Apple has just confirmed a new iPad Air model that boasts the powerful M1 chip. Read on for all we know so far about this very promising new tablet.
After months of speculation, the new iPad Air has finally been unveiled at Apple’s March 8 event. The headline specifications include a powerful Apple M1 chipset — which gives it the same powerful processor as the top-tier iPad Pro, as well as the 2021 iMac and the Mac Mini. This brand new iPad Air will also support 5G connectivity, so you’ll be able to get the fastest mobile data speeds if you choose the cellular version, though there is also a Wi-Fi only edition.
Along with the new silicon onboard, the tablet will also have a front-facing 12-megapixel camera that supports Center Stage, meaning that it will use Artificial Intelligence to keep you and any other people with you inside the frame when you’re using FaceTime or other similar apps.
Otherwise, much remains the same as it was with the previous iPad Air 4, to which we awarded a full 5-star rating. The sleek design has not been tinkered with at all, while the 10.9-inch screen remains an LCD panel — without the rumoured upgrade to OLED — and it has a nice and sharp 2360 x 1640 resolution that’s enhanced with True Tone.
The base price of the new iPad Air will be £569 ($599) for the 64GB storage version, while a 256GB storage version will also be available from £719 ($749). There will be five colour options available: Space Grey, Starlight (silver), Pink, Purple, and Blue.
The iPad Air can be pre-ordered from Friday 11 March, and it will be available to buy from 18 March.
The table below displays the full pricing details and specifications that have been announced so far for the base model:
As expected, the device will run on iPad OS, which is Apple’s dedicated software for its family of tablets. The manufacturer highlighted some of the key features of this operating system in the below presentation, including the Live Text feature, and multi-tasking enhancements:
Along with its performance improvements, Apple was also keen to tout its environmental credentials as you can see from the factsheet below:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.