Apple surprised us all with its late proclamation of not just one but two new iPads .
Sporting different processors , a variety of storage sizes and even some new accessories , the iPad 11 and iPad Air M3 seem like promising update to their forerunner .
While we ’ll have to wait until we review the two tablets to see if they ’ll make it onto ourbest iPadorbest tabletlists , we ’ve liken their specs and highlighted the key difference of opinion in iPad 11 vs iPad Air M3 .
Alternatively , if you want to hump how the unexampled iPad Air compares to its predecessor , then visitiPad Air M3 vs M2 .
Pricing and Availability
Both the iPad 11 and iPad Air M3 are currently uncommitted for pre - order in 29 countries and regions , include the UK and US . Pre - orders are consider from Apple ’s website or via the Apple Store app .
The iPad 11 is the cheaper of the two , with a starting RRP of £ 329/$329 for the smallest 128 GB storage sizing .
Starting at £ 599/$599 for the 11 - inch or £ 799/$799 for the 13 - in translation , the iPad Air M3 is a much pricier modelling than its counterpart . Regardless of the size you prefer for and much like its precursor , the iPad Air M3 is available in four storage sizes , cast from 128 GB , 256 GB , 512 GB and a whopping 1 TB .
A16 Bionic vs M3 chip
The bighearted difference between the iPad 11 and iPad Air M3 is their respective processor . While the iPad 11 run on Apple’sA16 Bionic chip , which is discover in theiPhone 15series , the iPad Air running play on Apple ’s M3 computing processor .
Apple excuse that compared to iPad models with an A - serial poker chip , the iPad Air M3 feature funding for Apple Intelligence , the choice of 11- and 13 - inch sizes and is compatible with advanced accessory like the fresh announced Magic Keyboard .
Although the M3 chip might not be the latest M4 processor that ’s found in theiPad Proor latestMacBook ProandiMac , the novel iPad Air 2025 is promised to see a vast number of improvement from former iPad Air generations .
As we have n’t tested the new iPad Air M3 , we ca n’t verify the claims ourselves yet , however Apple promises it ’s nearly 2x faster with up to 40 % faster nontextual matter performance than the iPad Air M1 . Not only that but the iPad Air M3 is also the first to feature Apple ’s advanced artwork architecture , which provides living for dynamic caching and ray line for “ extremely naturalistic gaming experiences ” .
Having said that , Apple does promise the iPad 11 ’s A16 chip does bring home the bacon a jump in performance for everyday tasks , cook it closely 30 % quicker than its iPad 10 forerunner . Not only that , but Apple exact the iPad 11 is “ up to 6x quicker ” than the best - selling Android tablet .
iPad Air M3 supports Apple Intelligence
The toolkit includes lots of productive AI characteristic , including the Clean Up tool in the Photos app which allows you to hit unwanted object from your picture andImage Wandwhich utilises the Apple Pencil and turn pugnacious sketches into finished icon .
In a surprising move by Apple , the newiPad 11 will not run Apple Intelligence . This is undoubtedly a ignominy , as even the latest mid - rangeiPhone 16eoffers support for the AI toolkit .
iPad Air M3 comes in a choice of two sizes
While the iPad 11 is available in just an 11 - inch model , the iPad Air M3 comes with a pick of two : 11- or 13 - in . The 13 - inch iPad Air M3 is naturally the sound of all the selection , count 616 g , while the 11 - inch iPad Air is the lightest at 460 g.
Having say that , the iPad 11 is only slightly sullen than the 11 - inch iPad Air M3 , as it weighs 477 g.
Otherwise , both areLiquid Retinadisplays , with IPS technology and up to a 60Hz refresh rate . The lack of Apple’sProMotiontechnology is a disappointing omission , particularly in the iPad Air . Instead , the 120Hz refresh rate can only be found in Apple ’s Pro product , including theiPad Pro .
iPad Air M3 supports advanced accessories
Although the iPad 11 does underpin many accessories , include the Magic Folio Keyboard and Apple Pencil USB - C , the iPad Air M3 is compatible with more advanced accessary .
Launched alongside the iPad Air M3 is the compatible Magic Keyboard . usable in 11- and 13 - inches , the Magic Keyboard attaches to the iPad Air without requiring Bluetooth and sports a build - in trackpad and a 14 - key occasion row too .
The Magic Keyboard also has backwards compatibility , which entail it wreak withiPad Air M2 , iPad Air 5th Gen and iPad Air quaternary Gen too , with an RRP of £ 269/$269 for the 11 - inch or £ 299/$299 for the 13 - inch .
That ’s not all . The iPad Air M3 also works with the Apple Pencil Pro which has loads of feature including the seriously utile Hover tool which allows you to preview marks on the screen before intrust .
iPad Air M3 has a 1TB storage option
The iPad Air M3 has a sum of four storage size options to pick out from : 128 GB , 256 GB , 512 GB and a whopping 1 TB . We ’d argue the latter sizes are perhaps too much for the average person , but it ’s surely nice to have the pick .
We were more or less disappointed by the iPad 10 ’s warehousing options , as the tablet come up with either a measly 64 GB or 256 gigabyte . fortuitously , Apple listen and now the iPad 11 has three sizes to select from : 128 GB , 256 GB and 512 GB . We ’d suggest that the smaller , and therefore cheaper , 128 GB iPad 11 would suffice for the bulk of the great unwashed .
Early Verdict
With a more powerful CPU , Apple Intelligence reinforcement and compatibility with a image of accoutrement , it ’s easy to put on the iPad Air M3 is the one you should go for . However , the iPad 11 still offer a flock for most mass , especially those who require a tab for more casual utilisation .
We ’ll be sure to update this versus once we ’ve reviewed both the iPad 11 and iPad Air M3 .
