The iPad Air is one of the most popular tablets on the market, offering a perfect balance of power, portability, and price. With Apple’s track record of rolling out significant improvements with each new model, the 7th generation iPad Air was highly anticipated.
The wait is finally over as the latest iPad Air has hit shop shelves, not only bringing the powerful M3 chip and updated Magic Keyboard, but also promising better performance compared to the iPad Air 6 (2024).
Here’s a breakdown of everything that the new M3 iPad Air has to offer.
When was the new iPad Air released?
Apple unveiled the new M3 iPad Air (alongside the updated entry-level iPad) on 4 March 2025. After a week-long pre-order period, it’s been officially available in stores since 12 March 2025.
It’s available directly from Apple UK and Apple US, as well as from some third-party sellers, such as Currys, Argos and John Lewis in the UK or Walmart and Best Buy in the US.
For context, here’s when recent iterations of the iPad Air arrived:
- 6th generation: May 2024
- 5th generation: March 2022
- 4th generation: September 2020
- 3rd generation: March 2019
How much does the new iPad Air cost?
Apple has maintained its pricing structure for the new iPad Air. The 11-inch model starts at £599/$599, while the 13-inch model starts at £799/$799.
Pricing for those in education offers slight discounts, with the 11-inch model available at £549/$549 and the 13-inch model at £749/$749.
The new Magic Keyboard is also reduced in price, starting at £269/$269 for the smaller model and £319/$319 for the larger one.
Apple
As a reminder, the previous iPad Air also launched at £599/$599 for the 11-inch model and £799/$799 for the 13-inch model.
What specs and features does the new iPad Air have?
The new generation iPad Air has significant improvements in terms of performance and AI features, while in every other aspect it takes handfuls from the 2024 model.
Design
The design of the 7th generation iPad Air is almost the same as its predecessor. Apple retains the 11-inch and 13-inch size options, introduced in 2024, with an aluminium body with flat edges and rounded corners.
The brand also retains the Touch ID power button for biometric authentication and the USB-C port for charging and connectivity.
Both sizes come in four colours: blue, purple, starlight, and space grey.
Display
The display is one area in which the iPad Air is different from the M4 iPad Pro. The 7th gen iPad Air still sticks with LCD technology, while the iPad Pro continues to offer OLED displays and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rates.
Apple
Both models also still feature Liquid Retina displays, with True Tone and anti-reflective coatings.
Performance
The biggest change comes under the hood with the introduction of the M3 chip.
According to Apple, the M3 chip offers nearly double the performance of the previous M1-powered iPad Air, improving speed and efficiency for tasks such as video editing, gaming, and multitasking.
The GPU now supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making graphics-intensive applications smoother and more detailed. Interestingly, Apple doesn’t compare the M3 chipset to its M2 sibling.
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The M3 also enhances AI-driven tasks, making Apple Intelligence features more responsive and capable. This includes improvements to Siri, photo editing tools, and other smart functionalities within iPadOS 18.
Both models are available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.
Cameras
The iPad Air retains a 12Mp ultrawide front-facing camera, now positioned at the landscape edge for a more natural video-calling experience. The rear camera also remains a 12Mp sensor, capable of capturing sharp photos and 4K video.
However, Apple continues to differentiate the iPad Air from the Pro models by omitting advanced camera features such as LiDAR.
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Center Stage, Apple’s feature that keeps the user centred during video calls, remains a key feature of the front camera, ensuring a more dynamic and professional video chat experience.
Battery & Charging
With the M3 chip’s improved energy efficiency, the iPad Air 7 is expected to offer longer battery life compared to its predecessor. The current model offers around 10 hours of battery life, and we can expect similar or slightly better performance in the 7th gen model. Charging continues to be via USB-C.
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Software
The iPad Air 7 ships with iPadOS 18.2, bringing new software features including Apple Intelligence. This software integration will allow the iPad Air to use AI-driven capabilities like improved Siri functions, automated email sorting, and notification summaries.
Apple
Not the right model for you? Have a look at our round-ups of the best iPads and best tablets around for our top recommendations.
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