\nApple\u00ae today announced the new iPad Air\u00ae featuring M4 and more memory, giving users a big jump in performance at the same starting price. With a faster CPU and GPU, iPad Air boosts tasks like editing and gaming, and is a powerful device for AI with a faster Neural Engine, higher memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified system memory than the previous generation. With M4, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3,1<\/sup> and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1.2<\/sup> The new iPad Air also features the latest in Apple silicon connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, delivering fast wireless and cellular connections \u2014 and support for Wi-Fi 7 \u2014 that empower users to work and be creative anywhere.3<\/sup> Available in two sizes and four gorgeous finishes that users love, the 11-inch iPad Air is super portable, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for those who want more space to multitask. With game-changing iPadOS\u00ae 26 capabilities, advanced cameras, all-day battery life, a powerful app ecosystem, and support for accessories like Apple Pencil Pro\u00ae and Magic Keyboard\u00ae, iPad Air delivers a remarkable and versatile experience for anyone who wants to do more on iPad\u00ae, from students and creators, to business users and gamers.4<\/sup><\/p>\n
\nWith the same starting price of just $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air is an incredible value. And for education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549, and the 13-inch model starts at $749. Customers can pre-order iPad Air starting Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.<\/p>\n
\n\u201ciPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,\u201d said Bob Borchers, Apple\u2019s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. \u201cWith its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there\u2019s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even More Performance with M4<\/b><\/p>\n
\nM4 brings a significant boost in performance to the new iPad Air, empowering users to be productive and creative wherever they are \u2014 from aspiring creatives working with large files to travelers editing content on the go. Featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3 and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1.5<\/sup> Users will notice the blazing speed of M4 in everything they do \u2014 with Apple Creator Studio\u2122, compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro\u00ae or editing video in Final Cut Pro\u00ae is quicker than ever. With the 9-core GPU of M4, iPad Air supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing for incredible graphics performance. M4 delivers over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance compared to iPad Air with M1, offering more accurate lighting, reflections, and shadows for extremely realistic gaming experiences.2<\/sup><\/p>\n Next-Level Power for AI<\/b><\/p>\n \nM4 is also powerful for AI, with faster memory bandwidth and an incredibly fast Neural Engine \u2014 benefiting everyone from college students transcribing lecture notes, to creators storyboarding a new project, to business users polishing emails. With the new iPad Air, unified memory jumps 50 percent, to 12GB, and memory bandwidth increases to 120GB\/s, helping users run AI models faster. The 16-core Neural Engine is 3x faster than that of M1 and is perfect for everyday tasks that use on-device AI, like searching for subjects and texts in photos, or leveraging powerful AI features in apps like Goodnotes and Onform: Video Analysis App.2<\/sup> The Neural Engine also powers capabilities in Apple Creator Studio apps, like removing the background of video footage with Scene Removal Mask in Final Cut Pro.<\/p>\n N1 and C1X Come to iPad Air for Faster Connectivity<\/b><\/p>\n \niPad Air features N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.3<\/sup> N1 brings better performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop\u00ae. Cellular models of iPad Air also feature C1X, a cellular modem designed by Apple that offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance \u2014 and for active cellular users, C1X offers up to 30 percent less modem energy usage than iPad Air with M3.1<\/sup> Cellular models of iPad Air allow users to enjoy GPS capabilities, so they can navigate with even more confidence. Users can also enjoy 5G cellular support, helping them stay connected for work or leisure all around the world.6<\/sup> And with eSIM, users can quickly and securely add a new plan, connect and transfer existing cellular plans digitally, and stay in touch with family and friends regardless of Wi-Fi availability \u2014 ideal for business travelers, students on campus, and anyone working on the go.<\/p>\n iPadOS 26 Supercharges the iPad Experience<\/b><\/p>\n \niPadOS 26 offers powerful features that help users handle creative and professional tasks with ease, pushing the capabilities of iPad even further.<\/p>\n Advanced Accessories for iPad Air<\/b><\/p>\n \nFrom sketching ideas to getting work done, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock new levels of creativity and productivity on iPad Air.4<\/sup> Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro offer users two incredible options. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a great value for essential tasks like note taking and sketching, and Apple Pencil Pro delivers the ultimate experience, enabling users to take advantage of capabilities such as squeeze and barrel roll to bring their ideas to life in entirely new ways. Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My\u00ae, helping users locate it if misplaced.<\/p>\n \nMagic Keyboard for iPad Air provides an amazing typing experience and expands what users can do, with a built-in trackpad ideal for precision tasks like selecting text, and a 14-key function row that allows easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls. It attaches magnetically, and the Smart Connector\u00ae immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth; a machined aluminum hinge also includes a USB-C connector for charging. Magic Keyboard for iPad Air has a magical floating design customers love, and comes in black and white.<\/p>\n Ideal for iPad and iPad Air Upgraders<\/b><\/p>\n \nWith game-changing improvements over iPad and earlier iPad Air models, there\u2019s never been a better time to upgrade.<\/p>\n \nBig performance gains: Upgraders will enjoy enhanced speed and responsiveness with 12GB of unified memory and 120GB\/s of memory bandwidth, and will experience even more seamless windowing in iPadOS 26. Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will see up to 2.3x faster performance, with over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance.5<\/sup><\/p>\n \nAdvanced Center Stage\u00ae camera, mics, and speakers: Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will also enjoy a front 12MP Center Stage camera located along the landscape edge, as well as landscape stereo speakers. For upgraders coming from M1, the 13-inch model delivers even better sound quality, which is great for enjoying music and videos.<\/p>\n \nPowerful Apple Intelligence\u2122 capabilities: Built seamlessly into iPadOS with groundbreaking privacy, Apple Intelligence provides upgraders and new iPad users with intuitive features that make their experience even more helpful and powerful.7<\/sup><\/p>\n \nEven more value: Users coming from previous-generation iPad Air models will get faster connectivity with N1 and C1X, and M1 upgraders will also get 128GB of starting storage. iPad Air with M4 has the same starting price at just $599 for the 11-inch model, and $799 for the 13-inch model.<\/p>\n iPad Air and the Environment<\/b><\/p>\n \nApple 2030 is the company\u2019s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPad Air is made with 30 percent recycled content,8<\/sup> including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 40 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPad Air is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple\u2019s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled.9<\/sup><\/p>\n Pricing and Availability<\/b><\/p>\n \nApple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple\u2019s six software platforms \u2014 iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS \u2014 provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple\u2019s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.<\/p>\n 1<\/sup> Results are compared to 13-inch iPad Air (M3) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.<\/p>\n 2<\/sup> Results are compared to iPad Air (5th generation) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.<\/p>\n 3<\/sup> Wi-Fi 7 is available in countries and regions where supported.<\/p>\n 4<\/sup> Accessories sold separately.<\/p>\n 5<\/sup> Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026. See apple.com\/ipad-air<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n 6<\/sup> Data plan is required. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, contact carrier and see apple.com\/ipad\/cellular<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7<\/sup> Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com\/en-us\/121115<\/a>.<\/p>\n 8<\/sup> Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories.<\/p>\n 9<\/sup> Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from Apple\u2019s calculations.<\/p>\n \nNOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom (www.apple.com\/newsroom<\/a>), or email Apple\u2019s Media Helpline at media.help@apple.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\u00a9 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad Air, iPadOS, Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, iPad, Apple Creator Studio, Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, AirDrop, Apple Pencil, Find My, Smart Connector, Apple Intelligence, Apple Store, AppleCare, AppleCare+, Apple Care One, Apple Card, and Daily Cash are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260302883514\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \nPress Contacts:\n
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Skylar Eisenhart
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Apple
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s_eisenhart@apple.com<\/a><\/p>\n