Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) review

It’s been less than a year since we reviewed the last-generation iPad Air, and yet Apple has launched a new, more powerful model to succeed the short-lived 2024 version. That model may have had a limited shelf life, but it did bring a revolutionary change to the iPad Air line that we were thrilled to see.

It introduced a 13-inch screen size option, meaning prospective tablet buyers didn’t have to pony up for the pricey iPad Pro if they wanted a big-screen iPad experience. That sentiment continues with the iPad Air 7th Generation, which we have before us today.

This expansive, yet portable, slab of glass and metal is begging to be taken on the go as your AV travel companion, but can it deliver the performance to appease those who value a cinematic experience that can best be enjoyed on a long-haul flight or cross-country train journey?

We certainly think so, even if it comes with an overwhelming sense of deja vu.

Price

The iPad Air 13-inch (2025) starts at £799 / $799 / AU$1349; the same price as the previous model in the US and UK, and an increase of AU$50 Down Under. The catch here is that this price only nets you the 128GB version.

You can, however, configure the iPad Air with up to 1TB of storage and 5G cellular connectivity, which raises the price to £1299 / $1299 / AU$2249.

If you don't need the 13-inch display (though we feel that's the greatest appeal here), the smaller, 11-inch version of the iPad Air starts at £599 / $599 / AU$999.

While this 7th Generation iPad Air is unquestionably premium, it is of course priced far lower than the flagship iPad Pro (£1299 / $1299 / AU$1699), which wowed us with its Tandem OLED display.

Build

Apple’s “Air” moniker denotes a streamlined, slender and lightweight design, and while the chassis of this latest-gen model isn’t anything new per se, it still manages to impress.

There’s no escaping that this is a sizeable handheld device, and yet the slender frame, which is just 6.1mm thick, ensures it doesn’t become unwieldy. And, at just 616g, it’s not a burden to carry around either.

Now, that’s unquestionably impressive, but the “Air” title has previously been reserved for the thinnest and lightest offerings from Apple’s respective lineups; most notably the MacBook Air and new iPhone Air.

However, the iPad Pro is actually the thinnest and lightest iPad in Apple’s current lineup, with a thickness of just 5.1mm and a weight of 582g.

Regardless, the new iPad Air carries the usual markings of a modern iPad. The body is entirely aluminium, save for the 13-inch display, which features an anti-reflective coating.

The Air has flat, squared-off sides, which are now synonymous with Apple’s design language and can also be seen on the current crop of iPhones. The edges are mostly unobstructed, save for two volume buttons on the right edge, a combination power/lock button and a fingerprint scanner on the top, and a USB-C socket on the bottom.

There is also a flush magnetic connection on the right edge of the iPad, which is used to store and charge the optional Apple Pencil accessory.

On the rear of the iPad Air, you’ll also find a trio of magnetic connectors. These are used to connect the Magic Keyboard accessory, which can allow you to use the iPad more like a conventional laptop.

Finally, Apple offers this tablet in a toned-down colour selection, including a pair of monochromatic finishes, Starlight and Space Grey, and a duo of Purple and Blue pastel shades.

Features

The 13-inch Liquid Retina display is a real highlight. The LED IPS display features a resolution of 2732 x 2048, a pixel density of 264ppi, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG – though we find that it defaults to Dolby Vision for the majority of streaming applications, including Disney+, Netflix, and Apple TV+.

Dolby Atmos is supported via the built-in stereo speakers, as well as over wired and wireless headphones. Apple’s Spatial Audio system is also accessible to those with AirPods and Beats headphones, and Bluetooth audio is delivered via the AAC codec.

The iPad Air sports a 12MP rear camera, for scanning documents and taking pictures, and a 12MP front camera for video calling. This is conveniently placed on the top edge of the iPad when positioned in a landscape orientation, which makes video calls feel a bit more natural, and Apple’s Centre Stage system can track users’ movements to ensure they remain in the frame at all times.

That front-facing camera, unfortunately, doesn’t include the same Face ID sensor array that’s found on the iPad Pro, though Apple has included Touch ID on the combination lock/power button for biometric authentication.

The iPad Air unfortunately doesn’t include the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology of its bigger iPad Pro sibling. That means the display is locked to 60Hz – which feels a bit restrictive at this price point.

Still, this iPad is plenty powerful enough for a range of entertainment and productivity tasks, and it packs in enough AV-centric features to keep us happy.

Not much, if anything at all, has changed on the outside of this iPad, and if we’re being honest, little has changed on the inside, either. Apple’s justification for this new generation Air is swapping the M2 processor out for the more powerful M3 chip, which is reportedly better for Apple Intelligence.

It also drives the new iOS 26 operating system, which sports Apple’s new Liquid Glass motif, improved multitasking capabilities and general productivity upgrades. The visual overhaul will depend on your personal taste, but we think it looks pretty sleek.

While we tend not to dig into computing power and instead stick to the AV credentials of tablets, it must be said that this internal upgrade doesn’t seem all that substantial. The M3 chip sports an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, alongside a 16-core Neural Engine for AI-based tasks; those are identical numbers to the M2 iPad Air.

In fact, Apple has awkwardly skirted around comparing this new model to its predecessor, and is instead insisting that the M3 chip is twice as fast as the M1 iPad Air from 2022 (which we, conveniently, have on hand during our review for comparison purposes).

Strangely, that does sort of make sense, in that it feels as though this iPad isn’t designed to tempt those who bought last year’s version, but those with an M1 model or earlier.

Picture

Apple’s long-running tablet range is yet to put a foot wrong when it comes to picture performance, and the latest edition of the Air continues that trend. The main benefit of the 13-inch iPad Air is the option of a larger screen without having to cough up for a pricey Pro; and while that was a benefit of the last-generation model, it still rings true with the new one.

The bigger display is an ideal canvas for movie watching, which becomes evident as soon as we load up Netflix to watch Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in Dolby Vision.

The iPad presents a sharp and natural image with rich colours that strike a balance between being engaging but not overdone.

Motion also appears flawless as a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey glides above Abu Dhabi airport in an establishing shot, and the iPad refuses to falter when Ethan Hunt ducks and weaves through the airport, dodging his adversaries.

It might not rival the OLED-equipped Pro when it comes to contrast, but it’s decidedly no slouch here, allowing for a solid image that boasts plenty of three-dimensional depth.

Firing up the tried and true Blade Runner 2049 (also on Netflix), we find the opening sequence – in which Officer K investigates Sapper Morton’s farmhouse – to deliver plenty of detail within the brightest and darkest portions of the image.

Switching to Babylon from our Apple TV library, we confirm that this latest-generation iPad can deliver the goods when it comes to fulfilling its role as a portable movie machine. Details, such as clothing and environmental textures, are sharp, despite the 13-inch display touting an identical pixel density to the 11-inch iPad Air we have on hand as a reference.

Notably, shading seems to be the biggest upgrade with the iPad Air M3, as it handles this with a touch more finesse. Going back to Blade Runner, K and Morton’s tense confrontation is mostly bathed in shadow, which looks more natural and effective on the new iPad’s display. Shadows seem a touch deeper with no loss of detail.

Now, the iPad we have is the 11-inch M1 version, which serves as a more realistic point of reference, as those looking at this newer, larger model could well be looking to upgrade from an 11-inch screen to a 13-inch one.

Being brutally honest, the picture performance is very close between these options (that’s to say that both are excellent), though the new Air has the slight edge when it comes to contrast and shading.

We round out our picture testing with some HD SDR content; an episode from the first series of Peep Show on Netflix. The iPad handles this lower-resolution content with ease, offering a fairly clean and bright presentation.

Sound

Apple has created a sonic signature that’s fairly consistent across its range of handheld devices, and it’s one we find to be very impressive. The iPad Air is no exception – although, much like its picture performance, it’s not a huge departure from its predecessor, which also happened to score full marks.

Plugging in a pair of wired headphones via a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and loading up Tidal, we’re met with a familiar, yet wholly excellent sound. Playing a range of test tracks from Bon Iver, Tool, Sabrina Carpenter and Hans Zimmer, it's evident that the iPad Air delivers a rich, warm, layered and detailed sound that seems to hang together ever so slightly better than the previous generation model that we have on hand.

The difference is subtle, but instruments, such as the guitar strums in Bon Iver’s From, sound a touch more textured, while the vocal presentation of Tool’s Invincible sounds both forthright and well integrated with the rest of the track.

The rich and layered characteristics are underpinned by impactful bass and expertly controlled dynamics, allowing for maximum impact when we play Dream Of Arrakis from Hans Zimmer’s Dune soundtrack. At the other end of the scale, Sabrina Carpenter’s House Tour is presented with a zippy, energetic character that is bolstered by superb timing.

Unplugging the headphones and trying out the iPad’s built-in stereo speakers, the new tablet impresses yet again. The sheer size of the tablet ensures that spatial separation is handled well, and the speakers are even good enough for a spot of out-loud music listening (a Bluetooth speaker will, of course, be preferable).

The speakers are, however, better suited for watching movies and TV shows, as we find that dialogue is crisp and clear in a clip from Mission: Impossible, and it’s balanced surprisingly well with the action-packed score.

Verdict

The latest iPad Air might not be the most interesting tablet that Apple has ever released, but it’s still an excellent portable AV machine. It serves up a superb picture filled with detail and rich yet balanced colours, and its textured and inviting sound seals the deal.

Paired with a powerful new processor that makes it a viable laptop alternative, the iPad Air is a solid choice for anyone looking for a double-purpose tablet that excels for both entertainment and productivity.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 5

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