Apple Unveils iPad Air with M4 Chip, Enhanced Performance, and Connectivity
Apple introduces the latest iPad Air featuring the M4 chip, offering up to 30% faster performance, increased memory, and improved connectivity options.
Apple has announced the latest iteration of its iPad Air, now powered by the M4 chip, delivering significant performance enhancements over its predecessors. The new model boasts an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, resulting in up to 30% faster performance compared to the previous M3-based iPad Air and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1 version.
The device now includes 12GB of unified memory—a 50% increase from the prior generation—and offers memory bandwidth of up to 120GB/s. The 16-core Neural Engine in the M4 chip is up to three times faster than that of the M1, enhancing on-device AI capabilities.
Connectivity improvements feature Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Cellular models are equipped with Apple's custom C1X modem, providing 5G and LTE connectivity with up to 50% faster cellular performance while consuming up to 30% less power compared to previous models.
The iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Color choices include Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray. Pricing starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Pre-orders begin on March 4, with availability starting March 11.