Apple Unveils the iPad Air Armed with M3 Might — and a Cracker of a Magic Keyboard

Apple has just taken the wraps off its new iPad Air, now turbocharged by the M3 chip and tailor-made for Apple Intelligence. This upgraded model marks the first time Apple’s advanced graphics architecture lands on iPad Air — delivering a remarkable balance of power-packed performance and portability. In fact, the new iPad Air with M3 runs circles around the previous iterations, boasting nearly double the speed of the M1 version, and up to a jaw-dropping 3.5 times faster than the A14 Bionic variant. Whether you’re crafting content or crushing graphics-intensive games, you’ll definitely notice the M3’s muscle in every tap and swipe.

Coming in two sizes (11-inch and 13-inch) and four elegant finishes, the 11-inch iPad Air is an absolute breeze to carry around, while its bigger 13-inch sibling dishes out extra screen real estate for those who like to multitask or get creative in comfort. And if that’s not enough, Apple has cooked up a brand-new Magic Keyboard exclusively for iPad Air — adding versatility and functionality in one sleek package. Combine that with iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence, beefed-up cameras, speedy 5G connectivity, and compatibility with both Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), and you’ve got yourself a tablet that’s pretty hard to beat.

Despite all that oomph, the new iPad Air starts at just RRP A$999 inc. GST for the 11-inch model, and RRP A$1,349 inc. GST for the 13-inch. If you’re in education, you can snag them for RRP A$919 inc. GST and RRP A$1,259 inc. GST, respectively. Pre-orders are open now, with availability kicking off on Wednesday, 12 March.

“iPad Air is a fan favourite because it pairs serious performance with easy portability and advanced accessories — all without emptying your wallet,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “From uni students wielding Apple Pencil Pro to travellers and content creators hungry for big power on the go, iPad Air with M3, Apple Intelligence, and the new Magic Keyboard raises the bar for versatility and value.”

M3 Delivers Supercharged Performance

iPad Air with M3 opens the door for productivity and creativity wherever life takes you. From aspiring digital artists juggling hefty apps to travellers editing the latest holiday snaps, this chip is ready for pretty much anything. Equipped with an 8-core CPU that’s up to 35 per cent faster than iPad Air with M1, M3 makes short work of multithreaded tasks. Meanwhile, its 9-core GPU is up to 40 per cent quicker, so you can expect slicker graphics performance across the board.

But the real magic trick is M3’s advanced graphics architecture, complete with hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. That translates to up to 4x faster rendering when stacked against iPad Air with M1, delivering richer lighting, reflections, and shadows — plus truly next-level gaming. On top of that, the Neural Engine in M3 runs up to 60 per cent faster, unlocking even more AI-fuelled feats in iPadOS.

Built for Apple Intelligence

The new iPad Air is built from the ground up to leverage Apple Intelligence, the personal tech sidekick that delivers handy insights and solutions. In the Photos app, you can use the Clean Up tool to remove visual eyesores in a snap, or simply type (or speak) in plain English to find any photo or video you fancy. Over in Notes, the Image Wand feature can breathe life into a mundane sketch by polishing it into a crisp image. Even if you just circle some blank space, Image Wand cleverly figures out the context, conjuring up a relevant illustration to jazz up your note.

Apple Intelligence also brings fun new ways to flex your creativity. Image Playground encourages imaginative visuals, Genmoji lets you whip up the perfect emoji, and Writing Tools makes your prose shine. Siri’s had a brain boost too, making it more forgiving if you stutter, while also retaining context from one query to the next. Plus, Siri’s packed with product knowledge, so you can ask it for tips on Apple features, like how to record your screen without fuss.

ChatGPT is now seamlessly woven into Siri and Writing Tools, so you can ask it questions or draft content without juggling multiple apps. Better still, ChatGPT is free to use, doesn’t require an account, and is privacy-friendly, obscuring your IP address and preventing OpenAI from storing your requests. You can enable or disable this ChatGPT integration as you please, and you’re always in control of what info gets shared.

Apple Intelligence is also big on user privacy. It taps into on-device processing where possible, so most of its AI models run right on your iPad. When larger models are needed, Private Cloud Compute kicks in — maintaining the same privacy and security standards in the cloud. Rest assured, your data isn’t stashed or shared with Apple; it’s strictly employed to fulfil your current request.

All-New Magic Keyboard for iPad Air

If you’re in the market for a laptop-like feel, the fresh Magic Keyboard for iPad Air just might win you over. Its built-in trackpad is bigger than ever, delivering pinpoint accuracy for detail-obsessed tasks, while a new 14-key function row puts brightness, volume, and other tweaks at your fingertips. Attaching it is straightforward — it latches on magnetically, and the Smart Connector instantly funnels power and data, so there’s no fiddling with Bluetooth. There’s also a USB-C port built right into the hinge for charging. Kicking off at RRP A$449 inc. GST (11-inch model) and RRP A$499 inc. GST (13-inch), the Magic Keyboard sports that fan-favourite floating design and is available in white.

iPad Updated with Double the Starting Storage and A16 Chip

On top of unveiling the new iPad Air, Apple has also given the standard iPad a tune-up, doubling its starting storage and fitting it with the A16 chip. This means faster everyday tasks, all-day battery life, and roughly 30 per cent more oomph than the previous generation. Compare that to the older A13 Bionic version, and you’re looking at up to 50 per cent better performance — and a whopping 6x faster experience than the most popular Android tablet. Not too shabby!

Powerful, Intelligent Features in iPadOS 18

iPadOS 18 piles on extra goodies that make the iPad even more versatile and, dare we say, clever:

• Calculator’s now optimised for iPad, featuring Maths Notes for scribbling equations by hand (or typing them out) and getting immediate results in your own handwriting style. Create or use variables, and even add a graph for good measure. All these maths notes live in the Notes app, so you can pull them into any other note you like.

• Notes also gets a boost with Smart Script, letting you tidy up your scribbled handwriting or plonk typed text right into your scrawl with Apple Pencil. Meanwhile, your handwriting automatically becomes smoother and easier to read in real time.

• An all-new Audio Recording and Transcription feature means you can capture lectures or discussions, and the transcript automatically syncs with the audio. Searching for a specific snippet is then a breeze.

• If you’re all about customisation, the Home Screen can sport tinted or dark effects on app icons and widgets, and you can even size them up for improved visibility. A redesigned Control Centre makes everyday tasks simpler, including new options for third-party app controls.

Greener Than Ever

Both the new iPad Air and the updated iPad reflect Apple’s continuing efforts to be kinder to the planet. As part of Apple 2030 (their pledge to reach net-zero across their entire footprint by the end of this decade), the company is transitioning to renewable electricity for manufacturing, investing in wind and solar initiatives, and ensuring all Apple facilities run on 100 per cent renewable power.

Apple also keeps pushing the use of recycled and renewable materials to cut down on carbon. The new iPad Air and iPad both contain at least 30 per cent recycled content overall, including enclosures made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium and magnets built with 100 per cent recycled rare earth elements. The batteries feature 100 per cent recycled cobalt and, for the first time in an iPad, more than 95 per cent recycled lithium. Plus, each device meets Apple’s usual sky-high energy efficiency standards, and all packaging is fully fibre-based (no plastic to be found).

Pricing and Availability

iPad Air with M3

• Pre-orders start 5 March, available 12 March in 29 countries.
• Sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch, available in blue, purple, starlight, and space grey.
• Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
• Prices: 11-inch from A$999 (Wi-Fi) / A$1,249 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).
  13-inch from A$1,349 (Wi-Fi) / A$1,599 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).
• Education pricing: From A$919 (11-inch) and A$1,259 (13-inch).

Magic Keyboard for iPad Air

• Available in white: A$449 (11-inch) / A$499 (13-inch).
• Education pricing: A$419 (11-inch) / A$469 (13-inch).

iPad with A16

• Pre-orders start 5 March, available 12 March.
• Available in blue, pink, yellow, and silver.
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
• Prices: From A$599 (Wi-Fi) / A$849 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).
• Education pricing: From A$559 (Wi-Fi) / A$809 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).

Accessories

• Magic Keyboard Folio (white): A$399 (or A$359 for education).
• Apple Pencil Pro: A$219 (A$199 for education).
• Apple Pencil (USB-C): A$139 (A$119 for education).

Pre-orders and education discounts are available at apple.com/au/store and apple.com/au-hed/shop.

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Zachary Skinner

Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.