Apple has refreshed its iPad Air with the Apple M3 chip – aside from the chip upgrade (which isn’t the latest, that title goes to M4), the new tablet comes with expanded support for accessories, including the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.
iPad Air (M3)
In typical Apple fashion though, the company compares its new iPad Air against the M1-powered model (vaguely) and claims twice the performance over it, or 3.5x over the even older A14-powered version, skipping the comparison against the more recent M2-powered model. That said, as with new models under the Cupertino banner, it supports Apple Intelligence and all related AI-powered features, like the Clean Up tool in Photos, Image Wand in the Notes app, a more conversational Siri assistant, and ChatGPT integration for writing features.
Besides the tablet, Apple has also updated the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, now featuring a larger trackpad, a 14-key function row, and a machined aluminum hinge with a USB-C charging port. It attaches magnetically and connects instantly via the Smart Connector, Bluetooth connection not required. Since the iPad Air comes in two sizes – 11-inch and 13-inch – the Magic Keyboard is also available in two sizing options (pricing differs slightly). Also, despite its name, the new Air is still thicker than the iPad Pro.
As a bonus announcement, Apple has also introduced an updated iPad model with the A16 chip, along with doubled starting storage capacity (now at 128GB) and reduced price for local markets. The A16 chip is said to provide up to a 30% boost in performance over the 9th generation model, though you won’t be getting Apple Intelligence features with this one either.
For pricing, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at RM2,799, while the 13-inch model starts at RM3,699; the new Magic Keyboard is priced at RM1,299 for the 11-inch version and RM1,399 for the 13-inch version. As for the updated iPad, it now starts at RM1,599, taking the price point left by the 9th-generation model which was discontinued last year.
Pokdepinion: Decent price – certainly outcompetes a traditional laptop in this bracket if your use case fits within a tablet.
