Apple’s latest iPad Air arrives powered by the M4 chip, delivering a clear performance boost while keeping pricing unchanged. The new model features an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, making it up to 30 percent faster than the M3 version and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1 generation. Everyday tasks like editing video, handling large photo files, and multitasking should feel noticeably quicker, while hardware-accelerated ray tracing improves lighting and 3D rendering for games and creative work.
Apple is leaning hard into AI with this update. The iPad Air now includes 12GB of unified memory, a 50 percent increase, alongside 120GB per second memory bandwidth and a faster 16-core Neural Engine designed to speed up on-device AI features like photo search, transcription, and intelligent editing tools. It all sounds impressive, though it does raise the question of when those advancements will translate into improvements to some of Apple’s more frustrating everyday software experiences. AI upgrades are welcome, but many users might prefer a Mail app that simply works better before anything too futuristic arrives.
Connectivity also gets a practical upgrade with Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while cellular models add the C1X modem for faster 5G speeds and improved energy efficiency. Running iPadOS 26, the device introduces a redesigned interface with Liquid Glass visuals, a new windowing system for smoother multitasking, and updates to Files and Preview that make productivity feel more natural.
Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes in four finishes, the new iPad Air starts at $799 CAD and $1,099 CAD. Pre-orders open March 4, with availability beginning March 11. It is a focused update that strengthens performance and usability without reinventing the Air formula.