In 2023, Apple did not make any updates to the iPad lineup and it has been even longer since the iPad Air was updated. Apple last introduced a new iPad Air in March 2022, so we’re at the two-year mark and an update is in order.
Fortunately, rumors suggest we’ll be getting new iPads starting in April, and interesting changes are coming for the Airline.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up all the rumors about the new iPad Air models so far.
Size and design
Apple is planning another 10.9-inch iPad Air that has a similar design to the current version, but for the first time we expect two iPad Air models instead of one. As with the iPad Pro line, Apple will release the iPad Air in two sizes.
The standard 10.9-inch model will be the smallest, and on the larger end, Apple is working on a 12.9-inch version. At 12.9 inches, the larger iPad Air will be the same size as the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
There are no rumors of design changes, so we can expect both models to have the same edge-to-edge display with slim bezels and an aluminum chassis with flat, rounded edges that wrap around the screen. The iPad Air has always been a bit thicker than the iPad Pro with thicker bezels, and that will continue.
Rumors suggest that the upcoming iPad Pro models that will also be updated in March will have thinner bezels due to the switch to OLED display technology. With OLED, the new larger-screen iPad Pro will be more than 1mm thinner, while the 11-inch model will be almost 1mm thinner.
The changes to the thickness of the iPad Pro should be quite noticeable and the design will distinguish the iPad Pro from the iPad Air, although Apple will have two iPads that will be roughly the same size.
We’ve also seen leaked renders of the 12.9-inch iPad Air, which suggest the new models could have a redesigned rear camera with a pill-shaped bump sticking out, similar to the design we expect for the iPhone 16’s camera.
According to rumors, we will not see design changes, but Apple is likely to introduce new color options. The iPad Air is available in a range of pastel colors right now and Apple could introduce a selection of new shades.
Frontal camera
The iPad Air is rumored to have a relocated front camera that is designed to sit on top of the iPad when in landscape orientation. Right now, the iPad Air’s camera is located on the top of the device when it is in portrait orientation.
The camera will be in the bezel to the right of the screen when the device is held upright, so the camera would be in the correct position for FaceTime calls and other videos when on its side, such as when used with the Magic Keyboard .
M3 chip
Since the M1 chip came out, Apple has used M-series chips in the iPad Air and iPad Pro models. This time, we expect Apple to bring the M2 chip or M3 chip to the iPad Air.
The M2 chip is the previous generation M series chip that first came out in 2022 and is almost two years old. The argument in favor of the M2 is that it would give Apple a way to further distinguish the iPad Air from the iPad Pro, while also keeping costs down. The 3-nanometer M3 chips are more expensive to produce than the M2 ones.
If Apple opts for the M2, it will bring speed and power efficiency improvements, but it would be a much smaller increase over the M3 chip. It’s not entirely clear which chip Apple will use, but the latest rumors suggest that Apple will opt for the M2 chip.
The M3 chip came out last year and is the first chip built with a next-generation 3-nanometer architecture. It has an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, and supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for better graphics gaming. Apple’s M3 Macs can play console-level games like Death Stranding and Resident Evil, so we can expect the same technology for the iPad Air if it ends up with the M3 chip.
The M3 offers 2.5x better GPU speeds than the M1 on the iPad Air with half the power. CPU-wise, the M3 is up to 30 percent faster than M1 performance cores and up to 50 percent faster than M1 efficiency cores.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Since the current iPad Air is two years old, it lacks some of the general technological improvements that Apple has brought to other devices.
Apple has been updating its products with Bluetooth 5.3, so we can expect it to arrive on the iPad Air. Bluetooth 5.3 provides more reliable connectivity with Bluetooth accessories, as well as better power efficiency for longer battery life.
Wi-Fi 6E is also expected, which will allow iPad Air models to connect to faster 6 GHz Wi-Fi networks.
iPad Air vs. iPad Pro
Display technology will be one of the main distinguishing factors between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. While the iPad Pro models will have an OLED display, the iPad Air models will still use more affordable LCD display technology.
Apple does not use Face ID on the iPad Air and instead the current model has a Touch ID power button, which Apple may retain to keep the premium Face ID feature exclusive to the iPad Pro.
We don’t expect any big differences in performance, as both models are rumored to use the M3 chip, but the iPad Pro may have more memory for the OLED display. The rear camera technology will also be a differentiator because the iPad Pro has a dual camera setup with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses, while the iPad Air has only a single-lens wide-angle camera.
Prices
The current 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, and the new model is likely to have the same starting price.
As for the 12.9-inch version, it would make more sense to price it at $200 compared to the 11-inch model, so it could start at $799. Before the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was updated with mini-LED, there was a $200 price difference between the two sizes.
Apple’s goal with the iPad Air is to offer customers more options at a wider range of prices. For about the price of the 11-inch iPad Pro, customers will be able to opt for a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air.
Release date
Apple is expected to unveil the new iPad Pro models in early May, with the week of May 6 being the most likely.
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