The M3 iPad Air sounds useful, but I’m most excited about the boost to the entry-level iPad. The new models arrive March 12, but you can preorder them now.
Apple has upgraded its iPad lineup — the Air and entry-level models, at least. The new iPad Air now has an M3 chip compared to the M2 it had last year. It also gets a Magic Keyboard upgrade with added rows of function buttons. But Apple also updated the basic iPad, adding more storage and a better chip for $349, and that’s the upgrade that could matter the most.
You can preorder all the new iPads on Apple’s site now, but they won’t be available until March 12.
Basic iPad gets overdue upgrades
Apple has updated its entry-level iPad for the first time since 2022, making an overdue upgrade to a faster processor but leaving out Apple Intelligence. The new iPad still costs $349 (£329, AU$599), but with 128GB of storage and an A16 chip instead of A14, it now seems like a better buy. It doesn’t run Apple Intelligence, but really, who cares?
Still, it’s somewhat absurd that Apple didn’t go ahead and give this iPad the A17 chip that the iPad Mini has, which would have given it Apple Intelligence and more of a futureproofed outlook.
The entry-level iPad has been CNET’s Editors’ Choice for a while because its performance for the price makes the most sense for everyday families. The newest iPad looks to be an even better choice, but stay tuned for a CNET review when we get our hands on one.
The upgraded iPad also has a 512GB optional storage tier now, but the other extras seem exactly the same. It’ll work with the same Keyboard Folio Apple made for the 10th-gen iPad, and unfortunately will still only work with the USB-C Pencil and first-gen Apple Pencil.
iPad Air: Chip bump, new keyboard
The iPad Air gets an M3 chip, which is an upgrade over the previous M2 chip, but it’s still not as powerful as the M4 found on the iPad Pro. As our sister site PCMag says, “Sorry, no M4 chip.” The new Air, just like its predecessor, will still handle Apple Intelligence, unlike the basic iPad.
The Air will come in both 11- and 13-inch models. They’re priced the same as before: $599 (£599, AU$999) or $799 (£799, AU$1,349) for the entry-level models, but with only 128GB of storage unless you pay up. The new Magic Keyboard starts at $269 (£269, AU$449), but based on my previous experience with the similarly upgraded M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, it’s a subtle series of upgrades.
The new Air’s dimensions are the same as the last Air’s, so you probably don’t need a new Magic Keyboard if you’re upgrading and already have one. This also means, once again, the “Air” iPad is thicker and heavier than the “Pro” model.
Another surprise: Apple didn’t increase the price for any of the iPad models. That’s a welcome change after what happened with the iPhone 16E.
