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Apple is planning to refresh the iPad Air in early 2025, about a year after the 2024 refresh. We don't have a full picture of what to expect just yet, but rumors point toward an updated chip and new accessories.

m2-iPad-Air-Horizontal-Feature-Orange.jpg

Design

Apple refreshed the design of the iPad Air in 2024, introducing two size options to match the iPad Pro models. In 2025, we are again expecting 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, but so far, we haven't heard word of any design changes.

ipad-air-rear-camera.jpg

The 2025 iPad Air models are expected to continue to feature the same design as the 2024 iPad Air models, with an aluminum chassis that has flat sides and rounded edges that wrap around the LCD display. Apple is expected to continue to include a Touch ID power button for biometric authentication, and a USB-C port.

There could be additional color options even if we don't get design changes. The current iPad Air comes in Space Gray, Purple, Blue, and Starlight, a soft gold shade.

M-Series Chip

Even though Apple added the M4 to the iPad Pro and will bring the chip to the newest Mac models this year, the iPad Air is expected to get the M3, an upgrade to the current M2 chip.

M3-Chip-Apple-Event-Slide.jpg

The M3 chip is built on Apple's newer 3-nanometer process, and while it's not as fast as the M4, it's a notable upgrade over the M2. The M3's CPU performance is up to 30 percent faster than the M2 CPU performance, and GPU performance is 15 percent faster. The M3 is more efficient than the M2 for better battery life, and there is an all-new GPU architecture that uses Dynamic Caching to boost graphics performance for GPU intensive apps and games. There is support for hardware-based ray tracing for an improvement in gaming on the iPad.

Rumors suggest the iPad Air will get the M3 instead of the newer M4 that's in the iPad Pro models to differentiate between the two tablets. Apple plans to keep the iPad Air a step behind the iPad Pro.

Apple Intelligence

Current iPad Air models with an M2 chip support Apple Intelligence in iPadOS 18, and the M3 chips will also work with Apple Intelligence.

Display

A major differentiator between the iPad Pro and iPad Air is OLED display technology and support for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. We don't expect notable updates to the display in 2025, and so far, it doesn't sound like Apple plans to bring ProMotion to the iPad Air.

ipad-air-design-starlight.jpg

Other Features

Apple brought Wi-Fi 7 support to its latest iPhone models, so we could start to see more products updated to the latest Wi-Fi protocol. Wi-Fi 7 brings faster speeds and lower latency, and if Wi-Fi 7 doesn't come to the new iPad Air, it'll continue to use Wi-Fi 6E.

Magic Keyboard

Apple is working on a new version of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air, and it's supposed to come out in the same time frame as the next-generation iPad Air. It won't have an aluminum top case like the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, but it could get the same function row of keys.

2021-Magic-Keyboard-Teal.jpg

Release Date

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation iPad Air is set to come out sometime "early next year."

Article Link: 2025 iPad Air: All the Rumors So Far
 
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Macaholic868

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Feb 2, 2017
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I was looking at the new M4 Pros and M2 Airs but didn’t want to spend all that cash on the M4 Pro as I don’t do enough with it to justify the price when somebody suggested looking at the 2022 M2 Pro since I really like Face ID over Touch ID and wanted an M2 or better processor. I’m so glad they did because the 256 GB M2 iPad Pro can do Apple Intelligence, has Face ID has the same processor as the Air and cost less. I got it for $600 with shipping on eBay with most of its 2 year hardware warranty left.

I was a little nervous reading this announcement but thankfully a refreshed Air with an M3 doesn’t make me change my mind about that decision. If they added Face ID it might be a different deal.
 
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nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
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If M3, Wi-Fi 7, and new Magic Keyboard are all there is, this is obviously a very minor upgrade. But to whoever needing to get iPad Air around then, even the most minor improvements should be appreciated. A faster update cycle should not be criticized.
 

bodonnell202

macrumors 68030
Jan 5, 2016
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the iPad Air is expected to get the M3
Not sure where this rumor came from but it has absolutely no chance of being true. M3 is made with N3B and Apple will be phasing out all products with chips made with N3B in favour of cheaper to produce and more powerful chips made on the N3E process. Mark my words, the next chip that the iPad Air gets will be the M4, it’s just a matter of when. Spring seems too soon but time will tell.
 

tostatetheobvious

macrumors newbie
Apr 5, 2024
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I was looking at the new M4 Pros and M2 Airs but didn’t want to spend all that cash on the M4 Pro as I don’t do enough with it to justify the price when somebody suggested looking at the 2022 M2 Pro since I really like Face ID over Touch ID and wanted an M2 or better processor. I’m so glad they did because the 256 GB M2 iPad Pro can do Apple Intelligence, has Face ID has the same processor as the Air and cost less. I got it for $600 with shipping on eBay with most of its 2 year hardware warranty left.

I was a little nervous reading this announcement but thankfully a refreshed Air with an M3 doesn’t make me change my mind about that decision. If they added Face ID it might be a different deal.
Came to the same conclusion for replacing my Air 4. Can't justify an M4; no prores or FaceID on the newer Airs.
 

Bungaree.Chubbins

macrumors regular
Jun 7, 2024
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Whether it gets the M3 or not, it doesn't bother me much, the Air is already a superbly capable machine. iPads are the only devices I've ever been able to notice 120Hz displays show any difference at all on, but there's no way it's worth the extra AU$400 a Pro costs.

Getting some better colours would be really nice though!

I’m coming from an Air 2 though. The 10th Gen is a massive upgrade… I have been considering going for the 11th Gen when it comes out, as that would be plenty enough of an iPad for me, but my eyesight isn’t great these days, and chord charts are easier to read off a music stand on a 13”!
 

Bungaree.Chubbins

macrumors regular
Jun 7, 2024
168
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Using the more expensive M3 chip from a manufacturing process that is being shutdown while a less expensive and more powerful M4 chip is in current production seems counterintuitive for a new product update.
That does have simple, cold logic to it, I just wonder if there are marketing considerations to it. I have no particular gut feeling if it’ll go one way, or the other, but who knows!
 
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svish

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Nov 25, 2017
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Expecting to see only a new chip and new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. Will be good if new brighter colours are made available.
Also wonder when the next iPad Pro will be released if the Air gets an update. Possible to see an M5 iPad Pro at WWDC 2025
 
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terminator-jq

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Nov 25, 2012
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Not sure where this rumor came from but it has absolutely no chance of being true. M3 is made with N3B and Apple will be phasing out all products with chips made with N3B in favour of cheaper to produce and more powerful chips made on the N3E process. Mark my words, the next chip that the iPad Air gets will be the M4, it’s just a matter of when. Spring seems too soon but time will tell.
Fully agree! When I first opened the article I already thought early 2025 would be a little too early but when I saw M3 mentioned I knew something was off.

Chances are we don’t see any new devices that have M3 or A17. Apple wants N3B out of manufacturing. The M2 is on an efficient 5nm process so it makes sense to keep it around and the M4 is much more efficient than the M3 production process so chances are M4 would be the next logical update. Having the M4 is one of the big exclusives for the Pro iPads so I can’t see Apple narrowing the gap this soon. Early 2026 would make more sense right as the next iPad Pro would get M5.
 

Kay_Ess

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Aug 20, 2022
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As it’ll probably be close to 1500 bucks where I live I expect 120 Hz and FaceID. It’ll be 2025, who would even consider not having 120 Hz on a 250 bucks competitor so I can’t imagine Apple would ruin another Air line up.
 
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ApplesAreSweet&Sour

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Sep 18, 2018
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No way it gets M3. Spring 2026 with M4. iPad Pro gets M5 in Q4 2025.
True.

But especially so as Apple is not putting M3 in any new products whatsoever, iPads or otherwise.

Neither iPad Air or mini is getting it. Nor will any upcoming Macs.

It’s all going to be M4 or iPhone chips (the latter for iPad mini and iPad 10th generation).

And, on that note, I don’t know why anyone would wait on the next Air, or get one when the M4 iPad Air drops?

-It will still have the same display and probably the same design. No Face ID, no quad speakers, etc.

Why not just get an M4 iPad Pro now or in a year, by with time it will also have gone a bit down in price?
 
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snipr125

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Oct 17, 2015
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No way it gets M3. Spring 2026 with M4. iPad Pro gets M5 in Q4 2025.
Yes and probably LCD with Promotion finally aswell (same screen as IPP M2 11”). The Air needs a redesign so that it is slimmer than the Pro, thats the whole point of the iPad Air!
 

MacFan23

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Feb 17, 2010
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Yes and probably LCD with Promotion finally aswell (same screen as IPP M2 11”). The Air needs a redesign so that it is slimmer than the Pro, thats the whole point of the iPad Air!
I feel like they’re really backed themselves into a corner with product differentiation. They can’t make it do much more because then it potentially becomes better value than the Pro, but the Pro is also prohibitively expensive and doesn’t do enough to justify the purchase over a cheaper pc for many.

A little part of me thinks that adding the pro line kind of killed (or at least stunted) what the iPad could’ve been, that magic piece of glass that everyone has around the house or in their bag that turns into different things depending on the need. It’s seems to be moving more towards the netbook, “a laptop but worse” direction.
 
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