Apple Unveils iPad Air With M3 Chip (apple.com)
(Tuesday March 04, 2025 @11:40AM (msmash)
from the speeds-and-feeds dept.)
- Reference: 0176612887
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/25/03/04/1552204/apple-unveils-ipad-air-with-m3-chip
- Source link: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/
Apple today announced [1]a significant update to its iPad Air lineup, integrating the M3 chip previously reserved for higher-end devices. The new tablets, available in both 11-inch ($599) and 13-inch ($799) configurations, deliver substantial performance gains: nearly 2x faster than M1-equipped models and 3.5x faster than A14 Bionic versions.
The M3 brings Apple's advanced graphics architecture to the Air for the first time, featuring dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing. The chip includes an 8-core CPU delivering 35% faster multithreaded performance over M1, paired with a 9-core GPU offering 40% faster graphics. The Neural Engine processes AI workloads 60% faster than M1, the company said. Apple also introduced a redesigned Magic Keyboard ($269/$319) with function row and larger trackpad.
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/
The M3 brings Apple's advanced graphics architecture to the Air for the first time, featuring dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing. The chip includes an 8-core CPU delivering 35% faster multithreaded performance over M1, paired with a 9-core GPU offering 40% faster graphics. The Neural Engine processes AI workloads 60% faster than M1, the company said. Apple also introduced a redesigned Magic Keyboard ($269/$319) with function row and larger trackpad.
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/
Still no Linux on iPad (Score:3)
by TheMiddleRoad ( 1153113 )
I'd buy this in a second if it had access to a real os.
Re: (Score:2)
by UnknowingFool ( 672806 )
It runs on BSD which is confirmed to be already dead. So it is a zombie OS, the strongest OS.
Re: (Score:2)
by dgatwood ( 11270 )
> I'd buy this in a second if it had access to a real os.
+1. iOS is the biggest flaw in the iPad. I'd settle for macOS, but iOS is a non-starter. Similarly, VisionOS is the biggest flaw in the Vision Pro. Both of these devices could be so much better if Apple weren't lobotomizing them to keep strict control over what software you can run.
Market Research (Score:2)
I wonder how many people feel that a tablet need to be a high-performance machine?
Re: (Score:2)
There are people out there who use an iPad (or a Galaxy S Ultra Tab) as a daily driver. As few as you might think, but they do exist.
I like having an iPad Pro for those times when I use it, but I use my laptop for 95% of my computing. It's a nice-to-have, and I really only have one because my work allows me the opportunity.
Re: (Score:2)
It seems like it could be a decent choice. So long as there would be a decent tabbed SSH client that would run on it and allow me to switch between a Web browser and the SSH client and a remote desktop client without losing any active connections.
Re: (Score:2)
> I wonder how many people feel that a tablet need to be a high-performance machine?
Imagine how amazing Candy Crush looks on it!
Re: (Score:2)
Blame browser bloat.
Re: (Score:2)
Depends on the usage. Watching YouTube videos, no. Graphical design (sketching, illustrations, some animations), yes. Apple is getting close to a true tablet/laptop hybrid. Previous attempts like Windows RT were woefully trading off power or efficiency or ease of use.
Re: Market Research (Score:2)
I wonder how many people get their boss to buy them a shiny bauble whose power they will never come close to using?