Apple introduced a new iPad Air on Tuesday, driven by the M3 chip and optimized to enable Apple Intelligence, making it more efficient and faster than before.
The company says that the addition of the M3 chip brings Apple's sophisticated graphics architecture to the iPad Air for the first time, taking its already remarkable combination of power efficiency and portability to the next level.
With iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence support, pro cameras, fast 5G connectivity, and Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) compatibility, the new iPad Air offers an unparalleled experience," Apple said.
Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, Bob Borchers, underscored the popularity of the device, saying, "iPad Air is so beloved because of its unparalleled combination of performance, portability, and advanced accessory support at an affordable price.
He also added, "For students from college students jotting down notes with Apple Pencil Pro, to travelers and creators who require serious productivity on the move, iPad Air with M3, Apple Intelligence, and the new Magic Keyboard elevate versatility and value to the next level."
With a more powerful 8-core CPU, the M3 chip provides up to 35% faster multithreaded CPU performance than the last M1-driven iPad Air. Moreover, its 9-core GPU provides up to 40% improved graphics performance over the M1.
Apple's cutting-edge graphics architecture comes to the iPad Air for the first time with the M3 chip, featuring dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing.
For intensive rendering tasks, the iPad Air powered by M3 records up to 4x the performance of the M1 variant, with improved lighting, reflections, shadows, and a more immersive gaming experience. Additionally, the new Neural Engine in M3 enables further AI-driven functionality in iPadOS.
In comparison to M1, the Neural Engine on M3 is 60% faster for AI workloads. Other enhancements over earlier iPad models with A-series chips are Apple Intelligence support, two sizes—11-inch and 13-inch—and compatibility with high-end accessories such as the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, the company added.
Pre-orders of the new iPad Air with M3 are officially open in 29 countries and regions, including the US. The iPad will be available at Apple Stores and begin shipping from March 12. The 11-inch and 13-inch versions will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
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