Apple's Tim Cook teased "Something in the air," and now the first of those "somethings" has revealed itself as a new iPad Air with an M3 chip.
There are also some nifty upgrades to the base iPad 11 (without a price increase).
While Apple's first announcement has dropped, we don't expect this to be the end of the new goodies from Cupertino. As expected a new MacBook Air with an M4 processor followed.
And who knows — it's Apple, so there could be additional surprises along the way.
We expected the M4 MacBook to kick off Apple's announcements, but the company threw us in a loop by dropping the iPad first. Perhaps it wanted to build to the MacBook Air as the main event, or it just wanted to trick everyone who said the iPad would arrive later.
Either way, it's an exciting week to be a fan of Apple and the devices it releases.
A new iPad Air
After letting hype build for a day around what Apple might announce with the "Air" moniker, the company took the wraps of a fresh Newsroom post revealing a new iPad Air with an M3 chip.
Apple says the "iPad Air with M3 empowers users to be productive and creative wherever they are, from aspiring creatives using demanding apps and working with large files, to travelers editing content on the go."
And the numbers appear to back up Apple's claim, with the new iPad offering an 8-core CPU. It says the M3 chip is up to 35 percent faster for multithreaded CPU performance than the iPad Air with M1, which is a sizable improvement.
Whether it's enough of an improvement to make it worth upgrading from an existing iPad Air will be discovered when we get our hands on one and review it, but the numbers sound promising.
Regarding pricing, the 11-inch iPad Air costs $599 for the Wi-Fi model and $749 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air costs $799 for the Wi-Fi model and $949 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
A keyboard that's Magic
While the main event of Apple's announcement is the iPad Air with M3, the company also showed off a new keyboard that could help the tablet feel even more like a laptop replacement.
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air offers a larger built-in trackpad and a 14-key function row, creating a more laptop-like experience.
Apple also touted its magnetic connection and Smart Connector, which immediately connects power and data without Bluetooth.
As you might expect from an Apple accessory, it's not cheap. The 11-inch iPad Air's keyboard costs $269, and the 13-inch model is $319. Still, if you're looking to use your iPad like a laptop, it could be a worthwhile investment (though with the price of the iPad Air and keyboard, you could buy a MacBook Air).
Base iPad getting an upgrade
Tucked deep into its Newsroom post, Apple announced a nice upgrade to the base model iPad. The company offers double the starting storage and the A16 chip, which should improve performance.
Apple cites the "A16 chip provides a jump in performance for everyday tasks and experiences in iPadOS" as a significant benefit of this upgrade. The company says the A16 chip is nearly 30% faster than the previous-generation iPad.
Interestingly, Apple also called out Android tablets in its post. "A16 makes the updated iPad up to 6x faster than the best-selling Android tablet," said the company. The battle lines have clearly been drawn, and Apple is offering extra power at the same price.
The benefits of more storage are reasonably obvious. Apple's base model offers 128GB of space (up from 64GB), so you can keep more apps, photos and videos on your device without worrying about running out.
What about the MacBook Air M4?
Most of the speculation leading into Apple's announcement was around the M4 MacBook Air. The leaks and rumors said Apple would reveal the new laptop and follow up with an iPad.
Instead, the Cupertino company announced a new iPad Air with an M3 chip and a base iPad with an A16 processor.
While not what we expected, it just builds more anticipation for the new MacBook, which we hope to be announced this week — perhaps as soon as tomorrow morning.
We expect the new MacBook Air to come with an M4 chip under the hood, which first debuted on the iPad Pro. Otherwise, the rumor mill has said not to expect massive changes, with Apple offering a 13 and 15-inch model with a familiar design.
If there's anything else announced (and who knows, Apple loves a nice surprise), we'll be here to report it immediately, so stay tuned.
In case you missed the iPhone 16e
This isn't the first Apple announcement to hit recently. The company took a similar press release tact to announce the new iPhone 16e, the latest budget-friendly phone.
We reviewed the iPhone 16e and said, "The most affordable iPhone is very good but comes with compromises."
This perfectly encapsulates our thoughts: "You'll pay more for the cheapest model in Apple's lineup, but the iPhone 16e is a marked upgrade over the iPhone SE 2022."
Will we have similar thoughts about the new iPad Air M3, or will the jump in processor generations amount to even more significant gains? We can offer educated opinions as soon as we get our hands on it, but I'm confident Apple will bring it.
How powerful is the M4?
While the MacBook Air with the M4 has yet to be announced (we still think it's coming), Apple has already released devices with the M4 chip, giving us a good idea of what to expect regarding raw power.
We can look to our M4 MacBook Pro review to get a feel for the performance. While it's not a one-to-one comparison, Apple's more expensive laptop does point us in the right direction for the M4 MacBook Air's performance.
In Geekbench testing, the M4 MacBook Pro scored 3,807 on the single-core test and 15,114 on the multi-core one. Compared to the MacBook Pro M3's 3,163 single and 11,968 multi, this is a sizable improvement that will be noticeable for multitasking and overall performance.
The numbers could be slightly different on the M4 MacBook Air, but we know it'll be quite a bit faster than the model released in 2022 with the M2 chip.
Do you need one of the new iPads?
Now that Apple has announced the iPad Air M3 and base iPad, is it time for you to upgrade? As usual, it depends on your needs.
If you’re still using an older tablet, such as the iPad Air M1 or iPad 9, then upgrading to their respective latest models is worth considering. After all, the new devices should have better performance and battery life.
However, if you own the previous gen iPad Air M2 or iPad 10, then you might want to reconsider upgrading. The iPad Air M2 is still an excellent tablet for most people and should be viable for many more years. The same applies to the iPad 10.
That said, if you’re interested in Apple Intelligence (iPad Air M3) or want more storage (iPad 11), then these new Apple tablets could be right for you.
Goodbye, iPad Air M2 and iPad 11
If you go to Apple’s online store to check out the new iPad Air M3 and iPad 11, you’ll notice they’re the only iPads of their respective models available. In other words, Apple will eventually discontinue the iPad Air M2 and iPad 10.
This isn’t a problem, at least in terms of price. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Airs start at $599 and $799, respectively, which is the same price as the previous models. The same applies to the iPad 11, which costs $349.
And while Apple may have discontinued the previous gen iPad Air and iPad, you can still buy them at retailers like Amazon. Better yet, vendors will (or already are) selling these slates at a reduced price. So, if you don’t need the latest iPads, then you could potentially save yourself a lot of money by getting the previous models instead.
Pretty colors
In addition to the new hardware, Apple quietly announced new accessory colors for several devices.
Starting with the iPhone, Apple showed off new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max silicone cases with MagSafe in four new colors. If you want to refresh your phone's look and feel, you can snag a new case in peony pink, aquamarine green, tangerine orange and periwinkle blue.
It wouldn't be a new iPad launch without some new cases, and Apple revealed its Smart Folio for iPad in sky blue, white, watermelon red and lemonade yellow — a vibrant bunch.
Finally, Apple is dropping new bands for Apple Watch. The Braided Solo Loop is now available in peony pink and aquamarine green. For those who prefer the Solo Loop, it's out periwinkle blue and Northern Lights green. The Sport Band received a periwinkle blue and tangerine orange colorway, and the Sport Loop got a sage green choice.
Apple also released a bunch of Spring bands in the pricey Hermes collection that starts at $349 and goes up depending on the model.
iPad Pro on sale
While all the hype is currently centered on the iPad Air — where it should be — we can't forget about the high-end iPad Pro devices. They have an M3 chip, which is still incredibly high-end and fast enough for anything you could want to do on an iPad.
Right now, you can save $100 Off the 11-inch version and $200 off the 13-inch model iPad Pro.
M3 iPad Air expected battery life
Battery life is a major concern when buying a new tablet. You want to ensure you will get enough juice from each charge to get you through the day and beyond. Unfortunately, with Apple, we rarely get any exact battery size for its devices until the YouTube contingent does teardowns, so we mostly have to speculate based on other devices with M4 chips and previous iPad Air devices.
In our 2024 M2 13-inch iPad Air review, we got about 11 hours of battery life from a single charge. Because that slate sports an M2 chip, and the new one has an M3, we can reasonably assume there will be a dump, even if it's not huge.
Apple describes it as "all-day battery life," which is a phrase it has used to describe many of its devices. I think the extra performance of the M3 chip will boost the battery by around 30 minutes, but if we're lucky, we could even see 12 hours in our battery test. We'll have to wait to test the new tablet, but all signs point to battery life that meets or exceeds the competition.
MacBook Air M4 performance speculation
Apple hasn't officially announced M4 MacBook Airs, but given all the chatter we've heard from reputable sources like Apple tipster Mark Gurman, we won't be surprised when these laptops manifest. The question is, will they offer enough upgrades over their M3-powered counterparts?
We can't say for sure, but if you'll indulge some speculation, we could see similar performance and battery boosts between the M2 and M3 MacBook Pros. To be specific, the MacBook Air M4 could presumably be 15-20% faster than the current model. Battery life should also be better.
However, since the MacBook Air has a fan-less design, it's possible we won't see major differences. We'll just have to wait and see.
More than just a new chip
While we doubt the M4 MacBook Air will look different than previous iterations, we are expecting to see a number of internal upgrades.
These include the ballyhooed M4 chip.
Plus, we expect a nano-textured display, extended battery life, more RAM and more.
As mentioned, the rumor network claims Apple will announce the new MacBook Air tomorrow.
Check back with Tom's Guide as the latest Apple laptop is revealed for all the new information and what's been upgraded.
Will we see the MacBook Air M4 soon?
With the iPad Air M3 already getting the big announcement, we're hoping to see Apple continue its "Something in the Air" tease by revealing the anticipated MacBook Air M4 — and soon.
We've heard rumors of its imminent launch over the past few weeks, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claiming the Cupertino tech giant is "gearing up" for the big release this March. Now that the iPad Air is out of the way, and with CEO Tim Cook's tease of Air announcements this week, it should only be a matter of time until we finally see what the next-gen MacBook Air M4 delivers.
We know we can expect the M4 chip, and a leaked benchmark gave us a hint that it may offer near-MacBook Pro M4 performance. Will Apple have other surprises up its sleeve? Here's hoping today's the big day, and we'll be here to let you know the latest.
M4 GPU performance gains look promising
We've seen the power of M4 in the latest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, but how well will it perform in a MacBook Air? Well, if these leaked benchmarks are anything to go by, there may only be a 5% difference in GPU performance between a MacBook Air M4 and its Pro sibling.
According to a Geekbench benchmark, an M4-powered MacBook Air achieved a Metal score of 55,516. That already beats the MacBook Air M3, which reached 41,045 on Geekbench, but it also wasn't far behind the M4-equipped Pro model with a 57,603 Metal score.
This leaked model comes with 24GB of Unified Memory, and results can vary in testing. We won't know accurate benchmarks until we test it for ourselves, but still, considering the MacBook Air's usual price compared to its Pro counterpart, and throwing in the fact it comes with a fan-less design, the MacBook Air M4 is already looking like a promising upgrade.
Now, we just have to wait for its possible launch soon.
Even longer battery life?
Apple's MacBooks are some of the best laptops for battery life, with the MacBook Pro M4 delivering a whopping 18 hours and 31 minutes in our tests. If that's the case, the MacBook Air M4 should see some impressive battery life improvements, too.
With the MacBook Pro M3 reaching 17 hours and 25 minutes, there's around an hour of improvement between the two Pro models. As tested, the MacBook Air M3 13-inch model lasts over 15 hours. With the M4 chip now powering it, could we see the next MacBook Air 13-inch come with over 16 hours of battery life or more? We certainly hope so.
Apple rates its M3-powered MacBook Air with up to 18 hours of battery life, and there's reason to believe that number will be bumped up once the MacBook Air M4 is revealed. Only time will tell, so stay tuned for further updates.
Should you get an iPad Air M3?
If we're to see a MacBook Air M4 reveal today, it may not be much longer until Apple makes an announcement, seeing as the iPad Air M3 was announced not too long from now yesterday.
While we wait, you might want to check out whether it's worth nabbing the new iPad Air M3 or trying out the iPad Pro M4 if you're looking at getting one of Apple's tablets.
The M3-powered iPad Air looks to offer great performance upgrades over its predecessor, and the updated Magic Keyboard is a plus. However, if you're thinking of an upgrade or want to pick up one of Apple's iPads, check out how the iPad Air M3 comapares:
Will it happen soon?
Yesterday, Apple announced its new products at 9 a.m. ET, and we're rapidly approaching that time today.
Will Apple announce an M4 MacBook Air, as speculated? Will the company have any surprises? We'll find out soon!
M4 MacBook Air official
As rumored, Apple announced a brand new M4-toting MacBook Air. The new laptop has more power, a vibrant 12MP Center Stage camera and a dynamic new color.
Many aspects of the MacBook Air are expected, such as the 13 and 15-inch display sizes and powerful M4 chip. Less expected is the price, as Apple announced a $100 price cut on the base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, down to $999. In today's economic climate, everything is getting more expensive, so Apple's announcement of a new device that costs less than its predecessor is exciting.
The larger 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199, a $100 price cut.
Apple's M4 chip, which is the main event of the laptop, features a 10-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU and support for up to 32GB of unified memory.
To go along with the new, cheaper model launch, Apple also announced that it's phasing out the MacBook Air M3 and MacBook Air M2.
The new color mentioned above is Sky Blue, which joins Silver, Starlight and Midnight from previous generations of MacBook Air laptops. Outside of the new color, Apple is offering the same super light 2.7-pound design for the 13-inch model and a profile that's under 0.5 inches thick
But wait, there's more!
Not content to announce a new M4 MacBook Air, which would have been plenty exciting, Apple also announced a new Mac Studio M4 Max with Thunderbolt 5 and Mac Studio M3 Ultra with a crazy 80-core GPU.
The specs of both of these computers are truly staggering, and anyone who wants to perform intense tasks like video editing or 3D gaming will be thrilled with the results these beasts bring to the table. Apple says the Mac Studio M4 Max is up to 3.5x faster than Mac Studio with M1 Max and up to 6.1x faster than the previous Intel-based 27-inch iMac.
While demoing the new desktops with Apple, we saw the Mac Studio M4 Max handle intense video editing by quickly adding 5K buildings to the background of a nighttime sky. The editor then quickly added smoke to the scene and even controlled the size of the smoke.
We saw a demo of Cyberpunk 2077 on the new hardware, and it was nothing short of impressive. "With all the settings turned on high and the frame rate locked to 60 fps, the Mac Studio with M4 Max delivered gorgeous-looking graphics and super smooth gameplay," said Tom's Guide Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer.
So. Many. Cores.
While most people will rightfully be talking about the exciting new M4 MacBook Air, the computing power geeks among us will be discussing the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra. Apple said this chip has a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU.
That's 112 cores in total, which seems excessive. At the same time, though, are there ever too many cores?
In case you missed it
We're all excited about the new MacBook Air and its $100 price drop. Perhaps lost in the shuffle for some is that Apple discontinued the M2 and M3 MacBook Air.
As soon as the announcement for the M4 MacBook Air hit, Apple pulled both existing models from its online store. This will allow the company to focus on the newest device with the latest and greatest processor technology.
Because it has so many upgrade options and two different screen sizes, you can configure the M4 MacBook Air in a way that makes sense for your needs.
Goodbye 64GB
Apple did away with 64GB of storage for good with the new iPad models starting at 128GB. With the size of files and apps nowadays, 64GB just didn't make sense anymore, and we couldn't be happier to see Apple moving on.
Read more: iPad Air M3 marks the end of Apple's 64GB era — it was way past due
Apple's been busy
Apple announced quite a few products recently, especially when you consider none of the announcements were centered around an event. Did you find it hard to keep track of everything? Don't worry, here's a quick rundown of all the recent Apple announcements and links to our news coverage about each.
- iPhone 16e announced — release date, specs, size and surprisingly high price
- iPad Air M3 announced — price, release date, specs and all the upgrades
- iPad 11 just announced — here’s what’s new
- Apple announces Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra — here's what's new
- MacBook Air M4 is here with more power and stunning new color — and the price is $100 less
For dedicated Apple fans, this has been a fantastic couple of weeks. And we can't be 100% sure that the company is done, as it may surprise us with something else before the week ends. But even if it doesn't, the iPhone 16e, iPad Air M3 and MacBook Air M4 are more than enough to excite us.
How to preorder the M4 MacBook Air
The MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip is finally here with a new sky blue finish and starting at $999 with 16GB of RAM for both the 13- and 15-inch models.
For those interested in picking up Apple's latest you can preorder the MacBook Air M4 now at the Apple Store.
The laptops will officially launch next on Wednesday, March 12.
Apple is also offering extra trade-in credits through April 2, 2025 when you trade an eligible Mac for a new "Apple device." So, it's not just for the new MacBook Airs.
As an example, if you trade in a MacBook Air, you could get up to $410 toward your next device.
I want a Sky Blue MacBook Air
While Apple doesn't usually get too crazy with the colors for MacBook, the Sky Blue M4 MacBook Air is a little more interesting than the subdued colors the company usually offers. It's not too bright, but it'll stand out in the crowd of gray and silver MacBooks you typically see out and about, which is precisely why I want one.
The other colors look nice, too, but after digging into the photos on Apple's pre-order page, I'm fully sold on the Sky Blue color, and I might just have to add one to my shopping cart.
Which iPad is for you?
With the iPad Air M3, Apple closed the gap between the Air and Pro variants of its laptop. In so doing, Apple made the decision between the two tablets a bit more difficult. If you're as perplexed by the decision as we are, we're going to help you decide. For the full picture, give our iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4 piece a look.
But if you don't want to read all that, have a look at the specs table below to help you choose.
That's a wrap
As of now, it seems that's all Apple will announce, at least for this news cycle.
Of course, there's always a chance the company surprises us with something new tomorrow. If they do, we'll be here to bring you every new piece of hardware (or software) the Cupertino firm bestows upon us.
