Apple launches new iPad Air with M3 chip and Magic Keyboard

For the first time, Apple brings its advanced graphics architecture to the iPad Air, boosting both graphics and processing performance

Taking its tablet performance and capabilities to new heights, Apple has rolled out the latest version of its iPad Air, now powered by the M3 chip. For the first time, Apple introduces its advanced graphics architecture to the iPad Air, enhancing both graphics and processing power. Along with the new iPad Air, Apple has also released an upgraded Magic Keyboard, specifically designed for the new model.

The Apple iPad Air with M3 offers two screen size options: 11-inch and 13-inch. The new M3 chip brings significant improvements over the previous M1 model, featuring an 8-core CPU that is up to 35% faster for multithreaded tasks. The 9-core GPU provides up to 40% faster graphics performance, making it ideal for graphics-intensive applications such as gaming and 3D rendering.

The M3 chip also supports dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing, offering up to 4x faster performance compared to the M1 model. This results in enhanced lighting, reflections, and shadows for a more immersive experience in rendering and gaming.

iPad Air M3: Performance, accessories and prices

In addition to performance boosts, the Neural Engine in the M3 chip is up to 60% faster for AI-based tasks, supporting more advanced features such as Apple Intelligence. The new iPad Air also supports Apple's latest accessories, including the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro, which further enhance productivity and creativity.

The iPad Air with M3 is available in four colours—blue, purple, starlight, and space grey—and in storage configurations of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Pricing for the 11-inch Wi-Fi model starts at ₹59,900, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular version is priced at ₹74,900. The 13-inch variant starts at ₹79,900 for the Wi-Fi model and ₹94,900 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard is priced at ₹26,900 for the 11-inch version and ₹29,900 for the 13-inch version. Educational discounts are also available for students. Pre-orders for the iPad Air and Magic Keyboard began on March 4, with availability set for March 12.

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