Apple Teases Exciting New Device – Is It the iPad Air with M3 Chips?

Apple has teased a new device following a cryptic post by Tim Cook, revealing an updated iPad Air with M3 chips instead of the expected M4. The new iPad Air boasts significant performance improvements, being up to twice as fast as the previous model. Alongside this, Apple launched new spring-themed accessories, including Silicone Cases for iPhone 16 and various colorful Apple Watch bands. The iPad Air is available in two sizes, with prices starting at $599, and preorders begin on March 12.

CONTENT:

• Apple Unveils Updated iPad Air with M3 Chips and New Magic Keyboard
• Apple Unveils Spring-Inspired iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Accessories in Bold New Colors
• Apple Unveils New iPad Air M3 with Enhanced Speed and Features

Apple Teases Exciting New Device – Is It the iPad Air with M3 Chips?

Apple has unveiled a new device following a cryptic social media post by CEO Tim Cook. Just weeks after launching the iPhone 16e, the company teased a new product with the caption “There’s something in the AIR” and a video stating “this week.”

While many speculated it could be a new MacBook Air with Apple’s M4 chips, Apple instead announced a refreshed iPad Air powered by M3 chips. The new iPad Air is claimed to be nearly twice as fast as the previous model with the M1 chip and up to 3.5 times faster than the one with the A14 Bionic chip.

Apple highlights the iPad Air’s combination of performance, portability, and advanced accessory support, making it ideal for users such as students, travelers, and content creators. The device comes in two sizes: an 11-inch model priced at $599 and a 13-inch model at $799. Preorders will begin soon, with availability starting on March 12.

 

Apple Unveils Updated iPad Air with M3 Chips and New Magic Keyboard

Apple has unveiled a refreshed iPad Air, featuring M3 chips, and a new Magic Keyboard with function keys. However, those hoping for the latest M4 chips in a more affordable tablet will be disappointed, as the iPad Air sticks with a slightly cut-down version of the M3, offering eight CPU cores and nine GPU cores instead of the usual ten. Despite this, Apple claims the new iPad Air will be up to twice as fast in computational performance and four times faster in rendering compared to the previous M1 model, thanks to improvements like dynamic caching, mesh shading, and ray tracing in the M3’s graphics architecture.

For those seeking the best performance, the iPad Pro with M4 chips remains the top choice, featuring up to ten CPU and GPU cores, as well as a neural engine capable of 38 trillion INT8 operations per second.

The updated iPad Air will be available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, priced at $599 and $799 respectively, with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Also launching alongside these iPads is the new Magic Keyboard, which adds dedicated function keys for things like brightness, media control, and volume. However, the Magic Keyboard comes at a steep price—$269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model.

In addition to the iPad Air, the 11th-gen iPad now comes with the A16 Bionic chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro. While the A16 is more powerful than the previous A14 model, it’s still considered outdated compared to the newer chips in Apple’s devices. Despite this, Apple claims the A16 is six times faster than the “best-selling Android tablet.” This choice might be due to surplus chips or a strategy to keep prices low, as the base model iPad starts at $349 ($499 with cellular).

 

Apple Unveils Spring-Inspired iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Accessories in Bold New Colors

Apple has been busy recently, introducing new products like the iPhone 16e, M3 iPad Air, and a major $500 billion investment in the U.S. economy. Alongside these announcements, the company has launched a fresh collection of accessories in vibrant spring colors.

The new accessories include silicone cases for the iPhone 16 series and a new case for the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 16 Silicone Cases with MagSafe come in four new colors: Aquamarine, Peony, Periwinkle, and Tangerine, available for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, but not the 16e. The iPhone 16e cases are available in Lake Green, Fuchsia, Winter Blue, White, and Black.

Additionally, Apple has introduced a variety of spring-themed Apple Watch bands. The new silicone Sport Bands come in Tangerine, Periwinkle, and Aquamarine; nylon Sport Loop Bands in Periwinkle and Sage; Solo Loops in Peony, Periwinkle, and Northern Lights; and Braided Solo Loops in Peony, Aquamarine, and Tangerine. Luxury options from Hermès include the $450 En Mer band in Bleu Hydra, and the $350 Kilim Single Tour with new color options, including Sun, Bleu Acier, and Noir/Écru Toile. Other Hermès bands have also received color updates, with duo-toned options like Rose Sakura/Jaune de Naples and Kraft/Bleu Glacier.

These colorful accessories are available for purchase on Apple’s website.

 

Apple Unveils New iPad Air M3 with Enhanced Speed and Features

On March 4, 2025, Apple announced the launch of a new iPad Air M3, featuring a refreshed Magic Keyboard. This follows a teaser video posted by Apple CEO Tim Cook on the social media platform X, sparking speculation about a new MacBook. Despite the anticipation, the new iPad Air M3 boasts double the speed of the previous M1 version, runs on iPadOS 18, and includes support for Apple Intelligence and other enhanced features.

Although some industry watchers expected a MacBook announcement, Apple confirmed that the iPad Air M3 would be available for pre-order, with shipments starting on March 12. The tablet is part of a business segment that contributed around 7% to Apple’s quarterly revenue.