CUPERTINO – Apple has announced a novel iPad Air powered by the company’s M4 chip, promising a significant boost in performance while maintaining the existing price point. The updated tablet features increased memory and enhanced connectivity, signaling Apple’s continued focus on refining its popular iPad line.
According to the company, the new iPad Air boasts 12GB of unified memory, a 50% increase over the previous generation. This upgrade translates to up to 30% faster performance compared to models with the M3 chip, and a remarkable 2.3 times speed improvement over those utilizing the M1 chip. The M4 also incorporates an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU, 120GB/s memory bandwidth, and a 16-core Neural Engine designed to accelerate artificial intelligence tasks.
Beyond the chip, Apple has integrated new in-house connectivity chips – the N1 and C1X – to support Wi-Fi 7 and faster 5G speeds. These chips also contribute to improved power efficiency, particularly for cellular models. The move highlights Apple’s commitment to vertically integrating its hardware and software for optimal performance.
The iPad Air will be available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with starting prices of $599 and $799, respectively. Educational pricing will start at $549. Pre-orders open on March 4, and the device will officially be available for purchase starting March 11.
