Apple unveiled the new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, delivering up to 30 percent faster performance than the previous generation while maintaining the same starting prices. The 11-inch model starts at $599, and the 13-inch version begins at $799, with education pricing offering $50 discounts. Pre-orders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.

M4 brings significant AI capabilities to iPad Air, featuring a 16-core Neural Engine that's 3x faster than M1. The chip includes 12GB of unified memory—a 50 percent increase—and 120GB/s memory bandwidth, enabling faster AI model processing. Users can leverage these improvements for tasks like transcribing lecture notes, storyboarding projects, or polishing emails using on-device AI features in apps like Goodnotes and Final Cut Pro.

The new iPad Air also features Apple's N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, plus the C1X cellular modem on cellular models, offering up to 50 percent faster data speeds and 30 percent less modem energy usage. With iPadOS 26's new windowing system, translucent Liquid Glass design, and enhanced Files app, the device targets students, creators, business users, and gamers seeking powerful performance in a portable package.