Apple has launched a new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip.
The update brings Apple’s latest silicon to the mid-range tablet. The M4 chip first debuted in the iPad Pro last year and the MacBook Pro lineup.
The new iPad Air comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Apple claims the M4 delivers up to 2x faster CPU performance compared to the previous M2 model. Graphics performance also gets a boost with a 10-core GPU.
Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 1TB. The base 11-inch model costs $599, while the 13-inch version starts at $799. That’s a $100 price hike across the board compared to last year’s M2 Air.
The design stays largely unchanged. You still get the aluminum unibody, laminated Liquid Retina display, and Touch ID in the power button. Apple added a new blue color option alongside space gray, starlight, and purple.
The front camera shifts to the landscape edge—finally making video calls look natural when the tablet is docked. The 12MP ultra-wide camera supports Center Stage.
Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G. The USB-C port now supports faster Thunderbolt speeds up to 40Gbps.
Apple also introduced a new Magic Keyboard for the Air. It costs $299 for the 11-inch and $349 for the 13-inch model. The keyboard adds a function row and larger trackpad.
The new iPad Air is available to order now and hits stores next week.
