Highlights
- Apple debuts iPad Air with M4 chip offering up to 30% faster CPU performance, 12GB RAM, 120GB/s memory bandwidth and support for Apple Intelligence.
- Connectivity upgrades include the new N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Apple’s in-house C1X modem.
- It comes at $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch), same color choices and storage tiers.
Apple has officially introduced the latest iPad Air, bringing major internal upgrades while retaining its familiar design. The refreshed model now features Apple’s powerful M4 chip, 12GB of RAM, the new N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7 support and the company’s custom C1X modem in cellular variants. Here are more details, starting with price and availability.
New iPad Air – Pricing and Availability
The new iPad Air is available for pre-order starting Wednesday, March 4, via Apple.com and the Apple Store app. Official availability begins on Wednesday, March 11.
In the United States, pricing remains unchanged –
- $599 for the 11-inch model
- $799 for the 13-inch model
Colour options continue to include Blue, Purple, Starlight and Space Gery. Storage configurations remain 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
New iPad Air with Chip
Design-wise, the new iPad Air remains identical to the previous-generation version powered by the M3 chip, which offered 8GB RAM and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. However, under the hood, there are notable improvements aimed at boosting performance and connectivity.
The biggest highlight of the new iPad Air is the upgrade from the M3 processor to the M4 chip. According to Apple, the M4-powered iPad Air delivers up to 30% faster multi-core CPU performance compared to the M3 model.
The M4 chip inside the iPad Air includes an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine.
In addition to improved processing power, memory bandwidth has increased from 100GB/s on the previous model to 120GB/s, as per Apple’s technical specifications. The unified memory has also been bumped up to 12GB from 8GB, offering better multitasking and improved handling of demanding applications.
Apple has also added its custom N1 wireless networking chip to the new iPad Air. With the N1 chip, the device now supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.
Apple says the N1 chip enhances wireless performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and improves the overall reliability and performance of features such as AirDrop and Personal Hotspot. The N1 chip was first introduced last year across devices including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPad Pro.
For users opting for cellular models, the new iPad Air now includes Apple’s custom C1X modem supporting 5G and LTE. The previous iPad Air relied on a Qualcomm modem.
Apple states that the C1X modem enables up to 50% faster cellular performance while consuming up to 30% less power compared to the previous-generation iPad Air.
The device also supports Apple Intelligence features a Touch ID power button includes a USB-C port, stereo speakers, two microphones, and remains compatible with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.
M4 iPad Air vs M3 iPad Air – All the Key Upgrades Explained!
When comparing the M4 iPad Air vs M3 iPad Air, the differences may seem subtle at first glance. Apple has introduced several meaningful upgrades under the hood. Here’s a detailed look at everything that’s new in the latest iPad Air powered by the M4 chip.
M4 Chip Delivers Faster Performance
The biggest highlight of the new iPad Air is the jump from the M3 chip to Apple’s latest M4 processor. According to Apple, the new model “is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3.”
Incremental chip upgrades can sometimes feel minor in day-to-day usage. However, with the arrival of iPadOS 26, the added power becomes more relevant. The latest software features are significantly more demanding compared to iPadOS 18, making the improved performance more meaningful.
Apple also clarifies that this M4 model is not primarily aimed at users upgrading from the M3 version. Instead, it targets owners of older iPads. The company claims the new iPad Air is “up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1,” while its Neural Engine delivers performance that is 3x faster than the M1 model.
12GB RAM and Higher Memory Bandwidth
Another major upgrade is the increase in unified memory. The M4 iPad Air now comes with 12GB of RAM, compared to 8GB on the previous M3 version, a 50% jump.
Memory bandwidth has also been boosted to 120GB/s, which could enhance the performance of local AI models and other demanding applications.
Before the introduction of iPadOS 26 and advanced AI features, 8GB of RAM was more than sufficient for smooth performance. However, the move to 12GB better aligns the iPad Air with modern computing needs and future workloads.
C1X Modem Brings Faster Cellular Speeds and Improved Efficiency
For those choosing a cellular variant, the M4 iPad Air includes Apple’s latest in-house modem, the C1X. The C1X modem first appeared in iPhone Air and later made its way to the M5 iPad Pro.
By replacing the third-party modem used in the M3 iPad Air, Apple introduces several benefits. As stated in Apple’s press release, “Cellular models of iPad Air also feature C1X, a cellular modem designed by Apple that offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance — and for active cellular users, C1X offers up to 30 percent less modem energy usage than iPad Air with M3.”
The combination of faster data speeds and improved energy efficiency is a strong advantage for users who frequently rely on mobile networks. Although Apple officially lists the same battery life for both M4 and M3 iPad Air models, improved modem efficiency could translate to better real-world battery performance during heavy cellular usage.
N1 Wireless Chip Enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Another significant hardware addition is Apple’s custom N1 wireless chip. Originally introduced with the iPhone 17 lineup, the N1 chip replaces older wireless solutions for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread connectivity.
With the N1 chip, the M4 iPad Air now supports –
- Wi-Fi 7 (compared to Wi-Fi 6E on the M3 model)
- Bluetooth 6 (compared to Bluetooth 5.3 on the M3 model)
Apple also states that N1 “brings better performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.”
M4 iPad Air vs M3 iPad Air
Beyond the four main upgrades, the new iPad Air remains largely the same as its predecessor. It retains the same design, available sizes, colour options, and pricing structure.
The M4 iPad Air is not designed as a must-upgrade device for current M3 users. However, for those using older iPad models, the shift toward more Apple-designed silicon components makes the M4 iPad Air a more future-ready and performance-focused choice.
FAQs
Q1. What is the price and availability of the new iPad Air M4?
Answer. The iPad Air M4 starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Pre-orders begin on March 4, with sales starting March 11.
Q2. What are the major performance upgrades in the iPad Air M4 compared to the M3 model?
Answer. It features the M4 chip with an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, delivering up to 30% faster CPU performance than the M3 version.
Q3. How much RAM does the iPad Air M4 have?
Answer. The new iPad Air comes with 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB on the M3 model, along with increased memory bandwidth of 120GB/s for better multitasking and AI workloads.
Q4. What wireless improvements does the iPad Air M4 include?
Answer. It introduces Apple’s N1 wireless chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity, improving AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and overall wireless reliability.
Q5. What modem is used in the cellular version of the iPad Air M4?
Answer. Cellular models now use Apple’s in-house C1X modem, offering up to 50% faster cellular performance and 30% lower power consumption compared to the Qualcomm modem in the M3 model.