My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: New IPad Air M3
When the new iPad Air with the M3 chip came out in March, senior tech editor Jake Peterson warned you not to buy it because its benefits didn’t justify the higher price than the old model. But things have changed since then: Prices for both sizes of the new iPad Air have dropped $100, reaching their lowest levels since their release, according to price tracking tools .
The 11-inch version starts at $499 (originally $599) and the 13-inch version starts at $699 (originally $799). This means they can now be purchased for less than older versions of the M2, but you get a newer chip and more storage space – making the purchasing decision truly a no-brainer.
The M3 chip is superior to the M2 chip , and more power also means your iPad will last longer. In theory, you’ll also see more efficient multitasking, heavier app performance, and faster overall speed. As Jake noted, the performance of the new iPad Air is among the best tablets Apple has ever made. The M3 chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which makes lighting effects look better in games and graphically intensive applications. But other than the new chip, there isn’t much difference between it and the older M2.
iPad Air M3 features a 2360 x 1640 pixel, 264 ppi display, a 12 MP Center Stage front camera (monitors your face) and a 12 MP wide-angle rear camera with flash, USB-C and Touch ID, and up to 10 hours of battery life depending on use. Of course, you’ll also have Apple Intelligence ( if you care at all ), and it supports the Apple Pencil , as well as the new Magic Keyboard .
If you already have an M2, there’s no point in upgrading. For those looking for a more affordable iPad , the base model is now just $299 (originally $349) and will be good enough for most people. But if you want the latest and greatest, the iPad Air M3 is your best bet at the current discounted price.