New M3 iPad Air live blog: Apple’s refreshed Air has more power

By John McCann and Jesse Hollington Published March 4, 2025 3:54 PM

Welcome to our new iPad Air launch live blog. Apple has announced the new iPad Air with M3 chip, along with an update to the entry-level iPad.

The new iPad Air comes as somewhat of a surprise, arriving a day before Apple hosts a launch event where we expect to see the new MacBook Air announced.

Recommended Videos

It’s also not an entirely ‘new’ iPad, as Apple has taken the M2-powered iPad Air (2024) it launched last year and replaced the chip with the M3. It’s even kept the colors the same. If you own a 2024 iPad Air with M2 chip, there really is no need to upgrade.

Pre-orders are already open, with the iPad Air available in stores from March 12. We’re posting everything you need to know about the new iPad Air, and reactions to the latest Apple slate, right here.

LiveLast updated March 04, 2025 3:54 PM

Topics

Managing Editor

John is the Managing Editor at Digital Trends. He's been a consumer technology & automotive journalist for more than a…

Mobile

New iPad Air incoming? There’s a low stock warning

A person holding the Apple iPad Air (2024), showing the screen.

Less than a year has passed since the release of the current iPad Air. However, a new one could launch very soon. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes, the inventory for the popular tablet is dwindling, suggesting that a new model is set to launch.

The 2024 iPad Air was launched in May 2024, introducing a new 13-inch model alongside the traditional 11-inch model. Both versions feature Liquid Retina displays that offer vibrant colors and sharp details and are powered by the M2 chip, which provides improved performance compared to the previous generation. Beyond this, there were a few changes made between this and the previous model, which arrived in 2022.

Mobile

The next iPad may miss out on Apple’s biggest new feature

Two hands holding an iPad.

Apple Intelligence is, without a doubt, the biggest advancement Apple has made in years — so it's surprising that the next iPad might not have those features. The iPad 11 could ship with the older T8120 processor, and that likely means it will use the A16 chipset. The A16 chipset, powerful though it might be, doesn't offer the same level of support for Apple Intelligence features as newer models.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, along with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, both use this chipset. According to MacRumors, the information is backed by a source that chose to remain anonymous; however, it also contradicts what Mark Gurman has previously said, and Gurman has the more proven track record.

Mobile

This iPhone 17 Air design leak has Google Pixel written all over it

Concept render of an iPhone laid atop a Google Pixel 9 smartphone.

It seems Apple is finally ready for a design refresh after recycling the same aesthetics that it introduced with the iPhone 11 series. Interestingly, it won’t be a flagship phone that sets the ball rolling, but a highly-anticipated mid-tier phone that could kickstart a whole new design language for Apple smartphones.

Leakster MajinBu, who has had a mixed track record with Apple leaks, has shared what appears to be the unibody chassis for the iPhone 17 series Air. The standout element is the large pill-shaped camera bar at the top, which looks suspiciously similar to the Pixel 9 series phones.

nproxy.org