Tim Cook shared a brief update on Apple’s latest product news via X, eliciting some chuckles online: “Introducing the latest iPad Air!”
The underlying humor lies in the fact that there isn’t much to elaborate on regarding the M3 iPad Air; it’s simply the latest iteration! Yet, there is an intriguing aspect about “the latest iPad Air!” that isn’t immediately apparent but merits discussion.
What can really be said about the M3 iPad Air? Well, the optional keyboard case has seen some modifications. We’re really delving into detailed comparisons between the outgoing iPad Air accessories and the new versions, a topic that could easily put me to sleep.
In contrast, the M2 iPad Air had something more significant to offer. Specifically, it came in a larger size. The M3 iPad Air, however, is available in the same colors, features the same screens, utilizes the same cameras, and offers the same storage options for the same price.
The distinction between the M2 and M3 chips is arguably more appealing to consumers who would be better off purchasing the M4 iPad Pro instead.
Still, there’s an interesting albeit peculiar phenomenon surrounding the M3 iPad Air launch.
Initially, the reactions to the M3 iPad Air have been notably strong. The new iPad Air hasn’t even launched yet, yet reviews have already emerged…
“This is the saddest product announcement I’ve ever witnessed in Apple’s history,” states the top comment on Tim’s Tuesday morning post.
“So…you’re releasing the same product you’ve been offering for years? I bet there’s just a slight bump in processing speed, a marginally improved camera, no noteworthy new features, and a hike in price,” notes another reply.
(For clarity, the camera hasn’t improved at all, nor has the price changed.)
“Is this meant to be a joke?” queries another commenter. A fourth comment succinctly summarizes the M3 iPad Air’s position: “Re-introducing the iPad Air from 2024, just with the M3 chip this time.”
Essentially, that’s an accurate observation — not that it’s necessarily a bad thing.
Here lies the essence of the M3 iPad Air. It effectively replaces the M2 iPad Air that was just rolled out last May. Less than a year has passed for an iPad Air model that succeeded a previous version that lasted two years. Odd, but not unfavorable!
If all Apple did was update each iPad annually with a slightly newer chip, that wouldn’t be so terrible. Boring? Perhaps. But a yearly update cycle is certainly less monotonous than unpredictable iterations.
The most striking fact about the M3 iPad Air is that it has arrived just nine months after the M2 iPad Air, a feat that stands out to me. It’s hard to label Apple as lazy for such a quick turnaround, even if the colors and marketing image remain constant.
As a side note, I had a similar thought to what Dan Moren articulated on Six Colors today, regarding the choice to use the M3 chip:
It’s somewhat unexpected to see the use of the M3 processor, given that it is based on an aging manufacturing process. Apple has been aggressively moving away from this in its other products.
I was even ready to assert that Apple would retire the M3 chip by week’s end. This assumption stemmed from the belief that Apple would transition the MacBook Air to the M4 chip, retain the M2 MacBook Air for pricing strategies (which helps justify the update to base RAM at 16GB), and eliminate the M3 MacBook Air from its offerings.
Instead, Apple has introduced a new M3 device in its portfolio. I suppose it’s no more surprising than launching a new iPhone in 2025 without MagSafe… or rolling out a new iPad devoid of Apple Intelligence.
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Follow Zac Hall on X, and tune into Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
