Apple Unveils New iPad Air Powered by M4

Apple today introduced a new iPad Air equipped with the M4 chip and increased memory, delivering a significant performance boost while maintaining the same starting price. Featuring a faster CPU and GPU, the updated iPad Air improves demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. It is also designed as a powerful platform for AI, thanks to a faster Neural Engine, greater memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified system memory compared with the previous generation.

With M4, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than the iPad Air with M3 and up to 2.3 times faster than the iPad Air with M1. The device also incorporates Apple’s newest connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, enabling faster wireless and cellular connections — including support for Wi-Fi 7 — so users can work and create from virtually anywhere.

The new iPad Air is available in two sizes and four popular finishes. The 11-inch model offers exceptional portability, while the 13-inch version provides a larger display for users who want more room for multitasking. Combined with the powerful capabilities of iPadOS 26, advanced cameras, all-day battery life, a robust app ecosystem, and compatibility with accessories like Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, iPad Air delivers a flexible and powerful experience for students, creators, professionals, and gamers alike.

With a starting price of $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch version, the new iPad Air offers outstanding value. For education customers, pricing begins at $549 for the 11-inch model and $749 for the 13-inch model. Customers can pre-order beginning Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting Wednesday, March 11.

“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,” said 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.”

Even More Performance with M4

The M4 chip delivers a substantial jump in performance for the new iPad Air, helping users stay productive and creative wherever they are — from aspiring designers handling large files to travelers editing content while on the move.

Equipped with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 model and up to 2.3 times faster than the version powered by M1. Users will notice the speed improvement across everyday workflows. Tasks such as compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro, editing video in Final Cut Pro, or creating projects in Apple Creator Studio are now faster and smoother.

The 9-core GPU in M4 also enables second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, providing impressive graphics capabilities. Compared with the M1 model, the new iPad Air delivers more than four times faster 3D professional rendering with ray tracing, producing more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows for highly immersive gaming and graphics experiences.

Next-Level Power for AI

The M4 chip is also optimized for artificial intelligence workloads, combining faster memory bandwidth with an advanced Neural Engine. This allows a wide range of users — from students transcribing lectures to creators planning projects and professionals refining emails — to benefit from powerful on-device AI features.

The new iPad Air increases unified memory by 50 percent to 12GB, while memory bandwidth climbs to 120GB/s, helping AI models run faster and more efficiently. The 16-core Neural Engine is three times faster than the version in M1, making it ideal for everyday AI-powered tasks such as identifying objects and text in photos or using advanced features in apps like Goodnotes and Onform: Video Analysis App.

It also powers capabilities in Apple’s creative tools, including Scene Removal Mask in Final Cut Pro, which can automatically remove backgrounds from video footage.

N1 and C1X Deliver Faster Connectivity

iPad Air introduces N1, Apple’s new wireless networking chip that supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. N1 improves performance on 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and enhances the reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.

Cellular versions of iPad Air also include C1X, an Apple-designed modem delivering up to 50 percent faster cellular data speeds. For frequent mobile users, C1X also reduces modem energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared with the M3 model.

Cellular models also support GPS, allowing users to navigate with greater confidence. With 5G connectivity, users can stay connected for work or entertainment worldwide. Through eSIM, customers can quickly add or transfer cellular plans digitally — making it ideal for business travelers, students on campus, and anyone working remotely.

iPadOS 26 Enhances the iPad Experience

iPadOS 26 introduces powerful features that help users tackle creative and professional tasks with greater ease, pushing the iPad platform even further.

A refreshed visual design built with Liquid Glass uses a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings while responding dynamically to user input, bringing more focus to on-screen content.

A completely redesigned windowing system allows users to organize, control, and switch between apps more easily while maintaining the simplicity that defines iPad. A new menu bar provides quick access to app commands with a swipe from the top of the display or by moving the cursor to the top edge.

The updated Files app offers improved organization tools, including a redesigned List view and new folder customization options. Users can also place folders in the Dock to quickly access downloads, documents, and other files from anywhere, and they can set default apps for opening specific file types.

The Preview app on iPad provides a dedicated place to sketch ideas, as well as view, edit, and annotate PDFs and images using Apple Pencil or touch.

Leveraging the power of Apple silicon, iPadOS 26 also introduces new features such as enhanced audio input control, high-quality local recording, and Background Tasks.

Advanced Accessories for iPad Air

Accessories like Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock even more creative and productivity potential on iPad Air.

Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro provide two options for users. The USB-C model is ideal for everyday tasks such as note-taking and sketching, while Apple Pencil Pro delivers advanced capabilities including squeeze gestures and barrel roll, enabling new creative possibilities. Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My, helping users locate it if misplaced.

The Magic Keyboard for iPad Air offers a comfortable typing experience and expands productivity with a built-in trackpad for precise tasks like selecting text. It includes a 14-key function row for quick access to brightness and volume controls.

The keyboard attaches magnetically and connects instantly via Smart Connector, delivering power and data without Bluetooth. Its machined aluminum hinge also features a USB-C charging port, and its floating design — available in black and white — remains a customer favorite.

Ideal for iPad and iPad Air Upgraders

With significant improvements over standard iPad and earlier iPad Air models, the latest version offers compelling reasons to upgrade.

Major performance improvements: Users benefit from faster speed and responsiveness with 12GB of unified memory and 120GB/s memory bandwidth, along with smoother multitasking in iPadOS 26. Those upgrading from the M1 model can see up to 2.3x faster performance and over four times faster 3D rendering with ray tracing.

Improved camera, microphones, and speakers: Upgraders will also enjoy the 12MP front camera with Center Stage, positioned along the landscape edge, and landscape stereo speakers. The 13-inch model delivers even richer sound, ideal for music and video.

Apple Intelligence features: Built directly into iPadOS with strong privacy protections, Apple Intelligence introduces intuitive capabilities that make iPad more powerful and helpful.

Even greater value: Users upgrading from earlier iPad Air models gain faster connectivity with N1 and C1X, and those moving from M1 receive 128GB of starting storage. Pricing remains unchanged at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model.

iPad Air and the Environment

Apple’s Apple 2030 initiative aims to make the company carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of the decade, reducing emissions from materials, electricity, and transportation.

The new iPad Air contains 30 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. Manufacturing uses 40 percent renewable electricity, including wind and solar energy.

The device is also designed to be durable and repairable, with long-term software support, high energy-efficiency standards, and safe material chemistry. Its packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and easily recyclable.

Pricing and Availability

Customers can pre-order the new iPad Air with M4 beginning Wednesday, March 4, through apple.com and the Apple Store app in 35 countries and regions, including the United States. The device will begin shipping and appear in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers on Wednesday, March 11.

The 11-inch and 13-inch models will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

Pricing starts at:

• $599 (U.S.) for the 11-inch Wi-Fi model
• $749 (U.S.) for the 11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular model
• $799 (U.S.) for the 13-inch Wi-Fi model
• $949 (U.S.) for the 13-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular model

Education pricing begins at $549 for the 11-inch model and $749 for the 13-inch model.

The Magic Keyboard is available in black and white and compatible with both iPad Air sizes. Pricing starts at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model, with education pricing at $249 and $299 respectively.

Apple Pencil Pro is priced at $129, or $119 with education pricing, while Apple Pencil (USB-C) costs $79, or $69 with education pricing.

AppleCare+ provides service and support options for iPad, including protection against accidents like drops and spills, theft and loss coverage for eligible devices, battery replacement, and 24/7 support from Apple Experts. Additional details are available at apple.com/applecare.

Customers can also trade in their current iPad for credit toward a new device through the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, or a retail location. Eligibility details and trade-in values are available at apple.com/shop/trade-in.

In the U.S., shoppers using Apple Card can pay in monthly installments at 0 percent APR and receive 3 percent Daily Cash back when purchasing through Apple Card Monthly Installments. More information is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.