Following the recent launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple has announced new additions to its iPad lineup in the form of the new iPad Air M3 and the 11th-generation base model iPad. The new models offer significant upgrades compared to their predecessors, although there are factors to consider especially if you’re in the market for a new Apple tablet. Apple’s last big iPad upgrade was the 7th-generation iPad Mini, which was launched back in October 2024.
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Let’s start with the new iPad Air 2025, which now features Apple’s M3 chipset. For those unfamiliar, the M3 chip is also found in several of Apple’s laptops, which means that you’re getting a considerable performance boost with the new iPad Air. It’s available in 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes, although there are certain differences between the two. For one, the 13-inch iPad Air M3 has a resolution of 2048×2732 pixels and a larger 9,705 mAh battery, which pretty much makes it the more “complete” version between the two devices.
By comparison, the 11-inch iPad Air M3 has a resolution of 1640×2360 pixels and a slightly smaller 7,606 mAh battery, unsurprising given its slightly cheaper price. Apart from this, both models share similar specifications, including the M3 chipset with storage configurations starting at 128GB with 8GB of RAM, and maximum storage of 1TB with 8B of RAM. They also feature 12-megapixel front and rear cameras, with the rear camera supporting 4K video recording. As for pricing, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at £599 for Wi-Fi and £749 for Wi-Fi and cellular. Meanwhile, the 13-inch iPad Air starts at £799 for Wi-Fi and £949 for Wi-Fi and cellular.
Moving on to the 11th-generation base model iPad, the device features an 11-inch display with a 1640×2360 pixel resolution, and comes with double the storage at 128GB, versus the measly 64GB offered on the previous model. It does retain the familiar design of previous iPad 10, which was released nearly three years ago. The iPad 11 also includes the Apple A16 Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM, with storage options maxing out at 512GB – one key takeaway though is that it does not support Apple Intelligence features, as Apple requires at least 8GB of RAM and an A17 Pro chipset for AI.
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If you’re looking for AI capabilities on an iPad, you’re probably better off with other models, although you’ll have to pay more. Understandably though, its starting price of £329 makes it the most budget-friendly option for those looking to invest in Apple’s software ecosystem. Other specifications include a 28.93 Wh battery, 12-megapixel front and rear cameras with 4K video recording on the rear, and support for Touch ID.
