Apple iPad Air 11 2025
Specifications

Secondary Camera: 12 MPix f/2.0
Price comparison
Average of 23 scores (from 45 reviews)
Reviews for the Apple iPad Air 11 2025
With its 11-inch screen, the Apple iPad Air 2025 promises impressive performance thanks to the Apple M3. And this at a price starting at less than $600. Would we perhaps even recommend it more than expensive Android flagships? Read our review to find out.
Source: Zdnet.com

After using the iPad Air with the M3 processor for work and entertainment, I can attest to the tablet's strong performance and capability to support a creator's workflow. The caveat is that you must be willing to compromise on the applications you use and likely set up your browser to pull up desktop versions of your most frequently visited websites. The iPad Air configuration I'm testing isn't cheap. The 13-inch model with 1TB of storage costs $1,299. Add a $269 Magic Keyboard and a $129 Apple Pencil Pro, and you're looking at a $1,697 tablet setup. That's why I mostly recommend the iPad Air if you don't need the highest storage configuration, considering the 11-inch model starts at a lesser $599 and the 13-inch model at $799 with 128GB.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/10/2025
Source: CNN underscored

When I take my tired, cynical tech reviewer hat off and put myself in the shoes of an everyday person perusing online retailers and thinking about clicking “add to cart,”, I can say that the iPad Air M3 is unquestionably one of the best iPads out right now. It’s nice and light, works with most of the apps you probably care about and is absurdly fast — to the point where a good chunk of power users drawn to the iPad Pro can save a few hundred bucks and just get this one instead. If your budget isn’t particularly tight and you’re upgrading after many years (or getting your very first iPad), you’ll be very happy with your purchase. But for folks who already have an iPad they’re content with — or don’t need every bell and whistle — the M3 iPad Air can be a tough sell. You can get last year’s M2 model, which is identical aside from a mostly negligible difference in performance, for $100 less while it’s still kicking around at retail.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/08/2025
Source: Hardware Zone

Giving the iPad Air the M3 chip and a new keyboard hasn’t fundamentally changed it. It remains an extremely competent tablet with a nice display, stellar performance, and good battery life. Judged on its own, it’s hard to fault. However, it’s hard to see why one would choose it over the basic iPad, iPad Pro, or even an iPad Mini.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/22/2025
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 95% workmanship: 85%
Source: Trusted Reviews

This is a hard tablet to judge. As an actual release, it feels almost entirely pointless – the previous M2 iPad Air would still be good enough and would still be supported by the recent Apple Intelligence features. The jump from the M2 to M3 isn’t massive, although I would never sniff at improved performance. But, if you disregard this as a refresh and just look at it as the mid-range tablet in Apple’s iPad range, then it’s very good and easy to recommend. Especially as you’re now getting more power for the same price. For me, there’s enough here to warrant the jump over the standard iPad A16. The screen is better, it has the M-series chip for Apple Intelligence and Stage Manager and has the option of a larger screen.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/18/2025
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Macworld.co.uk

Overall, the iPad Air is convincing. The iPad Pro is even better, but far too expensive. The iPad A16, on the other hand, is significantly slower and has a poorer display. This feels like a sweet spot. For most users, in fact, the iPad Air is the ideal choice: fast, ergonomic, and equipped with a good display. Our only caveat is that there’s hardly any reason to buy this model rather than the cheaper previous model with an M2 chip, which is barely less powerful; what’s more, there are some excellent deals out there. The M2 Air is, therefore my personal recommendation. Whether you choose the 11- or 13-inch model is up to you.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/16/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tech Advisor

The Apple iPad Air (M3) is a superb tablet and one you’re very unlikely to regret buying. There’s fantastic build quality, a lovely display, excellent performance and a solid battery life, while Apple’s iPadOS software continues to be the smoothest and slickest experience in the tablet market. There’s no denying it’s a big investment, but if it’s power and portability you want, the iPad Air (M3) won’t let you down.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/22/2025
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Zdnet.com

After using the iPad Air with the M3 processor for work and entertainment, I can attest to the tablet's strong performance and capability to support a creator's workflow. The caveat is that you must be willing to compromise on the applications you use and likely set up your browser to pull up desktop versions of your most frequently visited websites. The iPad Air configuration I'm testing isn't cheap. The 13-inch model with 1TB of storage costs $1,299. Add a $269 Magic Keyboard and a $129 Apple Pencil Pro, and you're looking at a $1,697 tablet setup. That's why I mostly recommend the iPad Air if you don't need the highest storage configuration, considering the 11-inch model starts at a lesser $599 and the 13-inch model at $799 with 128GB.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/10/2025
Source: Mashable

If you already own the 2024 iPad Air with the M2 chip, then there's very little reason to upgrade. The new Air is slightly faster and has slightly better battery life...and that's pretty much it. However, if you're upgrading from an older Apple tablet, then the new iPad Air is still our "best buy" for most Apple shoppers. For me, the iPad is not, and will likely never be, my primary workhorse (I use my MacBook Pro for the vast majority of my daily work). For this reason, the iPad Pro, while nice, is overkill. The iPad, which still has a phone-grade, A16 chip, is underpowered, so the iPad Air is the best choice for most buyers. As for that Magic Keyboard...look, it's good, but it's too pricey to make sense. If you're shopping for an iPad Air, combining it with a more affordable, third-party option is probably the way to go.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/09/2025
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 90%
Source: Expert Reviews

Ultimately, it’s this comparison with the MacBook Air that casts the most unfavourable light on the iPad Air M3. It’s a brilliant tablet, no doubt. It’s cheaper than the iPad Pro M4, which is vastly overpriced in my view, and it’s almost as well equipped. If you want an Apple tablet/laptop hybrid and you don’t want to spend upwards of £1,349 on it, then this is the machine for you. Even then though, it’s expensive; so expensive, in fact, that the M4 MacBook Air can be had for less money if you look in the right places. And for that money you’re getting a more powerful, capable computer, with a longer lasting battery, better connectivity and more storage. You could argue that it’s a different product aimed at different people and, yes, to a certain extent that is true.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/31/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Business Standard

The Apple iPad Air with M3 is a worthy option for users seeking a balance between portability, performance, and functionality. With support for Apple Intelligence, swift processing power, and a well-optimised display, it is a solid choice for both productivity and general everyday use. However, the lack of Face ID, the less-than-ideal power button placement, and the need for additional accessories to maximise usability somewhat diminish its appeal. Despite these minor shortcomings, the iPad Air with M3 remains one of the best value-for-money tablets in Apple’s ecosystem.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/28/2025
Source: PC Mag

Apple has done little more than update the processor for the 2025 iPad Air. The M3 gives the Air a bit more oomph when it comes to performance and managing features like Apple Intelligence, battery life, and imaging. Otherwise, the hardware and most functions largely carry over from the previous generation. Despite this low-key upgrade, the iPad Air remains the best choice for students and creators who need a powerful tablet at a decent price, which is enough to earn the iPad Air our Editors' Choice award. The iPad Pro is still our top pick for professionals, while the base iPad is easy to recommend to anyone who simply wants to browse the web, download apps, and stream videos.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/20/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Zdnet.com

After using the iPad Air with the M3 processor for work and entertainment this past week, I can attest to the tablet's strong performance and capability to support a creator's workflow. The caveat is that you must be willing to compromise on the applications you use and likely set up your browser to pull up desktop versions of your most frequently visited websites. The iPad Air configuration I'm testing isn't cheap. The 13-inch model with 1TB of storage costs $1,299. Add a $269 Magic Keyboard and a $129 Apple Pencil Pro, and you're looking at a $1,697 tablet setup. That's why I mostly recommend the iPad Air if you don't need the highest storage configuration, considering the 11-inch model starts at a lesser $599 and the 13-inch model at $799 with 128GB.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/20/2025
Source: Cult of Mac

The M3 iPad is a remarkable device. It’s a fantastic tablet. It’s because it’s so great and powerful as a casual tablet that we want to push it even further. Adding the Magic Keyboard is truly transformative. While I can’t do all my work on an iPad, I think a lot of people would be surprised how well it could serve them. So much work is done on the web, where all you need is a keyboard and precise pointing device. For a lot of people, not needing a proper computer is a relief and a weight off the shoulders — the iPad’s relative simplicity is the whole point.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/17/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Hardware Zone

The basic iPad does many things well and is nearly half the price of the iPad Air. If you only need an iPad to watch videos, browse the web, and stitch the occasional video together, it’s hard to justify the additional cost of the iPad Air. And at the iPad Air’s prices, it’s tempting to splash the cash and go all out for the iPad Pro. It’s a much nicer iPad with advanced features that make a difference. Plus, if you are going to be keeping it for the next couple of years, doesn’t it make sense to go for the best? The iPad mini is no slouch too. It’s extremely compact, supports the Apple Pencil Pro, and costs considerably less too.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/15/2025
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 95% workmanship: 85%
Source: Phone Arena

On one side, the iPad Air has pretty much everything you'd want from a tablet. A powerful chip that has enough headroom to last you a good amount of years, good speakers, and a screen that looks good. But then, that same screen is locked at 60 Hz to nudge you towards the Pro, the chip is a bit battery-hungry, and if you want to add extra accessories like the Keyboard and Pencil — you go into laptop price territory (and a good laptop at that). OK, let's take the laptop off the table and assume you really, really want a tablet and exactly a tablet. Well, the iPad Air is better than the competition in its class.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/14/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tech Guru Daily

The iPad Air with M3 Is a magical upgrade that makes an already impressive device even better and offers so many possibilities thanks to its stunning speed and performance that can easily handle even the most intense tasks.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/11/2025
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Hardware Zone

The basic iPad does many things well and is nearly half the price of the iPad Air. If you only need an iPad to watch videos, browse the web, and stitch the occasional video together, it’s hard to justify the additional cost of the iPad Air. And at the iPad Air’s prices, it’s tempting to splash the cash and go all out for the iPad Pro. It’s a much nicer iPad with advanced features that make a difference. Plus, if you are going to be keeping it for the next couple of years, doesn’t it make sense to go for the best? The iPad mini is no slouch too. It’s extremely compact, supports the Apple Pencil Pro, and costs considerably less too.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 95% workmanship: 85%
Source: Tom's Guide

The iPad Air M3 might not be a revolutionary tablet, but it’s still a fantastic device for most people. The M3-driven performance doesn’t disappoint, and it's a delight to watch videos or read books on its bright and colorful display. Toss in handy and fun Apple Intelligence features, reliable battery life and the overall thin and light design, and you have another winning Apple slate.My only real complaint isn’t with the iPad Air itself, but with its pricey peripherals. Sure, you don’t technically need the Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil Pro. But they’re vital tools, especially if you’re an artist. If price isn’t a concern, however, then the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro are well worth the investment. Complaints aside, the iPad Air M3 is one of the best tablets you can buy and the one I’d now recommend to anyone interested in an Apple slate.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: ben's gadget reviews

This is the new M3 iPad Air. It comes just nine months after the last model M2 iPad Air. Why the frequent releases? Well, it's because the iPad is the most popular tablet, and this model isn't necessarily aiming at people with the M2 iPad Air, but those with an older model. The new M3 does bring better support for Apple Intelligence, and a more powerful GPU for better gaming and video editing performance. The M3 iPad Air also has the updated new Magic Keyboard that is thinner and lighter than the previous generation.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: Cult of Mac

Early reviews of the upcoming M3 iPad Air note the ho-hum nature of Apple’s update: The midrange tablet gets a speed boost thanks to a new chip and nothing else. Still, the device gets lots of compliments from reviewers. The consensus remains that the iPad Air continues to be a worthy option for those who want more than the budget iPad but aren’t willing to pay for all the additional features of an iPad Pro.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: CNN underscored

When I take my tired, cynical tech reviewer hat off and put myself in the shoes of an everyday person perusing online retailers and thinking about clicking “add to cart,”, I can say that the iPad Air M3 is unquestionably one of the best iPads out right now. It’s nice and light, works with most of the apps you probably care about and is absurdly fast — to the point where a good chunk of power users drawn to the iPad Pro can save a few hundred bucks and just get this one instead. If your budget isn’t particularly tight and you’re upgrading after many years (or getting your very first iPad), you’ll be very happy with your purchase. But for folks who already have an iPad they’re content with — or don’t need every bell and whistle — the M3 iPad Air can be a tough sell.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: Geek Culture

The iPad Air with M3 continues to be a solid, versatile work and play companion, packing even more of a punch for heavy-duty processing – though the lack of more substantial incentives makes it difficult to recommend the leap for most.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/10/2025
Rating: Total score: 89% price: 85% performance: 90% workmanship: 90%
Source: Mobile Syrup

On the other hand, I’m iPad person and I use mine like a computer a lot. I love writing on it with the Magic Keyboard, and I have an optimized desk setup that allows me to integrate it into my workflow really easily. As a video editor, I still like working on a laptop with multiple displays, and more mature video editing apps, but really, that’s come down to preference. Fernando Silva, the video editor at 9to5Mac, edits all of his videos on an iPad Pro using Luma Fusion and honestly if Final Cut for iPad was a one time purchase I think I’d do a lot more editing on iPad as well. If you want an iPad to be your main computer, get the iPad Air, but make sure you commit to learning it. That’s the key you need to be aware of. It may do a lot of the same stuff as your Mac, but it will do it differently, and that will take time to figure out.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: Stuff TV

In addition to the more powerful processor, there are two reasons for going for the Air over and above the standard model. Firstly, you want a bigger display – like the Pro, this iPad is available in 11 and 13in sizes. Secondly, you want the support for the Apple Pencil Pro for design work. So the iPad Air is a great ‘cheaper Pro’ but you really need to be sure you need that extra extra screen real estate and power before you buy. If you’re thinking of buying the Magic Keyboard, then stop and think first – adding a keyboard to the cost means you’re very rapidly into MacBook Air-level pricing and I’d choose the laptop every time. And if the base level 11th generation model is enough for you, it certainly won’t let you down.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: GadgetMatch

Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: Tom's Guide

In this video, Tony unboxes the iPad Air M3 which, if you check out the full iPad Air M3 review linked below, you’ll see that it’s officially the best iPad for 2025. That’s thanks to the quality of performance for the price, which Tony will talk about in his upcoming episode of Buy or Skip so don’t forget to subscribe if you want to check his full thoughts and benchmarks out. Otherwise, this unboxing will take you through what to expect when you get a new iPad Air, from what’s inside the box to the biggest upgrades Tony is excited about.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 03/10/2025
Source: CNet

Apple revealed an updated MacBook Air, Mac Studio, iPad Air and entry-level iPad. They all have new chips, but CNET’s Bridget Carey says that with questions looming over the effect of tariffs, what’s most refreshing are the prices.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/07/2025
Source: Zdnet.com

More quietly than the iPad Air's announcement, Apple also updated its iPad base model to launch the 11th-generation iPad. This new iPad will be available on March 12, starting at $349, though it is open for pre-order now. Unlike the iPad Air, the 11th-generation iPad won't support Apple Intelligence, as it boasts an A16 Bionic chip. Apple Intelligence is only available on A17 Bionic chip devices and M1 and newer devices.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 03/06/2025
Foreign Reviews
Source: Tablet Blog

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/24/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: RP-Online

Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 03/22/2025
Source: PCtipp.ch

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/10/2025
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Hablando

Positive: Powerful processor; decent hardware; premium design; affordable price. Negative: Old design; poor display; no charger included.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/19/2025
Source: Hablando

Positive: Premium design; sharp display; powerful processor. Negative: No charger included.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/18/2025
Source: Frandroid

Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/26/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Presse Citron

Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 03/12/2025
Rating: Total score: 73% price: 70% performance: 90% mobility: 90% workmanship: 50%
Source: Telepolis

Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/01/2025
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: GSM Online PL

Positive: Powerful processor; slim size; light weight; high mobility; decent performance; smart Apple Pencil. Negative: Relatively high price; average display; no backlit keys.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/22/2025
Source: MobilArena HU

Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/24/2025
Rating: price: 80% display: 70% mobility: 80% workmanship: 70%
Source: Viettelstore

Positive: Modern design; powerful hardware; high performance; big screen; excellent display; good selfie camera; comfortable Magic Keyboard.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/16/2025
Source: Viettelstore

Positive: Slim size; light weight; premium design; decent display; good processor; smooth performance; smart Apple Pencil Pro; comfortable Magic Keyboard; long battery life; great speakers; nice cameras.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 06/04/2025
Source: The Gioididong

Positive: Decent processor; nice display; slim size; light weight; good cameras; affordable price. Negative: Old design.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/18/2025
Source: Mere Mobil.dk

Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/12/2025
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Mobile-com JP

Positive: Powerful processor; high performance; compact size; light weight; support 5G; good price. Negative: Lack of Face ID unlock; average cameras; mediocre speakers.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/26/2025
Comment
Apple M3 9-Core GPU: Graphics card designed by Apple itself in the Apple M3 SoC and, according to Apple, with nine of the ten cores. Supports dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
M3: System on a Chip (SoC) from Apple that integrates 8 CPU cores (4 performance cores with up to 3.5 GHz and 4 efficiency cores at up to 2.4 GHz), 16 + 4 MB Level 2 cache and unified memory controller that supports up to 24 GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM (100 GB/s throughput). » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
10.86":
This is a standard display format for tablet computers or small convertibles. You see more on the screen than on a smartphone but you can't use big resolutions well. On the other hand, mobility is not a problem.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Apple: Apple is a US company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company is known for its innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and manufactures computers and consumer electronics as well as operating systems and application software. Apple is also a leading provider of software and services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud.
Apple has earned a reputation as a company that focuses on design and ease of use. As for their notebooks, they are mostly in the high-priced segment, have their own operating system, but also run Windows on the newer Macbooks.
Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world and has a loyal following of customers and fans. The company also has a strong presence in the entertainment industry, with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+. In 2023, Apple had an approximate 8% market share of global PC sales, ranking it 4th after Lenovo, HP, and Dell.
84.71%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.