Apple's new M4 iPad Air is here - and it's twice as fast as your old M1 model
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The iPad Air is getting faster with the M4 chip.
- A new iPhone 17e, with double the storage, will cost $599.
- More Apple news is expected leading up to the March 4 event.
Apple introduces the new iPad Air powered by M4
After Tim Cook confirmed new product announcements for March 2, Apple launched the iPad Air with M4 and the iPhone 17e. The updated iPad Air brings:
- Upgraded processing power and larger memory bandwidth.
- An improved Center Stage camera.
- Faster connectivity via the N1 and C1X chips (the same chips used in the iPad Pro M5).
Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip adds support for Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The C1X chip, found in cellular models, is 30 % more efficient than its predecessor.
“iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game‑changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.”
Performance and specifications
- CPU: 8‑core
- GPU: 9‑core
- Neural Engine: 16‑core, processing on‑device AI three times faster than the M1.
- Performance boost: M4 is more than twice as fast as the M1 for general tasks and four times faster for 3D Pro rendering.
Pricing and availability
- 11‑inch iPad Air: $599 (same price as the previous model).
- 13‑inch iPad Air: $799.
Pre‑orders open on March 4, with general availability on March 11.
Compatibility
The new iPad Air works with:
- Apple Pencil (USB‑C)
- Apple Pencil Pro
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Air
These accessories are sold separately.
Related articles