Apple unveiled a new iPad Air today featuring an M4 chip. It shares many similarities with its predecessor, but it also includes some notable enhancements. Here’s everything new with the M4 iPad Air in comparison to last year’s M3 iPad Air.
## #1: M4 chip
This is the standout new feature. Apple’s latest iPad Air upgrades the main processor from an M3 chip to the M4. Apple asserts that the new model “is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3.” The M4 variant is not designed for M3 upgraders, but for users of older iPads. Apple claims it is “up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1” and its Neural Engine is three times quicker than M1.
## #2: 12GB of RAM
A vital aspect of the M4 chip is a 50% enhancement in unified memory compared to the M3. The new M4 iPad Air features 12GB of RAM as opposed to the previous generation’s 8GB. Moreover, memory bandwidth has been boosted to 120GB/s, which could facilitate faster operation of local AI models. The upgrade to 12GB is a considerable improvement that should align better with contemporary computing needs.
## #3: C1X modem with improved battery life on cellular
For cellular variants, the M4 iPad Air incorporates Apple’s latest in-house modem: the C1X. This modem delivers up to 50 percent quicker cellular data performance and reduces modem energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared to the M3. Enhanced performance and improved battery life are significant benefits for frequent cellular users.
## #4: N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and more
The new N1 wireless chip boosts the iPad Air’s functionalities. It supports Wi-Fi 7 in contrast to the Wi-Fi 6E found in the M3 model and Bluetooth 6 rather than Bluetooth 5.3. N1 enhances performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and improves the reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
## M4 iPad Air vs M3 iPad Air: summary
Besides the four enhancements mentioned above, the M4 iPad Air remains largely identical to its predecessor in terms of design, sizes, color choices, and pricing. The new M4 iPad Air is an excellent future-proof option for users with older iPads, although it may not be essential for those who own the M3 model.