Apple has refreshed its iPad Air range and introduced a supersized new 13-inch model.
For the first time, those who want the biggest display on an iPad won't need to spend over £1,299 for the top-of-the-line iPad Pro, which previously had the monopoly on this mammoth screen size. Instead, the new iPad Air is available in the same 11-inch and 13-inch display sizes.
Prices start from £599 for the 11-inch iPad Air with Wi-Fi, rising to £749 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at £799 for the Wi-Fi-only tablet, increasing to £949 for a model with both Wi-Fi and Cellular data. Preorders start today, with the first tablets shipping on May 15.
iPad Air is available in two new colours, including the pastel blue pictured above, and a choice between an 11-inch and 13-inch screen size
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The updated iPad Air line-up misses out on the M4 system-on-a-chip that powers the redesigned iPad Pro, and the M3 silicon found inside the latest MacBook Air laptops, instead it has the Apple M2 processor under the bonnet.
Apple says this refreshed chipset will make the new Air 50% faster than its previous model, which was powered by the M1.
The front-facing camera on the iPad Air has been repositioned along the landscape edge of the tablet, so that it is now dead-centre when using the iPad Pro in the landscape position, so it won't look like you're gazing off to the side during video calls. Apple has equipped its Centre Stage feature, which intelligently frames you (and anyone else on the call) so you're always in the ideal position even as you move around during video calls.
The refreshed iPad Air ships in Blue and Purple colourways, alongside the same Starlight and Space Grey that were available with the fifth-generation tablet range, which was announced back in March 2022. The new iPad Air uses 100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure, 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100% recycled gold plating and tin soldering in the circuit boards.
Unlike the iPad Pro, there's no shiny new screen technology to be found here.
Both iPad Air sizes stick with the same Liquid Retina displays found on the previous generation, with an anti-reflective screen coating, True Tone technology to adjust the warmth of the screen to fit the ambient light in the room, and support for P3 wide colour gamut.
There's support for the just-launched Apple Pencil Pro (that adds the ambient to roll your brush or pencil, haptic feedback, and Find My location tracking to find a misplaced stylus like any other Apple device or AirTag) and all-aluminium new Magic Keyboard, as well as the existing Apple Pencil (USB-C), so you'll have plenty of choices when it comes to accessories with this tablet.
Talking about the new iPad Air, Apple Vice President of Product Marketing, Bob Borchers said: "So many users — from students, to content creators, to small businesses, and more — love iPad Air for its performance, portability, and versatility, all at an affordable price. Today, iPad Air gets even better.
"We’re so excited to introduce the redesigned 11-inch and all-new 13-inch iPad Air, offering two sizes for the first time. With its combination of a brilliant Liquid Retina display, the phenomenal performance of the M2 chip, incredible AI capabilities, and its colourful, portable design with support for new accessories, iPad Air is more powerful and versatile than ever."
