Apple has unveiled new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 chip.
Consumers can already place orders for the mentioned new product from the specified technology giant based in Cupertino, California. Sales of the new iPad Air will be launched on March 12.
The price of the product presented this week starts at $599 for the 11-inch model. The price of the 13-inch configuration of the device is $799. The new product, equipped with the M3 chip, is available in four colors.
The new iPad Air supports Apple Intelligence. At the same time, the company did not equip the device with the newest M4 chip. However, the technology giant claims that the functioning of the iPad with M3 is faster than similar indicators demonstrated by the iPad Air with M1 and iPad Air with A14 Bionic. It is worth paying special attention to the fact that in this case, the iPad Air with the M2 chip, which launched last year, was not mentioned in the context of the comparison.
The technology giant also unveiled an updated Magic Keyboard with an enlarged trackpad and a new 14-key function, which provides easy access to features such as screen brightness and volume controls. The keyboard is attached magnetically. The Smart Connector immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth. Besides, there is a machined aluminum hinge that includes a USB-C connector for charging.
The new Magic Keyboard costs $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model.
Apple said the iPad Air with M3 is 35% faster for multithreaded central processing unit workflows than the iPad Air with M1. The device also features a 9-core graphics processing unit, which performance is 40% higher than that of the M1.
Moreover, the technology giant, said that the Neural Engine in M3 is up to 60% faster for artificial intelligence-based workloads when compared to M1. In this case, there is another example of a high level of attention to AI. It is worth noting that against the background of the active development of artificial intelligence, the issue of cybersecurity has become more relevant. Scammers also have access to AI tools. Personal awareness of users is important to counteract the relevant threat. For example, an Internet search query such as how to know if my camera is hacked will allow anyone to get information about signs of unauthorized access to the device.
Apple said that as part of the iPad update, double starting storage and an A16 chip were added to this device, which provides increased performance for everyday tasks. The new iPad with A16 is almost 30% faster than the previous generation. The technology giant also claims that users will see a 50% improvement in overall performance against the A13 Bionic. Moreover, the company claims that the A16 chip makes the new iPad six times faster than the best-selling Android tablet.
Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, stated that for everyone from college students taking notes with Apple Pencil Pro, to travelers and content creators who need powerful productivity on the go, iPad Air with M3, Apple Intelligence, and the new Magic Keyboard take versatility and value to the next level.
