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iPad Air M3 review: A subtle update that remains an easy recommendation

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5 months ago

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If you’ve handled an iPad anytime in the last five years, the new iPad Air will feel immediately familiar. In practically every aspect but one, it is a mirror image of the model Apple launched last spring. The singular distinction lies internally: the latest Air runs on the M3 chip , stepping up from the already formidable M2. Even the color palette—which remains notably understated—looks unchanged this year . Aside from the 13-inch size option introduced last spring , this device is virtually indistinguishable from the design language established back in 2020.
This familiarity makes evaluating the new iPad exceedingly straightforward—much of what I observed in my review of the 13-inch M2 model last May remains true today . It still boasts impressive battery life , ample processing power , a respectable amount of entry-level storage , and a landscape-oriented front camera . The 13-inch variant is substantial, yet remains thin and light enough for comfortable handheld use—though, if you prioritize tablet ergonomics over keyboard usage, the 11-inch model remains the more logical choice . The Apple Pencil Pro , introduced last year, continues to be a superb tool for digital artists. However, I remain disappointed by the reliance on Touch ID over Face ID , and I firmly believe the iPad Air is overdue for a display upgrade .
Apple iPad Air (M3, 13-inch display)
The iPad Air continues to occupy the “sweet spot” in Apple’s tablet portfolio, bridging the gap between the entry-level iPad and the high-end Pro with a mix of advanced features and relative affordability .
Pros
Apple’s most accessible large-screen tablet
Powerful M3 silicon
Superior display, speed, and multitasking compared to the base iPad
Improved, lower-cost keyboard option
Cons
Display technology is showing its age
Lacks Face ID
Price climbs steeply with upgrades and accessories
Color options are uninspired
$749 at Amazon
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$800 at Target
$1,200 at HSN
Since the M3 chip is the headline update, it warrants a closer look . Geekbench 6 benchmarks indicate that the M3-equipped Air delivers roughly a 16 percent boost in both single- and multi-core performance . While impressive—especially considering the M2 model is less than a year old—this isn’t the kind of leap that radically alters the user experience. It does, however, offer a layer of future-proofing, which is always welcome . In practical terms, the iPad Air breezed through my daily routine, handling multitasking, gaming , video transcoding, and various Apple Intelligence tasks without a single stutter.
Apple has been aggressive about equipping the Air and Pro lines with desktop-class silicon for years now , ensuring that performance bottlenecks are virtually non-existent. Crucially, this new power hasn’t compromised endurance. I easily squeezed eight hours of battery life out of a workday with the Magic Keyboard attached , and pushed close to Apple’s promised 10 hours when sticking to video streaming and lighter tasks .
Apple has also addressed one of my primary grievances with the previous generation. The new Magic Keyboard is modeled after the superior version launched alongside the iPad Pro M4. It is lighter and thinner than its predecessor , features a larger trackpad, and finally includes a dedicated row of function keys . While these aren’t revolutionary changes, they significantly improve the typing experience. It does lack a few premium touches found on the Pro keyboard—the palm rest is plastic rather than aluminum, the keys lack backlighting, and the trackpad uses a physical click mechanism instead of haptics. However, priced at $269 for the 11-inch and $319 for the 13-inch, it is $30 cheaper than the model it replaces, though still objectively expensive .
The iPad Pro M4 on the left and the iPad Air M3 on the right . The iPad Pro’s keyboard has a slightly bigger trackpad.
In fact, the entire setup I’ve been testing commands a premium price . A 13-inch iPad Air configured with 1TB of storage and 5G runs $1,449—before you even add the keyboard. That said, a similarly specced iPad Pro would set you back a staggering $2,099 without accessories . The 13-inch Air’s starting price of $799 for 128GB feels reasonable by comparison, and the $599 11-inch model remains an excellent value, offering significant upgrades over the standard iPad .
Given the similarities to last year’s model, I’ve been reflecting on the compromises Apple makes to keep the Air’s price in check, and whether those trade-offs still hold up in 2025 . The iPad Pro M4 holds several clear advantages over the Air M3: a stunning OLED display with a high refresh rate , increased base storage, a faster chip, superior audio hardware , Face ID, a thinner chassis, LiDAR, and advanced camera capabilities . The Pro also offers exclusive options like nano-texture glass and 16GB of RAM on higher-tier models.
For the most part, I accept these as valid differentiators for a “Pro” device . However, after extensive time with the Air, the screen stands out as a component in need of evolution. A viable solution already exists: the mini-LED technology used in the 2021 and 2022 iPad Pros. That display offered a 120Hz refresh rate (ProMotion) and achieved 1,000 nits of brightness for video—peaking at 1,600 nits for HDR . Even if standard brightness remained capped at 600 nits like the current Air, the visual upgrade for media consumption would be profound.
It is likely that Apple fears a high-refresh, mini-LED screen on the Air would cannibalize sales of the iPad Pro , whose OLED panel remains arguably the best portable display on the market. Furthermore, since Apple never produced a mini-LED panel for the 11-inch form factor, bringing this tech to the smaller Air would require new manufacturing investment .
Despite the business reasons against it, I believe the iPad Air deserves a better visual experience . Frankly, I would settle for the current panel if it just supported a higher refresh rate. While Apple guards 120Hz as a “Pro” feature, the market reality in 2025 is that many mid-range smartphones offer 90Hz or 120Hz displays . Apple, of course, rarely bows to industry peer pressure, maintaining strict segmentation across its lineup: the Air shares its screen tech with the MacBook Air, while the Pro iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones get the high refresh rates . That is the current status quo, but it feels ripe for change.
To be fair, the iPad Air’s screen is still objectively good . Apple has refined its LCD technology to its absolute limit, resulting in sharp resolution, vibrant color reproduction , and excellent viewing angles. While I can see that the blacks aren’t the inky voids of an OLED or mini-LED panel, it rarely detracts from the enjoyment of a movie or game . Most users won’t be obsessing over contrast ratios while using it.
The 60Hz refresh rate, however, is more perceptible in daily use . On a touch-first interface where you are constantly swiping and scrolling, the lack of fluidity is noticeable. Coming from a MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPad Pro—all equipped with ProMotion—switching to the Air feels like a step backward in responsiveness . While Apple often ignores broader tech trends, sticking with 60Hz panels for premium products is becoming increasingly difficult to justify .
My other significant grievance concerns Touch ID. In 2025, Face ID shouldn’t feel like a gatekept “Pro” luxury . With the exception of the budget-friendly iPhone SE, every iPhone released since 2018 has included facial recognition. Yet, on the iPad, you must spend upwards of $1,000 to get it . Touch ID is functional, but reaching for the top button to authenticate for work apps and websites is a friction point I could do without—especially when a camera is staring right at me . While this annoyance is amplified during a review period that requires constant logging in, Face ID simply feels like a standard feature that should no longer be exclusive to the most expensive tier.
For a detailed breakdown, my review from 10 months ago covers the nuances, but the summary remains consistent . The Air is a definitive upgrade over the base iPad , justifying its cost with a better display, superior performance, and a more robust ecosystem of accessories. Furthermore, the 13-inch Air is the only pathway to a large-screen iPad experience that doesn’t require a mortgage payment . The improved keyboard is a welcome addition, and it’s a nice bonus that it is backward compatible with older Air models.
It is worth noting that the entry-level iPad, now with the A16 chip, has also improved . Apple has corrected previous missteps, lowering the price, doubling the storage, and finally eliminating the clumsy Lightning charging method for the Pencil . For users who don’t prioritize Apple Intelligence features or advanced multitasking, saving $250 by choosing the standard iPad is a very sensible move .
However, for those seeking a more capable machine, the iPad Air remains as easy to recommend today as it was last year . It delivers about 80 percent of the iPad Pro experience for significantly less money, and most users will never truly miss the features omitted to achieve that price point .

My primary caveat is that this iteration of the iPad Air feels like a placeholder—a polished stopgap before a more significant redesign . It reminds me of the 2022 iPad Pro, which moved from M1 to M2 with minor tweaks just 18 months before a massive overhaul. The M3 iPad Air seems to occupy a similar space, biding its time before a major refresh . I suspect it won’t be long before Apple updates the display technology . If you are particular about screen quality, it might be wise to wait another year to see if high refresh rates finally trickle down to the Air lineup .

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