Apple‘s “Let Loose” event today wasn’t all about the M4-powered iPad Pro. The company snuck in a major refresh for the iPad Air, its mid-range tablet offering. The new iPad Air comes in two sizes for the first time: a familiar 11-inch model and a brand new 13-inch for those who crave more screen real estate.
The biggest upgrade sits under the hood. The M1 chip that powered the previous iPad Air gets swapped for the M2 which offers a claimed 50% jump in performance. That translates to faster processing for demanding tasks like video editing, creating 3D models, or running multiple pro apps at once.
Apple says the M2 also brings a boost to the Neural Engine, which should improve machine learning tasks on the device.
Like the new iPad Pro, the iPad Air gets its 12MP front-facing camera relocated to the long edge of the device. This should provide a more natural experience during calls, especially when the iPad is propped up in landscape mode.
The back has a single 12MP camera as before. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch models also retain the Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color and True Tone technology.
There are some familiar features carried over too. The Touch ID remains the sole biometric option (unlike the Face ID on the Pro models), and the USB-C port allows for fast charging and accessory connectivity.
The new iPad Air also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro as well as the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.
The base model iPad Air with 11-inch display starts at $599, while the 13-inch version starts at $799. They come in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray colors and are available for pre-order today with deliveries starting next week.
