Introduction : iPad Air M3 Review
Apple’s iPad Air M3, released in May 2025, brings a perfect combination of power and portability to the mid-range tablet market. In this iPad Air M3 Review, we will explore everything you need to know about this lightweight yet powerful device — from its performance with the new M3 chip, battery life, and display quality, to camera features, pricing, and whether it’s worth buying. Whether you are a student, professional, or casual user, this review will help you decide if the iPad Air M3 is the right tablet for your needs.
Design and Display
The Apple iPad Air M3 retains the clean, minimalist aluminum chassis that has defined the Air series, with subtle refinements that elevate its premium feel. The device comes in four distinctive finishes—Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray—allowing users to express their personal style while maintaining that unmistakable Apple look. At just 6.1 mm thick and weighing around 460 g for the 11-inch model and 616 g for the 13-inch version, it perfectly balances sturdiness and portability, making it ideal for both creative work and everyday use.
On the display side, the iPad Air M3 features a fully laminated Liquid Retina panel with LED back-lighting and IPS technology. This bonding process reduces the gap between the glass and display, improving clarity and touch responsiveness—especially when used with the Apple Pencil. It supports the wide-color P3 gamut, True Tone for natural color balance, and includes both a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and an anti-reflective treatment for a smoother viewing experience.
Brightness differs between models: the 11-inch iPad Air M3 offers up to 500 nits, while the larger 13-inch version reaches 600 nits, delivering excellent visibility in a variety of lighting conditions. With its laminated design, vivid colors, and edge-to-edge display, the iPad Air M3 provides an immersive visual experience that’s as beautiful as it is functional.
Performance and M3 Chip Benchmarks
The biggest highlight of the new iPad Air (2025) is the powerful Apple M3 chip. This is the same chip used in some of Apple’s MacBooks, so it brings desktop-level power to a thin and lightweight tablet. The M3 chip is built on a 3-nanometer process, making it faster and more efficient than the M2 chip in the previous iPad Air.
In real use, the iPad Air M3 runs smoothly no matter what you do — whether it’s browsing the web, editing photos, watching videos, or multitasking between apps. Apps open instantly, and everything feels fast and responsive. For creators, the M3 chip also handles design apps like Procreate and video editing tools like LumaFusion with ease.
When it comes to benchmarks, the M3 chip shows a 10–20% performance improvement over the M2 version. On Geekbench 6, it scores around 3,000 points in single-core and over 11,000 in multi-core tests, which is very impressive for a tablet. This means the iPad Air M3 is more future-proof and can handle demanding apps for years to come.
The GPU (graphics performance) also gets a boost, making games and visual apps run more smoothly. However, under heavy use, the device can get slightly warm and may slow down a little after long gaming or editing sessions — but this is normal for thin tablets.
Overall, the iPad Air M3 truly lives up to its promise of being a lightweight tablet with pro-level power. It’s not just for casual use — it’s also capable enough for creative professionals and students who want strong performance without the higher price of an iPad Pro.
Battery Life and Charging
When it comes to battery life, the new iPad Air M3 performs exactly how you’d expect from Apple — long-lasting and reliable. Thanks to the power-efficient M3 chip, this iPad can easily deliver up to 10 to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge. Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, writing notes, or doing light photo editing, the iPad Air M3 can easily last a full day of use without needing to plug in.
Even during more demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, or multitasking, the battery still holds up well. The M3 chip not only boosts performance but also helps manage energy more efficiently, giving users a great balance between speed and endurance.
For charging, the iPad Air M3 uses a USB-C port, which offers faster and more convenient charging compared to the older Lightning connector. Using the 20W charger included in the box, it takes about two hours to fully charge the device from 0% to 100%. If you use a higher-watt charger (like from a MacBook), you can recharge it even faster.
Overall, the iPad Air M3’s battery life and charging speed make it a dependable choice for students, professionals, and everyday users. Whether you’re working, studying, or relaxing with your favorite shows, this iPad keeps going strong all day — proving that great performance doesn’t have to come at the cost of battery life.
Camera and Media Capabilities
The Apple iPad Air M3 has a great camera setup that makes taking photos, recording videos, and video calling easier and more enjoyable. On the back, it has a 12MP wide camera that takes clear, detailed pictures and can record 4K videos with bright colors. The front camera is also 12MP and now sits on the longer side of the iPad, which makes video calls look more natural when you’re holding the iPad sideways or using a keyboard. This small change makes FaceTime calls and online meetings feel more comfortable and professional.
The iPad Air M3 also delivers really good sound. Its stereo speakers are placed in landscape orientation, giving you richer, more balanced audio when watching movies, playing games, or listening to music. The built-in microphones capture your voice clearly, making it perfect for recording, chatting, or streaming. Overall, the iPad Air M3 gives you everything you need for capturing memories, creating content, and enjoying your favorite entertainment.
Price
When the new iPad Air M3 was released in the United States, the starting price was $599 for the 11-inch Wi-Fi model and $799 for the 13-inch Wi-Fi model. Prices increase if you choose higher storage options or add cellular connectivity, but these are the official starting prices at launch. The iPad Air M3 offers great value for its performance, making it a strong choice for users who want premium features at a lower cost than the iPad Pro.
The price may be different depending on your country, model, or current promotions, so you can check the current price on Apple’s official website for the most accurate information.
Pros and Cons of the iPad Air
Pros
The Apple iPad Air M3 (2025) comes with many strong advantages that make it one of the best mid-range tablets you can buy. Powered by the M3 chip, it offers fast performance that rivals even some laptops. The tablet feels smooth and responsive whether you’re multitasking, drawing, or editing videos. Its lightweight design makes it perfect for travel, study, or work on the go. The bright and sharp Liquid Retina display is great for watching movies, creating digital art, or reading documents. Plus, with USB-C connectivity, you can connect accessories like external drives, displays, or cameras easily.
In points :
- Powerful M3 chip delivers desktop-level performance
- Lightweight and portable design
- Excellent battery life (up to 12 hours)
- USB-C port for fast charging and accessories
- Compatible with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
- Smooth multitasking and fast app performance
Cons
While the iPad Air M3 is impressive, it’s not perfect. The biggest limitation is the 60Hz display, which feels less smooth compared to the 120Hz screen on the iPad Pro. For professionals who do heavy video editing or 3D work, the iPad Pro may still be a better option. The base storage (64GB in some models) can also fill up quickly, especially for users who store large files. Additionally, Apple doesn’t include a headphone jack, and accessories like the Apple Pencil and keyboard are sold separately, which increases the total cost.
In points :
- Display still limited to 60Hz (no ProMotion)
- Base storage (64GB) is small for heavy users
- Accessories are sold separately and expensive
- No headphone jack
-
Slight thermal throttling during long heavy tasks
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying?
After going through this iPad Air M3 Review, it’s clear that Apple has created a tablet that perfectly balances power, design, and value. The M3 chip brings laptop-level performance to a thin and lightweight body, making it a great choice for students, professionals, and anyone who wants a reliable tablet for both work and entertainment. Everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, or taking notes feel smooth, and creative apps run fast and efficiently.
However, if you already own the previous iPad Air with the M2 chip, the upgrade may not feel very big. The performance is stronger, but the overall design and display remain similar. Still, for new buyers, the iPad Air M3 offers excellent value — combining the speed of a Pro model with the lightness and affordability of the Air series.
In short, the iPad Air M3 is a lightweight tablet with pro-level power, perfect for anyone who wants high performance without spending as much as an iPad Pro. It’s powerful, future-ready, and built to last — making it one of the best tablets you can buy in 2025.
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