Apple iPad Air (7th Gen) Launched in India with M3 Chip, Liquid Retina Display, iPadOS 18: From Rs 59,900

Apple has unveiled its latest iPad Air (7th Gen) during an online event. This model succeeds the previous M2 version introduced last year. The new iPad Air retains the 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina displays and Touch ID sensor in the top button. However, it now features the Apple M3 chip, boasting an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU.

The iPad Air's M3 chip promises significant performance improvements. Users can expect up to 35% faster CPU performance for multithreaded tasks and up to 40% faster graphics performance compared to the M1 chip. Additionally, the device supports dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing for enhanced graphics rendering.

Enhanced Graphics Capabilities

For those engaged in graphics-intensive tasks, the iPad Air with M3 offers up to four times faster performance than its predecessor with the M1 chip. This enhancement allows for more accurate lighting, reflections, shadows, and realistic gaming experiences. Apple emphasises these capabilities as a major upgrade for users seeking high-quality visual outputs.\

The new Magic Keyboard designed for the iPad Air features a larger built-in trackpad. This provides greater precision for detail-oriented tasks. It also includes a new 14-key function row that offers easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls.

Magic Keyboard Features

The Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically to the iPad Air. The Smart Connector facilitates immediate power and data connection without needing Bluetooth. A machined aluminium hinge includes a USB-C connector for charging. Notably, this keyboard is more affordable than its predecessor.

The specifications of the iPad Air 7th Gen include an 11-inch (2360 x 1640 pixels) or a 13-inch (2732×2048 pixels) Retina True Tone display with P3 Colour Gamut, offering 500 nits brightness and 264 PPI resolution. It is powered by an Apple M3 chip with an 8-core CPU comprising four performance cores and four efficiency cores.

Specifications Overview

The device also features a 9-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and comes with 8GB RAM. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. The operating system is iPadOS 18. Camera capabilities include a 12MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and Smart HDR4 support, along with a front-facing ultrawide camera.

Connectivity options are extensive: It supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, GPS/GNSS, and optional eSIM-based 5G connectivity. The device dimensions vary slightly between models but maintain a sleek design at just over six millimetres thick.

Pricing Details

The pricing for the new iPad Air starts at Rs 59,900 for the base model of the Wi-Fi-only version with an 11-inch display and goes up to Rs 1,44,900 for the top-end Wi-Fi + Cellular model with a 13-inch display and maximum storage capacity of 1TB.

• iPad Air 7th Gen Wi-Fi (11" -128GB) - Rs. 59,900
• iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular (11" -128GB) - Rs. 74,900
• iPad Air Wi-Fi (13" -128GB) - Rs. 79,900
• iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular (13" -128GB) - Rs. 94,900
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (11") - Rs. 26,900
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (13") - Rs. 29,900
• Smart Folio for iPad Air (11") - Rs. 8,500
• Smart Folio for iPad Air (13") - Rs. 10,900

Available in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Grey colours, this new iteration of Apple's tablet is now available for order on apple.com/store in India among other regions. It will be accessible through Apple Store locations and authorised resellers from March 12th onwards.