IPAD AIR M3 Review: Once again, pro iPad for most

We are in the mid -2020s now, and the iPad still feels the same proposal as always: a really great tablet that can aspire to be replacing your laptop if you are okay with a slight software adjustment. And once again, “iPad Air” remains a mistake: it is not the thinner iPad. However, it is the “pro” budget for most people.

IPad Air and iPad Pro were updated a year ago; iPad Air got an M2 processorWHEREAS iPad Pro got an M4 And a total makeover, including a new OLED decorated screen. The iPad Pro has not been updated this year yet and remains extremely expensive with $ 999 and up. The air, meanwhile, received a chip collision for the M3 processor, and a rebuilt and slightly cheaper magic keyboard. And starts at $ 599, just like before.

These updates are not exciting. In fact, it’s hard to think for a while when I was less excited about an iPad update. This is not to say that the performance slammed at no cost is not welcome, but it is simply not presenting anything new.

A year ago, I called iPad Air “iPad Pro you have to buy”. So, of course, my feelings remain unchanged. As beautiful as the Fanice M4 iPad Pro, spending the extra $ 400 to it now that is also one year old looks like too much to search. The iPad air can be a little thicker, and it lacks the face ID … and the lidar on the back … and an M4 chip … and an OLED screen … but what the air has is a very good performance, and still works with pro pencil. Are you good with those compromises?

Then again, for most people, there is another iPad to consider: the basic one. New entry iPadAlso arriving at the same time as this air sounds like more than it should. I have not tested it yet (Apple has not sent one for review at the same time as this air), but with 128 GB of storage and a better A16 processor (which cannot execute Apple Intelligence), is a good option worth considering. If you want to use a Pencil Pro and plan to use the energy or features of it or graphics in the iPad, then air is your budget choice.

I revised an Apple of the 13 -inch iPad air configuration, sent me to try, with 1TB storage. This is an expensive iPad ($ 1299), and at that price I would simply consider an update in a pros. But the 11-inch model, with less storage on board, would be the one I would consider. (Report of the 13-inch model screen aspect, big paper movies anyway, making it less ideal for watching videos you would think).

Air vs iPad: $ 250 more gets you some updates

There is reason to spend more in this air than $ 349 iPad’s entrance, even if you are spending $ 250 more to get it. Both large ones are M3 Chip and Pencil Pro compatibility ($ 129, selling separately).

M3 growth over chip A16 remains to be seen (as I said, I have not tested the new iPad yet), but M3 is a great jump in graphics, ability and speed of it, and will not get old at any time soon. Most IPAD owners do not need horsepower, but since Apple once again interrupted IPAD Standard from Apple’s intelligence compliance, you can feel more mental peace with long -term air.

The same is true to work with Pencil Pro, the best Apple peak. It is a tool more filled with features than the regular pencil that works with the iPad, and a reason for artists to make airless air.

It feels like Apple with the purpose of intentionally pencil pro and a chip capable of Apple intelligence from the entry level only to make the temptation clearer, which is annoying, but this is the way it goes this year.

Air Vs Pro: Priorities of Pro decrease

It is harder to justify more expenses for iPad Pro now. M3 against the M4 chip performance gap decreases compared to last year’s M2 against the M4 gap. The iPad Air also works with the same type of magic keyboard this year and with Pencil Pro. IPAD Pro gets you a high -contract OLED screen, a thinner design, a facial camera and lidar on the back if you take care of those things, but those traits come with a price of $ 400. For me, it just doesn’t make sense.

M3 chip? Of course, it’s a beautiful update

Apple series chips are fantastic performers, but I would argue that their achievements in the iPad are more difficult to appreciate if you are not a power user who dives into him, graphics or video work or photos. M3 Bump seems to offer another good step: in Geekbench 6, the multicore score was 11,643, compared to the M4 IPAD Pro result of 14,672, and the score of M2 iPad Air last year of 9,894. This makes the iPad Air M3 about 18% faster than the M2 iPad Air last year. And M4 iPad pro approximately 26% faster than M3 iPad Air in multitasking, on paper.

But even Apple does not compare the gains of chips year after year. Versus M2, it is additional. It will feel like a big jump if it is your first time using a series M iPad.

Magic keyboard: a better opportunity now than it was

If you already have an M2 iPad Air Magic keyboard from last year, which works in the M3 model, you do not need a new magic keyboard. But the slightly lower cost ($ 269 and up) and the added line of function keys to the new magic keyboard make it a better choice (though it still does not go back to work in a Folio style way). That is, this is my favorite option for laptoping your iPad.

The magic keyboard is heavy, however, and adds thickness to your iPad as well. I am used to it, but in the 13 -inch iPad air it makes everything heavier than a MacBook Air. Just a warning. But also, there are small differences between the IPAD Air and iPad Pro Magic keyboards. For some reasons, the Trackpad area is larger in the pros, and the keyboard is moved more while it stays in the same size. I prefer the appearance of the ipad pro keyboard, and I don’t know why the air could not have done the same.

But there are even more differences: the air keyboard lacks the backward lighting that has the pros versions. Also, the inner material is not aluminum as pro. And the smallest trackpad uses a physical click mechanism instead of the spacious click of the Pro version. It has the port of the USB-C passage like the one you do, but the corners are cut here in several ways.

IPad, just like always

Apple intelligence It has been the great focus of Apple software over the past year, and just like last year, the iPad Air can execute all the generating features that Apple has entered in the iPado. For now, those traits are just not all very amazing … or useful. Summary of messages and announcements can become annoying and even misleading. Image game square and Genmoji image generation are not as good as image generating tools that you can get in other apps. And while the chatgpt is integrated into Syria, you can also use only chatgpt in the Chatgpt app. And with the reports that Apple’s promised reconstruction has been delayed again, there seems to be no hurry to adopt Apple’s intelligence in your life. Still still a series of features that feel like they are in beta.

The iPad is, you know, versatile. Can execute thousands of applications. It can multitask (to some extent), something that the M series chips can also do with a connected monitor. It can feel like a laptop. It can be a full computer experience if you want to be. it’s not the same as a MacAlthough, that crazy. Once again, I am writing this compilation on the iPad Air, but I will present the review on my MacBook because working in our cms is not always easy on the iPads. They are not the same as the Mac. The separate identity of the Apple’s computer formation continues, and you have to decide once again if you are an iPad person or a MAC person, or both.

You can be both, and I am. But in that case, you don’t want to spend too much on that iPad, right? IPAD entry feels priced to be a casual accessory, while the price of the iPad Air includes somewhat affordable ($ 599) on the high -level laptop if you collide storage (configurations up to 1TB are in the tap) or add accessories like Apple Pencil Pro or magic keyboard.

Next time, don’t call it air, maybe?

Apple removed “iPad Air” from the back of this iPad air. Now there is only one Apple logo. Maybe it’s a sign. Air means nothing now in Apple’s iPad universe. The air is very good, and in the right configuration, this can very well be the future, the most affordable iPad that is perfect for you – especially if you are interested in postponing the ipad hard for the tools that will need M3 performance. Don’t be overloaded and you will be happy.

What do I really want here? Well, I’ve said before, I would like these peach, powerful keyboard iPads to become Macs on touching a button. That would help me. And, surely, an OLED screen would be fine. But the air covers all the rest of the bases I ever needed. I just can’t justify those who are super expensive if they are not willing to make step in the Macos convertibles. Apple’s concentration on low and medium iPads this time can mean, perhaps, for them to agree. Or, the M5 chip for the pros is just not ready.