iPad Air (M3) Launched Starting at ₹59,900; New 11th Gen iPad Has 128GB Base Storage

Apple has updated its premium iPad Air and entry-level iPad models with new processors, but very little else has changed. The iPad Air is still available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with Apple’s Liquid Retina Display panels. The updated processor adds support for hardware ray tracing, improving graphics performance in games. Apple also promises nearly twice the performance of the three-year-old iPad Air (M1) and is targeting buyers who want to work on content creation tasks such as video editing and illustration. Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18 are also supported thanks to the M3’s integrated Neural Engine hardware.

The new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models feature the same single 12-megapixel rear camera and 12-megapixel front camera as the previous generation, and battery life claims are also unchanged for both sizes, at 10 hours of continuous use with Wi-Fi enabled. 

Nothing has changed in terms of design, with the same dimensions and the same four colour options: Starlight, Space Grey, Blue, and Purple. The new models also continue to feature USB Type-C ports, Touch ID fingerprint sensors integrated into their power buttons, and stereo speakers in landscape orientation. Both the Apple Pencil Pro and the more affordable Apple Pencil (USB-C) are still supported.

Cellular-enabled models work only with an eSIM, and do not appear to use Apple’s newly developed in-house C1 modem, which was introduced with the iPhone 16e two weeks ago.

Pricing begins at ₹59,900 for the 11-inch iPad Air (M3) with 128GB of storage, going up to ₹69,900, ₹89,900 and ₹1,09,900 for 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options respectively. Cellular-enabled versions are priced at ₹74,900, ₹84,900, ₹1,04,900 and ₹1,24,900 for the same four storage tiers. Each equivalent 13-inch model costs exactly ₹20,000 more, starting at ₹79,900 and going up to ₹1,44,900.

Apple has also refreshed its matching Magic Keyboard in both sizes. It now has a larger haptic trackpad and a function row above the numbers, making it more in line with Apple’s MacBook keyboards. The Magic Keyboards attach magnetically to iPads, and use a physical connector so there’s no need for Bluetooth pairing. A “floating hinge” design lets the iPad be pivoted to a convenient angle, and there’s a USB Type-C port for pass-through charging. The 11-inch version costs ₹26,900 while the 13-inch version costs ₹29,900 in India. Both are available in white and black.

The entry-level iPad has also been updated with a new processor, Apple’s older A16 which was used in the iPhone 14 Pro models and iPhone 15 models. This model does not support Apple Intelligence. Physical dimensions are unchanged compared to the previous model, but the screen is just 1mm larger diagonally. The design of the iPad (A16) is unchanged from what Apple introduced with the 10th Gen iPad in 2022, except for losing a physical Nano-SIM tray. It also comes in the same four colours: Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver. 

The new base iPad has a 12-megapixel rear camera and 12-megapixel front camera, landscape stereo speakers, and Touch ID sensor in the power button. It works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and 1st Gen Apple Pencil.

Storage on the base variant has been doubled, so buyers now get 128GB at the same ₹34,900 starting price. There’s a 256GB option for ₹44,900 and for the first time, a 512GB option priced at ₹64,900. Cellular-enabled equivalents cost ₹49,900, ₹59,900 and ₹79,900 respectively.

All the new iPads are already up for pre-order in India, and will go on sale from March 12. In April, Apple will release iOS and iPadOS updates introducing multiple Indian languages as options for the UI, along with Apple Intellgence in Indian English.