Apple announces new iPad Air with M3 chip and updated Magic Keyboard

Apple has introduced a new iPad Air powered by the M3 chip, alongside a revamped Magic Keyboard with a larger built-in trackpad and a lower price point.

The updated iPad Air is available for pre-order starting today, with official availability beginning Wednesday, March 12. Pricing remains as it was with the previous generation, starting at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch variant. Both sizes come in a range of sleek colors — blue, purple, starlight, and space gray — and offer storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

In another iPad-released update, Apple has also unveiled its 11th-generation iPad, featuring double the starting storage and powered by the A16 Bionic chip.

The M3 chip delivers a significant performance boost, making the new iPad Air nearly twice as fast as its M1 predecessor and up to 3.5 times faster than the iPad Air with the A14 Bionic chip. This upgrade ensures smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and better handling of demanding creative apps.

The redesigned Magic Keyboard now features a larger trackpad and a row of function keys, providing quick access to essentials like display brightness and volume controls. It connects magnetically to the iPad Air, with the Smart Connector enabling instant power and data transfer — no Bluetooth required. The keyboard also includes a USB-C port for convenient charging.

“iPad Air is so popular because of its unmatched combination of powerful performance, portability, and support for advanced accessories, all at an affordable price,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a press release. “For everyone from college students taking notes with Apple Pencil Pro to travelers and content creators seeking powerful productivity on the go, iPad Air with M3, Apple Intelligence, and the new Magic Keyboard elevate versatility and value to the next level.”