Apple Introduces New iPad Air With M4, 12GB Memory, and Same $599 Starting Price

Apple has introduced a new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, delivering a significant performance boost and more memory at the same starting price. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, the updated tablet brings faster processing, enhanced AI capabilities, and upgraded connectivity while keeping the familiar design.



The move to M4 adds an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. Apple says the new iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than the previous M3 model, and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. With its 9-core GPU, M4 supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, delivering over 4x faster 3D pro rendering performance compared to M1, with more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in supported apps and games.


To power AI-driven tasks, Apple increased unified memory by 50 percent to 12GB and boosted memory bandwidth to 120GB/s. The 16-core Neural Engine is up to 3x faster than the version in M1, accelerating on-device AI features such as those included in Apple Intelligence, as well as demanding creative workflows in apps like those offered through Apple Creator Studio.



Connectivity also gets an upgrade. iPad Air now features Apple's N1 wireless chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says N1 improves performance and reliability on 5GHz networks and enhances features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. Cellular models use Apple's C1X modem, which delivers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance while using up to 30 percent less power than the previous generation. 5G and GPS are supported on cellular configurations, with eSIM enabling quick plan activation and transfers.

The device ships with iPadOS 26.3. The update introduces Apple's Liquid Glass design language, a redesigned windowing system, and a new menu bar for easier access to app commands. The Files app gains improved list view and folder customization, and a new Preview app offers a dedicated space for viewing, editing, and marking up PDFs and images. iPadOS 26 also adds Background Tasks and expanded audio input controls.



The physical design remains unchanged. The 12MP Center Stage front camera is positioned along the landscape edge, paired with landscape stereo speakers. The tablet continues to support Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and the Apple Pencil Pro.


The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 for Wi-Fi and $749 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. The 13-inch model starts at $799 for Wi-Fi and $949 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. With education pricing, the 11-inch model starts at $549, and the 13-inch model starts at $749. Both sizes are available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

Customers can pre-order the new iPad Air starting Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

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