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- iPad Air gets faster M4 chip, more memory, and better connectivity without a price hike (digitaltrends.com)
Apple Unveils Upgraded iPad Air with M4 Chip, Maintains Pricing
Apple has quietly introduced a significant upgrade to its mid-range iPad Air lineup, integrating the powerful M4 chip without increasing the retail price. The 11-inch model retains its $599 price tag, while the 13-inch version remains at $799.
Pre-orders for the new devices begin on March 4th, with shipping slated for March 11th. Students can take advantage of Apple’s education pricing, securing the 11-inch model for $549 and the 13-inch for $749.
Enhanced Performance and Features
The M4 chip brings substantial performance gains, featuring nine GPU cores (up from eight in the M3) and an increased RAM of 12GB (up from 8GB), resulting in a bandwidth of 120GB/s. Apple estimates a 30% performance boost over the M3, a figure consistent with increased memory. For users transitioning from the M1 chip, the improvements are even more dramatic, with a reported 2.3x overall speed increase, four times faster ray-traced 3D graphics, and a Neural Engine that is three times quicker.
The enhanced Neural Engine is particularly relevant given iPadOS’s growing reliance on on-device AI through Apple Intelligence. This allows the M4 to handle tasks like transcribing notes, rewriting emails, and searching through photos locally, without needing to communicate with a server.
Connectivity also sees an upgrade with the inclusion of Apple’s N1 wireless chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Cellular models will feature the C1X modem, offering 50% faster speeds and a 30% reduction in battery drain compared to the M3 Air.
The 12MP Center Stage camera has been strategically repositioned along the landscape edge, a practical improvement for users who frequently use their iPad in a stand or with the new Magic Keyboard.
Revamped Accessories and iPadOS 26
The updated Magic Keyboard now includes a 14-key function row, providing quick access to brightness, volume, and other controls without navigating through software menus. The new iPad Air is also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro. It will be available in four colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB.
A significant leap forward for the iPad experience comes with iPadOS 26. The interface has been redesigned with “Liquid Glass,” a translucent material that dynamically adapts to the content behind it.
More functionally, the new OS introduces a proper windowing system, allowing users to stack and switch between apps in a manner that closely resembles a desktop environment. A new menu bar, an overhauled Files app, and a native Preview app further enhance the user experience, marking what many long-time iPad users will consider the most substantial software update in years.
Strategic Pricing Maintenance
Apple’s ability to maintain the price point while simultaneously increasing RAM by 50% is noteworthy, especially in a volatile memory market where many manufacturers have passed increased costs onto consumers. This strategic move can be attributed to several factors: Apple’s substantial purchasing volume grants it significant leverage with suppliers, and its deals are often secured well in advance of price fluctuations. Additionally, the 3nm manufacturing process of the M4 chip is more cost-effective per transistor than previous generations, freeing up margin to absorb the increased memory costs without impacting the final retail price.