Apple launches new iPad Air with more power and no | Tech News

Apple has introduced a minor replace to its iPad Air line up nearly precisely a yr after the final model was launched. Today, the iPad Air positive aspects the firm’s M4 processor, the identical chip present in the present MacBook Air.

The pill additionally has more reminiscence than the earlier era, with Apple confirming 12GB RAM in these new fashions. It’s uncommon for Apple to expose how a lot RAM its iPhones and iPads have, however within the age of demanding apps and Apple Intelligence, Apple AI instruments, our devices need all of the RAM they’ll get.

The new iPad Air will likely be obtainable to pre-order on Wednesday, March 4, and will value from £599, the identical beginning price because the outgoing M3 model. Considering Samsung simply launched its Galaxy S26 telephones with noticeable price will increase, that’s no imply feat.

£599 will get you 128GB storage on the 11-inch model, with Apple persevering with to sell a 13-inch model of the iPad Air from £799. Both fashions can be found with storage choices up to 1TB and with mobile eSIM capabilities.

The pill stays obtainable in 4 colors: space gray, blue, purple, starlight.

Apple says the M4 iPad Air is up to 30 % quicker than the M3 model, and up to 2.3 occasions quicker than the M1 model.

In sensible use, you might not discover these positive aspects relying in your utilization, however it’s definitely good to see Apple offer a year-over-year chip improve with out raising costs.

Today Apple additionally launched the iPhone 17e, changing the iPhone 16e, and notably priced it on the identical £599 however doubled the bottom storage to 256GB from 128GB, a perk not afforded to the new iPad Air.

“iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,” mentioned Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.”

The iPad Air sits between Apple’s entry-level £329 iPad, which has the ageing A16 chipset, and the iPad Pro, which begins at £999 and has the M5. The iPad Air is geared in direction of those that need more efficiency than simply having a Netflix machine – say for modifying photographs or to be used with Apple’s more superior Apple Pencil Pro – however don’t need the total bells and whistles of the iPad Pro, which can also be costly on account of its razor-thin design.

This can also be the primary era of iPad Air to make use of Apple’s own connectivity chips, the N1 and C1X, as Apple strikes to make use of its own in-house silicon for Wi-Fi and modem chips, somewhat than shopping for elements from companions like Qualcomm.

As you’d count on, these slates additionally run iPadOS 26, Apple newest model of its iPad software program. Notably, it introduced correct desktop windowing to iPad for the primary time, in addition to Apple’s considerably controversial Liquid Glass UI designs, which makes use of a lot of clear parts in comparison with the older iOS 18.