Apple introduced a new iPad Air powered by its M4 chip on Monday, providing users with significantly enhanced performance at the unchanged starting price of $599.

The M4 features an eight-core CPU and a nine-core GPU, delivering up to 30 percent faster performance than the previous iPad Air with the M3 chip and up to 2.3 times faster than the model with the M1 chip. It includes a 16-core Neural Engine that is three times faster than the M1 version, supporting advanced AI tasks such as subject and text search in photos. The device now has 12GB of unified system memory, a 50 percent increase from the prior eight gigabytes, along with 120GB/s memory bandwidth.

Apple added new silicon for connectivity: the N1 wireless chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while the C1X cellular modem offers up to 50 percent faster data speeds and 30 percent less energy use than the M3 model. These upgrades enhance features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. The iPad Air retains its 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina displays, landscape 12MP Center Stage front camera, 12MP rear camera, landscape stereo speakers, and all-day battery life.

Available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, the tablet supports the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Magic Keyboard. It runs iPadOS 26, which introduces a Liquid Glass design, an improved windowing system, menu bar, and enhanced Files and Preview apps. Apple Intelligence features, currently in beta, enable tools like Image Playground and Writing Tools while prioritizing on-device processing for privacy.

Pricing remains consistent: the 11-inch Wi-Fi model starts at $599 and the cellular version at $749, while the 13-inch Wi-Fi is $799 and the cellular is $949. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. Customers can pre-order beginning Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting March 11 in select countries. Education pricing offers discounts, such as $549 for the 11-inch Wi-Fi model.

"iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality," said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there's never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air."

The announcement coincides with the reveal of the iPhone 17e, marking Apple's product launches for the week. The new iPad Air emphasizes sustainability with 30 percent recycled content, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure, and comes in fully recyclable fiber-based packaging.