Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More

Source: MacRumors

Overview

Apple today introduced a new iPad Air featuring several key upgrades: the Apple M4 chip for faster performance, 12 GB of RAM, the Apple‑designed N1 wireless networking chip with Wi‑Fi 7 support, and the custom C1X modem in cellular models.

Design

The new iPad Air retains the same overall design as the previous‑generation model, which was equipped with the M3 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and Wi‑Fi 6E support.

Performance Improvements

• CPU/GPU/Neural Engine: The M4 chip includes an 8‑core CPU, a 9‑core GPU, and a 16‑core Neural Engine.
• Speed: Apple claims up to 30 % faster multi‑core CPU performance compared to the M3‑based iPad Air.
• Memory: RAM is increased to 12 GB, and memory bandwidth rises from 100 GB/s to 120 GB/s.

Wireless Enhancements

Apple’s custom N1 chip brings Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support to the iPad Air. According to Apple, the N1 chip delivers improved wireless performance on 5 GHz Wi‑Fi networks and enhances the reliability of features such as AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.