Apple iPad Air Apple - 11-inch iPad Air M3 chip Built for Apple Review

The new iPad Air with the M3 chip is a weirdly powerful tablet stuck in a frustratingly familiar body. It's fast, no question, but it feels like Apple is just shuffling chips around without giving you a real reason to upgrade from the last model. The one thing to know? If you already have an M1 or M2 iPad Air, you can safely skip this. But if you're coming from an older iPad or an Android tablet, this is now the obvious sweet spot in Apple's lineup.

The M3 chip is the star, and it's hilariously overpowered for an iPad Air. That 82nd percentile CPU score means it flies through apps, and the 81st percentile GPU handles creative work and games with ease. The surprise? It doesn't feel that different from the M2 in daily use because iPadOS just can't take full advantage of it yet. It's like putting a race car engine in a car with a speed governor.

At around $700, it's a good value if you need an iPad and don't want to spend Pro money. But you're paying a premium for that M3 chip to do tasks that an older chip could handle just fine. It's worth it for new buyers, but it's a tough sell as an upgrade.

Compared to the 13" iPad Pro, you're giving up the 120Hz ProMotion screen, Face ID, and better speakers for a lower price. The Pro is better, but it costs a lot more. Against the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, you're choosing between iPadOS's app polish and Windows' full desktop flexibility. The Surface is a better laptop replacement, but the iPad Air is a better pure tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a stunning screen and more RAM, but iPadOS still has the better app ecosystem for creatives.

Buy it if you're new to iPads or upgrading from something ancient. The M3 power is fantastic. But if you have a recent iPad Air, hold onto it. This update is all about the chip, and until iPadOS unlocks what that chip can really do, you won't feel the difference. For most people, the last-gen model on sale is the smarter buy.