iPad Air lineup To Feature An M3 Chip Instead Of The M4
Apple is about to release the next gen iPad Air and it’s said to have a big performance boost with a more powerful chip. But the design won’t change. Apple just released the iPad Pro with M4 and most of its users are now waiting for the new iPad Air which will be a better option with good features at a lower price. A recent leak revealed that the new iPad Air will have Apple’s M3 chip. Interesting that the M3 chip was skipped in the iPad Pro series so now we have more questions about the Air version. M3 vs M4 Recent rumors said Apple might skip the M3 chip and use the M4 chip on the iPad Air. The iPad Air will follow the iPad Pro. But Apple wants to keep the two lines separate. Historically the iPad Air and iPad Pro shared a chip for a short time before Apple updated the Pro to make it better. This time it seems the iPad Air will settle for the M3 chip while the Pro will be the flagship with the M4 chip. iPad Air Leaks: Evan Blass, a well known leaker, has revealed the upcoming iPad Air. Blass says the new lineup will have 11-inch and 13-inch models with M3 chip. There’s also an entry level iPad rumored to have A17 Pro chip. Blass shared an image from source code supposedly of these unreleased models. The source is unknown but Blass has been accurate with Apple leaks in the past. The Chips Manufacturing issues might also be a factor in using the M3 chip on the iPad Air. The M4 chip uses TSMC’s 3nm process (N3B) which has low yields and is hard to mass produce. Apple might be using the M3 chip to balance performance and production efficiency. The leak also brings to light the chip that will be in the entry level iPad. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg previously said it might have the A17 Pro chip but this would put it on par with the iPad mini 7 which could cause overlap in Apple’s product lineup. Launch Date Along with the iPad Air and entry level iPad, the leak also mentions iPhone SE 4 but no details are given. Rumors say Apple will release these in Spring 2025 and announce them in April. While the leaks are interesting, nothing is official from Apple. We can only wait and see what the final specs of the new iPad Air lineup will be. Conclusion The next-generation iPad Air is shaping up to be a compelling option for users seeking powerful performance at a reasonable price. With the M3 chip at its core, the device promises to deliver significant upgrades while maintaining a familiar design. As anticipation builds, all eyes are on Apple’s upcoming announcements to see how the iPad Air will stack up against its Pro counterpart. Source
New iPad Air Models To Launch This Year With M4
Apple will put the M4 chip in its iPad Air lineup so the series above the base model will get an upgrade. Until now the M4 chip was in the top of the line 11- and 13-inch iPad Pros so the Air will get big performance and efficiency boosts without a price increase. iPad Air Upgrade to Get M4 Chip According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg the new iPad Air will keep the current 11- and 13-inch designs but swap out the M2 chip for an M4. The Air lineup currently starts at $549 for the 11-inch with 128GB and $699 for the 13-inch so the M4 models may keep the same pricing. This will be competitive pricing and a great value proposition for the M4 chip. Why M4 Matters M4 is a huge leap forward for Apple’s silicon. The chip is fabbed on TSMC’s 2nd gen 3nm process and is up to 45% faster in some benchmarks (Geekbench 6) than the M2. M4 is faster and more power efficient than M3 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite. M4 supports ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension which makes complex tasks easier. Good for productivity and gaming; older AAA titles like Death Stranding run smooth on this chip. Features and Limitations M4 will give the Air more performance but the tablet won’t have premium features like OLED and ProMotion which are exclusive to the pro models. These omissions will keep the iPad Air cheaper and more consumer friendly. Apple skipped the M3 chip for the Air and that’s a good sign as the M3 was a transition chip. By going to the M4 Apple is positioning the iPad Air as a powerful and efficient device in its segment. Market Impact As long as Apple keeps the Air at $599 for the M4 models this new lineup will cut through the noise. Big performance and energy efficiency at a very competitive price makes the iPad Air a great option for those who want high performance without the premium of the iPad Pro. Design and display stays the same but with M4 power the iPad Air will remain one of the best values in its segment. That’s just another proof that Apple is bringing the latest tech to all products that reach the most people. Via