by Hartley Charlton
The seventh-generation iPad Air arrives just ten months after the previous model. Last year, the biggest change was the introduction of an all-new 13-inch model. With the latest refresh, the most significant upgrade is the move to the M3 chip.
The 2024 iPad Air models have now been discontinued by Apple, but they may still be found refurbished and with third-party resellers for lower prices. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to buy the 2024 iPad Air or the new 2025 models. The iPad Airs from 2024 and 2025 share most of their key features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the older model to save money?
| iPad Air (2024) | iPad Air (2025) |
|---|---|
| Introduced in May 2024 | Introduced in March 2025 |
| M2 chip (2022) | M3 chip (2023) |
| Made with TSMC's 5nm (N5P) process | Made with TSMC's 3nm (N3B) process |
| 20 billion transistors | 25 billion transistors |
| All-new GPU architecture with dynamic caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing | |
| Support for AV1 video decode |
Every other aspect of the device is the same between the two models. The upgrade from the 2022 to 2024 iPad Air was more significant, headlining with a larger size option for the first time, bringing it in line with devices like the iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, which are available in two sizes. For a deeper dive on the specific differences between the M2 and M3 chips, see our other guide.
Given the iterative nature of a single, generation-to-generation chip upgrade, with no enhancements to design, cameras, or display technology, it is almost certainly not worth upgrading from the M2 to the M3 iPad Air. Likewise, if the M2 iPad Air can be found at significantly lower price than the M3 model, this device is still a worthwhile buy. The M3 iPad Air is primarily aimed at those with an A14-based fourth-generation iPad Air or older.
Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad
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Top Rated Comments
UltimateSyn
3 weeks ago
Spoiler: one has M2, one has M3 :)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tr55
3 weeks ago
I have the M2 Air 13.
Very impressive machine, I have only one minor complaint, not really a complaint really, more an observation.
Battery life could be better. Yes it does last 10 hours per charge, but not more. The effects of the M3 here in real life would be very interesting.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frownface
3 weeks ago
discontinued after 10 months, aside from ipad 3 (when they ditched 30 pin for lightning), i can't think of an apple product with a shorter life
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW
3 weeks ago
The M2 iPad Air is fine if you can get a good deal on it, because it only came out last year, meaning it will last a long time in terms of iPadOS updates. However, I do wonder how important the AV1 decode support of M3 will be in the coming years.
This is in contrast to the iPad 10, which came out way back in 2022. It's roughly halfway through its iPadOS update cycle.
My A8X powered iPad Air 2 is very much ready to be replaced by an M3!
My kid's A8X powered iPad Air 2 will be replaced by an iPad (A16).
A8X Geekbench 6 ~ 450/1050 ('https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/10584372') Binned 5-core A16 should be roughly 5X as fast. :cool:
Plus the iPad (A16) has a bigger screen, landscape camera, and stereo speakers in landscape mode.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bungaree.Chubbins
3 weeks ago
My A8X powered iPad Air 2 is very much ready to be replaced by an M3!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Timpetus
3 weeks ago
My A8X powered iPad Air 2 is very much ready to be replaced by an M3!
I have one of those, and I also have an iPad 4 and iPad 2. I don't really get any use out of the iPad 2 any more, but the other two get fairly regular use. Unfortunately, 16GB storage on both is really limiting!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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