Apple's New M3 iPad Air Offers Modest Performance Boost but Few Other Changes

The 2025 iPad Air introduces the M3 chip for improved graphics and efficiency, but retains the same design, display, and features as last year's model.

The iPad Air (M3) features Apple's M3 chip, offering up to 15% faster performance compared to the M2, with advanced graphics capabilities like ray tracing and mesh shading.
Design and display remain unchanged from the M2 model, with an LCD screen limited to 60Hz refresh rate and no OLED or mini-LED upgrade.
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air introduces a row of function keys, a larger trackpad, and a $30 price reduction, but lacks backlighting and aluminum construction found in the iPad Pro's keyboard.
Battery life is consistent with previous models, providing up to 10 hours of usage, though heavy tasks like video editing may deplete it faster.
The iPad Air (M3) remains a middle-ground option in Apple's lineup, appealing to those seeking a balance of power and price, but lacks significant upgrades to entice recent buyers.