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Next-Generation iPad Air With M3 Chip Already Rumored

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Apple's next iPad Air will use an M3 processor, according to details posted on X earlier today by a private account with a proven track record of sharing accurate information about Apple's plans.

M2 iPad Air Hero Feature Purple
Apple just last week announced its latest ‌iPad Air‌ models powered by the company's M2 chip. The two new 11-inch and 13-inch models replaced the previous M1-powered 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌, which was released in 2022. Apple also just announced new M4 iPad Pro models that were until recently expected to feature the M3 chip.

Combined with Apple's surprise debut of the M4, today's rumor suggests that Apple plans to keep the ‌iPad Air‌ one step behind the ‌iPad Pro‌ in terms of processor generations. Given the recent announcements, it's very early to speculate on a future generation of ‌iPad Air‌, but rumors have suggested that Apple plans to introduce a 10.8-inch OLED iPad Air, and that the tablet could come out between 2026 and 2028.

The new ‌iPad Air‌ is nearly 50% faster than the previous ‌iPad Air‌ with M1, according to Apple. Compared to ‌iPad Air‌ with A14 Bionic, it provides 3x faster performance. Like the previous model, the ‌iPad Air‌ starts at $599, while the 13-inch device starts at $799, and both sizes are available from Wednesday, May 15.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Tag: M3
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Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

M
MayaUser
25 months ago
This will 100% not happen
Apple wants to ditch N3B as soon as possible
Air will probably get M4 when the pro will get M5
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Mac Daz Avatar
Apple Mac Daz
25 months ago
They are ditching N3B so it be M4 next
TSMC are winding it down
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
reallynotnick
25 months ago

This will 100% not happen
Apple wants to ditch N3B as soon as possible
Air will probably get M4 when the pro will get M5
Exactly Apple is skipping the M3 on most of their desktop lineup too. The M3 is going to be quickly sunset.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
subjonas
25 months ago
That’s odd. I expected Apple to go backwards with the next iPad Air, back to M1.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
bradman83
25 months ago
As others have said, Apple wants to ditch the more expensive, lower-yielding N3B process ASAP and get onto N3E. Makes no sense to release further M3-based products at this point.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
anakin44011
25 months ago

This will 100% not happen
Apple wants to ditch N3B as soon as possible
Air will probably get M4 when the pro will get M5
Agreed. I see them still making M1 and/or M2 processors well beyond the point of stopping production of the M3 series. Once all the M4 variants are released, I don't think the M3 will have either a cost or a performance advantage (which isn't to say the M3 isn't an awesome chip...because it is). Meanwhile, I imagine those M1/M2 chips will continue to lower in cost (due to recovered upfront costs) while the new M4/M5 variants get relatively more expensive, driving future margins and (hopefully) more advanced software capabilities.

And the M1 is still darn fast for the vast majority of users/applications.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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