Tablets · Model guide · Maker specs
iPad Air (M3)
Buy iPad Air (M3) only at a real discount: the M4 Air replaced it at the same $599 and $799 with 12GB of memory instead of 8GB.
Product images
iPad Air (M3), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Buy iPad Air (M3) only at a real discount: the M4 Air replaced it at the same $599 and $799 with 12GB of memory instead of 8GB. It still has 11- and 13-inch Liquid Retina screens, Apple Pencil Pro with hover, Touch ID, USB 3 and landscape stereo speakers. If you own one, keep it unless 8GB is holding you back or you want the M4's Wi-Fi 7 and C1X modem.
Who it is for
- Students and note-takers buying on a budget. A discounted M3 still gives you Apple Pencil Pro with hover, Touch ID and a Magic Keyboard made for it.
- Anyone who wants a 13-inch iPad for a lot less than a Pro. The 13-inch M3 launched at $799; the 13-inch iPad Pro (M5) starts at $1,299.
Who should skip it
- Anyone paying full price. The M4 Air costs the same $599 or $799 and adds 12GB of memory, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread and Apple's C1X modem on cellular models.
- Anyone who wants iPad Pro hardware. Tandem OLED, Face ID, four speakers and Thunderbolt start at $999 with iPad Pro (M5).
- Anyone after a small tablet. iPad mini is the 8.3-inch one.
What sets it apart
- Apple's M3, with an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU with hardware ray tracing and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says it's nearly 2× faster than the M1 Air and up to 3.5× faster than the A14 Air.
- Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with hover, on an 11- or 13-inch screen.
- A USB 3 port, up to 10Gb/s, that drives a single external display at up to 6K and 60Hz.
- Blue, Purple, Starlight or Space Gray, with Touch ID; iPad Pro comes in two finishes and uses Face ID.
Caveats
- Accessories cost extra: no Apple Pencil comes in the box, and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air is sold separately.
- There's no microSD slot, so the storage you pick, from 128GB to 1TB, is the storage you keep.
Key specs
In the same order on every tablet page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 11-inch model: 10.86 inches diagonal; 13-inch model: sold as 13-inch | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specsMeasured as a rectangle; Apple notes the rounded corners leave less viewable area. |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Display resolution | 11-inch: 2360 × 1640 at 264 ppi; 13-inch: 2732 × 2048 at 264 ppi | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 11-inch: 500 nits; 13-inch: 600 nits | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specsApple's ratings; there's no separate HDR peak for the Air. |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Sold size(s) | 11-inch and 13-inch | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 |
| Dimensions | 11-inch: 247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm; 13-inch: 280.6 × 214.9 × 6.1 mm | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Weight | 11-inch: 460 g (Wi-Fi and cellular); 13-inch: 616 g Wi-Fi, 617 g cellular | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Finishes | Blue; Purple; Starlight; Space Gray | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specsApple's recycled-content figures are in the Environment section of its tech specs. |
| Chip / processor | M3: 8-core CPU (4P+4E), 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs4 performance and 4 efficiency cores, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing on the GPU. |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB in every model | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| On-device storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB; no microSD | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Pencil / stylus | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with hover; neither is in the box | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Keyboard / cover | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, sold separately: $269 (11-inch) or $319 (13-inch) in black, as of Apple's iPad Pro (M5) launch; attaches by Smart Connector | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 and 15 October 2025 |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Microphones | Two microphones for calls, video and audio recording | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular models: 5G (sub-6GHz, 4x4 MIMO); Gigabit LTE; eSIM only. $150 more than Wi-Fi at US launch ($749 and $949). Wi-Fi models have no cellular. | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs; Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO, simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Ports / expansion | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector; Smart Connector | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Center Stage, ƒ/2.0; 1080p video | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Battery | 11-inch 28.93Wh; 13-inch 36.59Wh. Up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web or video; up to 9 hours of web on cellular | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Charging | 20W USB-C power adapter and 1m USB-C cable in the box; charges from the adapter or a computer. No fast-charge figure (iPad Pro (M5) lists 50% in 30 minutes) | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Location / GNSS | Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon on every model; GPS/GNSS on cellular models | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| US launch price | 11-inch: $599 Wi-Fi, $749 cellular. 13-inch: $799 Wi-Fi, $949 cellular (US, 4 March 2025). Education: $549 and $749 for the Wi-Fi models | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 |
| Price band | Previous Air ($599–$949 at US launch, before Pencil and keyboard) | Based on Apple's launch prices |
| Announced | 4 March 2025 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 4 March 2025; in stores from 12 March 2025. Replaced as the current Air by iPad Air (M4), announced 2 March 2026 with pre-orders from 4 March 2026. | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 and 2 March 2026 |
iPad Air (M3) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Touch ID | In the top button; also approves Apple Pay in apps and on the web | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | 11-inch and 13-inch versions, sold separately: $269 and $319 in black (October 2025 prices) | Apple Newsroom, 4 March 2025 and 15 October 2025 |
| Apple Pencil hover | Yes, with Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| LiDAR | Not listed; the sensors are a gyro, accelerometer, barometer and ambient light sensor, plus Touch ID | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| In the box | iPad Air; USB-C Charge Cable (1 meter); 20W USB-C Power Adapter; no Pencil | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
| Apple Intelligence | Built in, with region and language limits | Apple iPad Air (M3) tech specs |
What the M4 Air changed
Apple replaced the M3 Air on 2 March 2026 with iPad Air (M4), at the same prices. The screens kept their ratings; memory and wireless changed:
| Spec | iPad Air (M3) | iPad Air (M4) | iPad Pro (M5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | Liquid Retina IPS, 500 or 600 nits | Same ratings | Tandem OLED XDR, 1000 nits, 1600 HDR peak |
| Memory | 8GB | 12GB | 12GB or 16GB by storage |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | N1: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread | N1: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread |
| Cellular modem | 5G eSIM, not C1X | C1X | C1X |
| US Wi-Fi launch price | $599 or $799 (March 2025) | $599 or $799 (March 2026) | $999 or $1,299 |
iPad Air (M3) vs iPad Air (M4) covers the rest of the differences.
The screens
The 11-inch shows 2360 × 1640 and measures 10.86 inches diagonally; the 13-inch shows 2732 × 2048 and is the brighter of the two, at 600 nits against 500. Both are IPS panels at 264 ppi. Apple doesn’t list ProMotion or a 120Hz refresh rate for either.
Weights are 460 grams for either 11-inch model and 616 or 617 grams for the 13-inch, all at 6.1mm thick.
Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard
Either Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) snaps to the magnetic connector, and the screen tracks both while they hover above the glass.
Apple launched a new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air alongside the M3. It attaches through the Smart Connector and is a different keyboard from the iPad Pro’s.
Cameras, sound and cellular
The cameras are a 12MP Wide on the back, recording 4K at up to 60 fps, and a 12MP Center Stage front camera, mounted on the landscape side for calls, at 1080p. Landscape stereo speakers and two microphones handle sound. Cellular models use 5G on an eSIM and add GPS.
Battery
Both sizes carry the same rating, up to 10 hours of web or video on Wi-Fi and 9 hours of web on cellular, from 28.93Wh (11-inch) and 36.59Wh (13-inch) batteries. It charges from the included adapter or from a computer’s USB-C port.
Price
On 4 March 2025, the 11-inch started at $599 and the 13-inch at $799 with Wi-Fi. Cellular added $150, for $749 and $949, and education prices started at $549 and $749. The M4 Air launched at the same prices in March 2026, so a new M3 is a good buy only when it’s clearly cheaper. Check current prices before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces iPad Air with powerful M3 chip and new Magic Keyboard — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad Air product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad Air technical specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 11-inch (M3) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 13-inch (M3) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — iPad Pro M5 (Magic Keyboard for iPad Air price recap) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — iPad Air powered by M4 (successor) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Is 8GB of memory enough?
It depends on what you run, and you can't buy more: every M3 Air has 8GB, whatever the storage. If you want headroom, the M4 Air has 12GB in every model, and iPad Pro (M5) starts at 12GB on its 256GB model.
Does iPad Air (M3) support Apple Intelligence?
Yes. It's built in, within Apple's region and language limits.
Which keyboard works with iPad Air (M3)?
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, which attaches through the Smart Connector. After the iPad Pro (M5) launch, Apple listed it at $269 for the 11-inch and $319 for the 13-inch, in black.
Does iPad Air (M3) support fast charging?
Not that Apple rates. It comes with a 20W USB-C adapter and has no fast-charge time; iPad Pro (M5) is the iPad Apple rates at 50% in 30 minutes.
Official product page: iPad Air (M3). Tech specs: iPad Air (M3) specs.