The new M3 iPad Air doesn’t have a lot of changes, but the 2025 spec bump is enough to maintain it as our most recommended iPad for nearly everyone.
If you read our 2024 iPad Air review, you’ve essentially read our 2025 iPad Air review. The changes this time are minuscule, summarized by the inclusion of the M3 chip.
This minor spec bump comes a mere ten months after the 2024 upgrade. As that upgrade was significant, it eases the pain of this largely insignificant one.
It still comes in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, first introduced with the last generation. For this review, we’re looking at the latter, though they’re identical, apart from the sizes.
M3 iPad Air: Specs & connectivity
The new iPad Air is available in the same colors as the last. Starlight, Space Gray, purple, and blue — we’re looking at the blue here in our studio.
It uses Apple’s typical LCDs, lacking the ProMotion or tandem Mini-LED found in the Pro models. The 11-inch measures 2360-by-1640 and the 13-inch is 2732-by-2048, both resulting in a pixel density of 264 PPI.
M3 iPad Air review: You can choose 11 or 13-inch displays
Unlike the base iPad, the iPad Air has a fully laminated display. It has 500 nits of typical brightness, supports True Tone, and the P3 wide color gamut as well.
The screen goes edge-to-edge as Apple banished the Home button on this model years ago. Unfortunately, it still lacks Face ID, instead using Touch ID integrated into the top button for authentication.
It has a 12MP front-facing camera, located on the landscape side. The new model supports Center Stage to follow the user as they move, and can record 1080P video which is helpful on video calls.
M3 iPad Air review: Smart Connector on iPad Air is used to talk to accessories
On the back of the tablet is the Smart Connector, used for connecting accessories like the Magic Keyboard. More on that in a few.
Also located around the back is a second camera. It too is a 12MP shooter but has a larger sensor from the front.
Video recording is more capable here, up to 4K this time. Photos also support Smart HDR 4.
M3 iPad Air review: There is a 12MP camera on the back of iPad Air
As usual with all iPads — the photo and video capabilities are decent. Still, photos you care about should be captured with something other than a tablet. Use your iPhone or a dedicated camera.
These cameras are better for FaceTime calls, meetings, scanning, and the ilk.
For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and 10 gigabit per second USB-C. Cellular models are also available for those that need it.
We’d have liked to see Wi-Fi 7 as the newest wireless standard. Most people don’t have Wi-Fi 7 in their homes yet, but when you’re buying a tablet to last you several years, it’s preferable to have the latest standard.
Wi-Fi 7 adds a lot of improvements, including substantial speed increases. Wi-Fi 6E on the other hand, largely just added support for the 6GHz band.
M3 iPad Air review: You can use Touch ID to unlock your iPad
The 6GHz spectrum is in addition to the preexisting 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and is especially useful in cities or apartments with a lot of congestion. Since this was around in the 2024 model, it’s nothing new to see here.
Finally, it comes with 128GB of storage on board with the base model. Users have the option to choose 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB upon purchase, as well.
M3 iPad Air: More performance
The prior M2 chip was an 8-core processor that had four performance and four efficiency cores. The M3, matches those specs but with a higher clock speed.
In benchmarks, the M3 chip has scored 3065 and 11784 for the single and multi-core tests. Outpacing the 2644 and 9293 from the last-gen chip.
While it is a generation newer than its most recent predecessor, it’s still one behind the M4 found in the iPad Pro. This chip is still ideal for students, gamers, content creators, and artists.
M3 iPad Air review: Gaming and content creation apps on iPad Air
Overall, it offers reliable performance at a price point below the iPad Pro.
M3 iPad Air: What’s actually new
Outside of the M3 chip itself, nearly nothing else has changed for this generation. The chip itself does bring a few ancillary benefits.
The biggest is arguably hardware-accelerated ray tracing. For high-end games, such as Assassin’s Creed, it’s going to allow for better graphics and improved frame rates — i.e. smoother performance.
On the video front, the M3 brings additional ProRes encode and decode engines plus an AV1 decode engine. Performance in editing these high-end codecs will be quicker compared to preexisting models.
M3 iPad Air: Accessories
When the 2024 iPad Air rolled out, we saw support for the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro. That support continues here too, with some updates coming to the keyboard itself.
For the 2025 iPad Air, it supports both the low-end USB-C Apple Pencil as well as the Apple Pencil Pro (on sale at Amazon). The latter being much more capable for artists.
You can use the hover effect to see where the cursor will be placed. It has tilt and roll support and a squeeze gesture to open the on-screen palette.
M3 iPad Air review: Magic Keyboard is a great add-on
The Magic Keyboard connects to iPad Air magnetically, powered by the Smart Connector. There’s no need to charge it or pair it via Bluetooth.
Just snap it on and you’re good to go. The iPad is held into the air for a very cool hovering effect, like with the iPad Pro.
The new model has a metal hinge along the back and a larger trackpad. A secondary USB-C port is on the hinge for charging, freeing up the primary port for connecting USB-C hubs and accessories.
M3 iPad Air review: The USB-C port on the tablet can connect lots of USB-C accessories while the one on the Magic Keyboard is just for power
Displays, SSDs, microphones, and more can be connected to the iPad via USB-C. They must be connected directly through the iPad as the port on the Magic Keyboard is exclusively for power.
M3 iPad Air review: Connect a charger to the Magic Keyboard
Apple also added a full row of function keys to the new keyboard. You can adjust the brightness, control media playback, and more.
Both of these are worthwhile add-ons, but they aren’t cheap by any means. A full kit for the 13-inch iPad Air almost reaches $1,300 — before taxes.
M3 iPad Air: Should you buy the 2025 Air?
As we said in our 2025 MacBook Air review, the frequent updates do make these launches less exciting. Changes after 10 months are small, to say the least.
At the same time, it’s nothing but a win for consumers. It means instead of buying an iPad Air in 2025 with a processor from a year ago, you’re getting the latest and greatest.
On the flip side, it means that legacy models get discounted, also giving users great options to consider. If you don’t need the power of the M3 chip, you can save serious money by opting for an older model.
No one who bought an M2 iPad Air will feel buyers remorse for not getting this new model. Even if it is faster.
M3 iPad Air review: Home Screen on iPad Air
Apple released a great tablet with the 2024 iPad Air, and the 2025 is a more powerful continuation of that. And either are a great option for just about everybody.
M3 iPad Air review: Pros
- Newer M3 chip
- Additional video engines for content creation
- Solid value for more advanced users
- More colors than the pro models
- Updated Magic Keyboard
M3 iPad Air review: Cons
- No other changes from last year’s model
- Full kit with keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro is expensive
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy the 2025 M3 iPad Air at a discount
Apple’s 2025 thin-and-light M3 iPad Air is on sale now at Apple resellers, with a breakdown of the offers in our 11-inch iPad Air Price Guide and 13-inch iPad Air Price Guide.
At press time, prices start at $549 for the latest models at Amazon, but prices are subject to change.
You can also find iPad deals on additional models across the range in our dedicated roundup, including closeout savings on M2 iPad Air tablets.
