-order now, in stores March 12
Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB
Colors: Blue, purple, starlight, and space gray
2025 Magic Keyboard
Compatibility: 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air
Pricing: $269 for the 11-inch, $319 for the 13-inch
Availability: Pre-order now, in stores March 12
The M3 iPad Air
Apple Intelligence's launch has been far from smooth, so iPad Air users will be happy to know they can now purchase a version specifically designed for Apple Intelligence. Apple is promising the M3 chip will give the new iPad Air faster speeds and more power-efficient processing. It comes in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch, starting at $599 and $799 respectively.
These new iPads bring Apple Intelligence to the iPad Air line, including features such as Clean Up in Photos, Image Wand in Notes, and the Image Playground app. Other popular Apple Intelligence features now available on the iPad Air include Writing Tools and enhanced Siri features such as ChatGPT integration. Writing Tools may be particularly helpful for those who regularly write emails on their iPad, and features such as the Image Wand can be extra enjoyable on the larger screen, especially if paired with the Apple Pencil.
The New Magic Keyboard for iPad Air
Along with the M3 iPad Air, Apple announced a shiny new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. Changes to the Magic Keyboard this round include a larger trackpad and a 14-key function row, allowing for quick adjustments to things like volume and brightness. We're also seeing a price drop compared to the previous Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. The 11-inch model starts at $269 compared to the previous $299 and the $13-inch starts at $319 compared to last generation's $369. The updated functionality and lower price should make this a no-brainer for anyone considering investing in or upgrading their Magic Keyboard for their iPad Air.
Who Should Get the M3 iPad Air?
Well, to start off with, me. I'm not an iPad power user but I have regular work assignments I use my iPad exclusively for and I enjoy the light weight for travel (nothing beats kicking back with pre-downloaded shows on my iPad during a long flight). I'm intrigued by the new Apple Intelligence features and want to see how they work in a larger format than my iPhone. In general, I think if you've been toying with an iPad Air upgrade now is a good time to spring for it, but no singular Apple Intelligence feature would make it worth trading in your current model if it's working well and will be supported for a while.
