As someone who has been using the iPad for over a decade, I have closely observed the evolution of the tablet market. The iPad has been the poster child of tablets, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Apple has single-handedly invented the category. However, we are now at a point where tablets have matured, making me question where the segment is headed—especially as modern laptops become lighter, faster, and more power-efficient, with longer battery life.
Apple Intelligence is supported on the iPad Air M3. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Apple’s vision for the iPad has evolved through different phases. The new iPad Air is very similar to last year’s model but also feels different. It still feels like an iPad, but there’s a subtle hint that the device is awfully close to the iPad Pro. It perfectly represents what a tablet should be—thin and light, fast enough to run all the must-have apps, yet capable of functioning as a personal computer. That’s exactly how Apple wants you to see the iPad: part tablet, part Mac. I spent a week with the iPad Air M3, and here are my observations.
What: Apple iPad Air M3 (as reviewed: 13-inch screen, 1TB storage)
Price: Rs 129,900 (for the reviewed model), with the range starting at Rs 59,900 for the 11-inch model and Rs 79,900 for the 13-inch model.
A familiar design
The iPad’s design hasn’t changed much over the past few years. The good thing is that if you’re already using an iPad, the familiarity helps you adapt to the device quickly—after all, people tend to keep a device like the iPad for a longer time, often three, four, or more years. It’s a good design, and I don’t think Apple even needs to drastically redesign the iPad Air’s external appearance. By “good design,” I mean the tablet has an ideal shape—it’s extremely thin and light (though the 13-inch model has a large footprint, making it a bit awkward to hold in one hand). Plus, the front camera is now in landscape orientation, which is better for video calls.
The M3 iPad comes in two sizes; 11-inch or 13-inch. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
I have had the 13-inch model for over a week, but the 11-inch model is actually more portable, which, in my opinion, makes it better suited for reading, casual browsing, and schoolwork. For me, though, the 13-inch model works better because: a) I wear glasses, and as I get older, I prefer a larger screen. b) I travel a lot for work but don’t like carrying multiple devices (it’s either an iPad or a MacBook, depending on my mood). The 13-inch iPad is closer in size to my Mac’s display, making it feel more familiar to use. However, using a 13-inch iPad can be challenging on an airplane tray table, especially if you are flying economy. The size makes a huge difference.
The 13-inch iPad Air offers more screen space when using productivity apps. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
It’s up to you whether you choose the 11-inch or 13-inch model; both are internally the same, featuring a lightweight aluminium build, Touch ID built into the power button, and uniform bezels around the display. However, the 13-inch model not only adds more weight but also makes it less convenient for typical tablet use. Instead, it falls somewhere in the territory of a pro tablet—better suited for tasks I would usually prefer to do on my personal computer (more on that later)—even though, at its core, it’s still the same iPad as always. That also tells why the 13-inch iPad Air M3 starts at Rs 79,900, and my review unit costs Rs 129,900 without any accessories. So, keep that in mind when choosing the right iPad for your needs.
Still no OLED display
As a longtime user of the iPad and iPhone, I can easily tell that the OLED display is better than the Liquid Retina Display—there’s no doubt about it. I have consumed a lot of multimedia content, including movies and TV shows, and they looked uniformly great on the iPad Air’s 13-inch screen. However, I have also used the iPad Pro, and I can say that the OLED screen is a huge leap from a more traditional LCD display. I understand that Apple ships the entry-level iPad and iPad mini with LCD screens, but I expect to see an OLED screen on the 13-inch iPad Air, if not the 11-inch model. That’s one thing I’d like to see in next year’s iPad Air model.
Most people still use the iPad to read emails and surf the web, but with the M3 chip, the Air is faster at everything. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
I am not too fussy about high-refresh-rate displays (the Air’s display has a 60Hz refresh rate, while the iPad Pro and high-end Samsung tablets offer 120Hz), given that I use my iPad more for productivity rather than gaming.
But thank God, there’s an anti-reflective coating, which is really helpful for people like me who move from one place to another for work and don’t like to stay confined to a desk all the time. A lot of the time, I file stories wherever I find space to write—often outside a venue under direct sunlight. Because the iPad Air’s screen is fully laminated and has an anti-reflective coating, it makes a day-and-night difference in everyday use. This also helps significantly if you often use the Apple Pencil.
Freedom to use accessories (hello, Apple Pencil Pro!)
Perhaps the main reason I enjoy using the iPad is the freedom it gives me to use it on my own terms—and let me tell you, no other device I have seen offers that level of freedom, not even the iPhone. That’s what makes the iPad an open canvas; it’s up to me to decide how I want to use it.
By now, you already know that I use the iPad a lot as my main computing device (though the Mac remains my primary computer). So, how do I use the iPad as a computer? I need accessories, of course—a keyboard, a mouse, or an Apple Pencil.
Apple Intelligence is a work in progress. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The iPad Air—or any iPad, for that matter—works with accessories from all brands, not just Apple. Apple recommends the new Magic Keyboard, which is a slightly upgraded version featuring a proper row of function keys for quickly adjusting brightness, volume, and media playback with a single tap. The trackpad has also been made about 10 per cent larger, making it ideal for smooth scrolling. Of course, the Magic Keyboard has its advantages—just pop the device into it for a laptop-like experience, and then detach it whenever you want to use the iPad as a tablet again.
Now, onto the fun part. As I have already mentioned, you can use any Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad Air. I have tons of Logitech keyboards lying around at home, and I used the iPad with one of them—it just works for me. If you plan to use the iPad as your main computer, either get the new Magic Keyboard (priced at Rs 29,900 for the 13-inch model) or opt for the Logitech Combo Touch. The latter costs less but works brilliantly. I also used my iPad Air with the Logitech MX Vertical, which I reviewed recently.
The iPad Air does not disappoint when it comes to the things you expect from a tablet. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
This is the iPad, which means it works with both the Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil Pro. I am not the target audience for the Apple Pencil Pro since I am not a professional artist (yes, I do sketch occasionally, but the regular Apple Pencil works fine for me). That said, I appreciate the Apple Pencil Pro—its haptic feedback improves the double-tap gesture and enhances the new squeeze gesture, which brings up a contextual menu. If you are professionally inclined toward artistry—whether in music, drawing, or fashion design—you should get the Apple Pencil Pro. I find it fascinating that Apple has included Apple Pencil Pro support for the iPad Air.
M3 chip is fast and supports Apple Intelligence
If you are switching from an older-generation iPad to an M-series iPad (I am sure there are many consumers who have been holding onto their years-old iPads and waiting to upgrade), the M3 iPad Air feels like a night-and-day difference. This is the same chip found in the MacBook Air, so you are getting a very powerful processor on an iPad. But the real question is: what will you do with that level of performance?
The 13-inch screen is bright and colourful, but I wish Apple had used an OLED display. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
I have used both Macs and iPads with M-series chips, and they are undeniably powerful performers. The jump from M2 to M3 may not be huge, but if you plan to use AI features or do video and photo work, you will start to appreciate what the M3 brings to the table. I still feel that the M3 is incredibly fast, and I have yet to fully unlock its potential. I did all sorts of everyday tasks that I typically perform on my personal computer on the iPad Air: browsing, email, watching YouTube videos, streaming music on Apple Music, working on Google Docs, attending virtual briefings on Google Meet and Zoom, testing apps, occasionally editing photos and videos, and, of course, lots of writing. The iPad Air excels on that front, and so does the MacBook Air.
Technically, the M3 brings the new iPad Air closer to the M4 iPad Pro. The truth is that the performance gap between the M3 and M4 chips isn’t as significant as last year’s gap between the M2 and M4. That means the iPad Air is one of the most powerful tablets on the market, and the performance difference between this tablet and the iPad Pro isn’t much.
This also makes me wonder—while the new iPad Air is far more advanced than the entry-level iPad, the advantages of the iPad Pro start to diminish when compared to the iPad Air. The iPad Air also works with the same type of Magic Keyboard this year and supports the Apple Pencil Pro. However, the iPad Pro offers a high-contrast HDR custom OLED display, a thinner design, a Face ID camera, and LiDAR, but those features come at a premium price. To me, the iPad Air M3 is a better deal than the iPad Pro anyday.
The Air’s design hasn’t changed from the last few models. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Apple Intelligence is also supported on the new iPad Air. Although Apple Intelligence is still a work in progress (it’s coming to India in April in English), it offers a vast number of AI features for everyone. Not every feature stands out, but I have been using the summary feature in Safari, where Apple Intelligence summarises an article for me. Sure, any iPad Air or Pro with an M1 or newer supports Apple Intelligence, but the M3 iPad Air does it faster.
Speaking of battery life, Apple claims up to 10 hours of usage when watching videos, which, in my experience, is pretty accurate. I was recently on a flight from Chicago to New Delhi and spent the entire flight catching up on old seasons of my favourite TV shows. Battery life has never been an issue on the iPad. However, attaching a keyboard and mouse does cause the battery to deplete faster, but it still remains rock solid. I can depend on the iPad Air.
The state of iPadOS
Before you even consider the iPad, I want to make it clear that iPadOS is not macOS—and that’s okay. I use both platforms daily, and while iPadOS has made progress, it’s still not macOS. With support for external storage devices, the introduction of Stage Manager, the release of Final Cut and Logic for the iPad, and improved mouse support, iPadOS has evolved significantly.
I can confidently say that the iPad and its operating system are vastly different from when I first started using the iPad a decade ago. Multitasking has also improved, but I understand that iPadOS still has some limitations, particularly with certain apps. That said, I can still do 90% of the work I do on a Mac or Windows PC. The fact that both the iPad Air and iPad Pro support eSIM and 5G is a big advantage, as is the touchscreen—something you won’t find on a Mac.
The centrepiece in the iPad family
I realised one thing after using the iPad Air M3: don’t call it a mid-range tablet. I emphasise this again—call it a Pro iPad instead. That’s my biggest takeaway, and that’s exactly how I would describe the iPad Air M3.