Apple Introduces New iPad Air Featuring M1 Processor

[Uskompuf]

Apple today introduced the new iPad Air with the Apple-designed M1 chip, delivering a massive leap in performance. Available in a new array of colors, iPad Air also features the new Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage for a more natural video conferencing experience, a USB-C port with up to 2x faster transfer speeds, and blazing-fast 5G on cellular models — starting at the same affordable price. Advanced cameras and compatibility with the latest accessories enable users, including content creators, gamers, and students, to push the boundaries of creativity, productivity, and self expression. The new iPad Air is available to order beginning Friday, March 11, and will be in stores beginning Friday, March 18.

"Whether it's a college student taking elaborate notes, a content creator working on their latest project, or a gamer playing graphics-intensive titles, users love iPad Air for its amazing performance and versatility in such a portable design," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "With the breakthrough M1 chip, Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, and ultra-fast 5G, iPad Air is now more powerful, more capable, and simply more fun than ever."





M1 Brings a Massive Leap in Performance to iPad Air

The breakthrough M1 chip in iPad Air delivers a giant performance boost to even the most demanding apps and workflows, with incredible power efficiency and all-day battery life. The 8-core CPU delivers up to 60 percent faster performance, and the 8-core GPU delivers up to 2x faster graphics performance compared to the previous iPad Air. Combined with the CPU and GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine powers advanced machine learning (ML) functions that enable next-level experiences. From editing multiple streams of 4K video, to playing graphics-intensive games, redesigning a room in 3D, and more realistic augmented reality (AR), the performance of M1 enables users to do more than ever with iPad Air.

Ultra Wide 12MP Front Camera with Center Stage

The Ultra Wide 12MP front camera with Center Stage automatically pans to keep users in view as they move around. When others join in, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to include them in the conversation. So whether catching up with loved ones or learning remotely, Center Stage makes connecting more engaging than ever. With the addition of Center Stage to iPad Air, all iPad models now feature this magical experience.

The 12MP Wide camera on the back of iPad Air lets users capture sharp photos and 4K video, scan documents, and enjoy amazing AR experiences. An end-to-end solution for photo and video capture, editing, and sharing, iPad Air is an incredibly versatile and ultra-portable mobile studio.

Ultra-Fast 5G and Advanced Connectivity

Customers can do even more on iPad Air with faster wireless connectivity on the go. With 5G, iPad Air can reach peak speeds of up to 3.5 Gbps in ideal conditions. With eSIM and Wi-Fi 6 support, iPad Air offers greater flexibility when users need to get connected — from accessing files, to backing up data, communicating with colleagues, or enjoying a movie with family and friends using SharePlay.

The USB-C port is now up to 2x faster than the previous generation, with data transfers up to 10 Gbps, so importing large photos and videos is even quicker. The port connects iPad Air to a vast ecosystem of USB-C accessories, including cameras, external storage, and displays with up to 6K resolution.

All-Screen Design with the Liquid Retina Display and Touch ID

Loved for its thin and light design, the new iPad Air comes in a gorgeous array of colors: space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and a stunning new blue. iPad Air features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display for an immersive visual experience, with 3.8 million pixels and advanced technologies, including 500 nits of brightness, full lamination, a P3 wide color gamut, True Tone, and an anti-reflective screen coating.

Combined with the Liquid Retina display, landscape stereo speakers in iPad Air deliver wide stereo sound for a great movie-viewing experience. Touch ID is built into the top button of iPad Air, delivering the same ease of use and secure authentication users know and love to unlock iPad Air, log in to apps, or use Apple Pay.

Accessories

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) turns iPad Air into a digital journal and sketchbook users can take anywhere. With wireless charging and pairing, Apple Pencil delivers pixel-perfect precision and imperceptible lag, making writing as easy and natural as using pen and paper.

The new iPad Air is compatible with Magic Keyboard, providing the best typing experience with its floating design and built-in trackpad; Smart Keyboard Folio, with its comfortable typing experience in a slim design; and Smart Folio covers, which come in beautiful coordinating colors — black, white, electric orange, dark cherry, English lavender, and marine blue — that complement the new iPad Air finishes.

iPadOS 15 Takes the Productivity and Versatility of iPad Air Even Further

iPadOS 15 delivers an experience that is designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of iPad.

• Multitasking is even more intuitive, making features like Split View and Slide Over easier to discover, easier to use, and more powerful.
• Notes goes systemwide with Quick Note, and offers new ways to collaborate and organize, whether typing or writing with Apple Pencil.
• SharePlay makes it possible for friends and family to share experiences while on a FaceTime call. Whether users are hosting a viewing party, listening to an album together, or completing a fitness challenge with a friend, SharePlay keeps everything and everyone perfectly in sync.
• iPad keeps getting smarter with advanced ML capabilities. Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in a photo and allow users to take action. For example, a snapshot of a storefront may reveal a phone number and the option to place a call.
• With next week's release of iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3, Universal Control will enable users to work with a single mouse and keyboard and move between Mac and iPad for a seamless experience, with no setup required. Users can even drag and drop content back and forth between devices — great for sketching with Apple Pencil on iPad and placing it into a Keynote slide on the Mac.

iPad Air and the Environment

iPad Air features a 100 percent recycled aluminium enclosure, 100 percent recycled tin in the solder of the main logic board, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the enclosure and audio magnets. All iPad models meet Apple's high standards for energy efficiency, remain free of numerous harmful substances, and use wood fiber in the packaging that comes from recycled sources or responsibly managed forests.

Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations, and by 2030, plans to have net-zero climate impact across the entire business, which includes manufacturing supply chains and all product life cycles. This means that every Apple device sold, from component manufacturing, assembly, transport, customer use, charging, all the way through recycling and material recovery, will be 100 percent carbon neutral.

Pricing and Availability

• The new iPad Air is available to order beginning Friday, March 11, from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 29 countries and regions, including the US, with availability beginning Friday, March 18.
• Wi-Fi models of iPad Air are available with a starting price of $599 (US) and Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at $749 (US). The new iPad Air, in 64 GB and 256 GB configurations, comes in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue finishes.
• iPadOS 15, the powerful operating system designed specifically for iPad, ships for free with the new iPad Air. iPadOS 15 is available as a free software update for iPad Air 2 and later.
• Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. The new iPad Air starts at $549 (US). The second-generation Apple Pencil is available for $119 (US), the Smart Keyboard Folio is available for $159 (US), and the Magic Keyboard for college students at $279 (US). For more information, visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.
• Apple Pencil (2nd generation), available for purchase separately, is compatible with the new iPad Air for $129 (US).
• Magic Keyboard for the new iPad Air is available in black and white for $299 (US), with layouts for over 30 languages.
• The Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Air is available for $179 (US).
• The Smart Folio for the new iPad Air is available for $79 (US) in black, white, electric orange, dark cherry, English lavender, and marine blue.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[gmn17]

common make it 512gb apple

 

[watzupken]

In my opinion, I feel Apple must be out of their mind when they continue to offer 64GB based storage, while not offering people any means to upgrade storage. I wonder if Apple will couple this new iPad with 4 or 6GB of RAM. I’ve not seen the full specs, but I feel Apple won’t be that generous especially at the lower end.

 

[Iain Saturn]

$600 starting for a large 60 hz screen?

The processor seems legit….but what’s with 60 hz?

 

[Fourstaff]

Same price as iPad 2020 version, but better specs? Very acceptable at current environment. Disclaimer: I may be biased because I like my iPad 2020 version.

$600 starting for a large 60 hz screen?

The processor seems legit….but what’s with 60 hz?

What's wrong with 60hz? My entire setup (phone, tv, monitor, iPad, etc) is built around 60hz and I find it acceptable. iPad Pro does up to 120hz for people who prefer higher refresh rate.

 

[watzupken]

$600 starting for a large 60 hz screen?

The processor seems legit….but what’s with 60 hz?

To me, 90 or 120 Hz is nice to have, not a must have. My Samsung S5e is limited to 60 Hz as well, and since I am using it streaming videos and some light surfing, I don’t see it as a problem. Price has always been higher with Apple’s products, so I guess it is a norm.

 

[Bwaze]

In my opinion, I feel Apple must be out of their mind when they continue to offer 64GB based storage, while not offering people any means to upgrade storage. I wonder if Apple will couple this new iPad with 4 or 6GB of RAM. I’ve not seen the full specs, but I feel Apple won’t be that generous especially at the lower end.

Yeah, 64 GB for $600, while smaller iPad Pro 128 GB is below $800 - the 128 GB version of iPad Air is going to be very close...

 

[The Quim Reaper]

Lol..they still want $130 for a stylus.

Daylight fucking robbery.

 

[Iain Saturn]

And $400 to make the monitor stand tilt

Even MKHB was cringing at that when speaking about the apple event. Not the entire stand mind you....just "additional tilting adjustments"

 

[Valantar]

Lol..they still want $130 for a stylus.

Daylight fucking robbery.

Sadly this is pretty much par for the course for the current generation of screen pens. You get cheaper ones, but they're noticeably worse in significant ways - and there are similarly priced options with the same issues too. It's still ludicrous, but that's just the world we live in, sadly. At least the Pencil is near universally praised for being really good at what it does. I'm well aware of the drawbacks of my not much cheaper Dell pen for my work laptop - but at least I didn't pay for that myself

And $400 to make the monitor stand tilt

Even MKHB was cringing at that when speaking about the apple event. Not the entire stand mind you....just "additional tilting adjustments"

No, no. The cheaper stand tilts. The expensive one has height adjustment. No, that really doesn't make it any less ridiculous Though I suppose we should really be thankful that it includes a stand at all at this point. Not that I see how this relates to the iPad that this article is about though

 

[trsttte]

Speed is irrelevant if you are going in the wrong direction

The M1 is great but what will we do with it while limited by iPad OS? I'm not asking for linux or anything outrageous, why can't it run full mac OS? Ah of course because Apple knows better and doesn't want it to be so

 

[Valantar]

Speed is irrelevant if you are going in the wrong direction

The M1 is great but what will we do with it while limited by iPad OS? I'm not asking for linux or anything outrageous, why can't it run full mac OS? Ah of course because Apple knows better and doesn't want it to be so

Or because MacOS would be a nightmare on a touchscreen only device? If you need MacOS, you have the MBA, which comes with input devices rendering MacOS actually usable.

 

[trsttte]

Or because MacOS would be a nightmare on a touchscreen only device? If you need MacOS, you have the MBA, which comes with input devices rendering MacOS actually usable.

Here's a crazy idea for the multi billion dollar company: put the work you're putting in the incomplete iPadOS into a dedicated touch UI for MacOS and let the iPad have access to the vast and better software available for a regular computer. While you're at it, you can also start including touch screens with macbooks (which for as much as I find stupid on laptops users have been asking for them for years!).

Oh right, then why would we buy 2 devices instead of just 1 and the multi billion would start going away...

My question with iPads will always be the same, any performance upgrade will be meaningless while the basic software is still barely usable as a computer and limited only to whatever the Apple overlords feel we should be able to do.

What's a computer? A device that can do what I want, not what you think I want

 

[Valantar]

Here's a crazy idea for the multi billion dollar company: put the work you're putting in the incomplete iPadOS into a dedicated touch UI for MacOS and let the iPad have access to the vast and better software available for a regular computer. While you're at it, you can also start including touch screens with macbooks (which for as much as I find stupid on laptops users have been asking for them for years!).

Oh right, then why would we buy 2 devices instead of just 1 and the multi billion would start going away...

My question with iPads will always be the same, any performance upgrade will be meaningless while the basic software is still barely usable as a computer and limited only to whatever the Apple overlords feel we should be able to do.

What's a computer? A device that can do what I want, not what you think I want

It's pretty clear that Apple disagrees with that philosophy, and as they control their OSes, that also inherently means that they aren't for you. I've long since accepted that, and as such don't consider buying Apple products for that exact reason. I can also understand how any transitional input system supposedly affording access to classic non-touch MacOS apps on an iPad would ... well, likely be a pretty terrible experience in 9/10 instances, as is the case if using non-touch Windows apps on a touchscreen. It can be done, but it's definitely not a good experience. Windows still lets us do that, warts and all, while Apple has a different approach. I'm not a fan of their walled gardens (and frankly think the concept of software monopolies needs banning ASAP), but there's a difference between opening up a system and giving it access to tons of software that won't work with its only mode of interaction.

 

[Aquinus]

It's pretty clear that Apple disagrees with that philosophy, and as they control their OSes, that also inherently means that they aren't for you. I've long since accepted that, and as such don't consider buying Apple products for that exact reason. I can also understand how any transitional input system supposedly affording access to classic non-touch MacOS apps on an iPad would ... well, likely be a pretty terrible experience in 9/10 instances, as is the case if using non-touch Windows apps on a touchscreen. It can be done, but it's definitely not a good experience. Windows still lets us do that, warts and all, while Apple has a different approach. I'm not a fan of their walled gardens (and frankly think the concept of software monopolies needs banning ASAP), but there's a difference between opening up a system and giving it access to tons of software that won't work with its only mode of interaction.

I think a lot of companies have gotten the merging of a laptop and tablet wrong. Apple solves this problem by not doing it and it honestly works. I know that people have their opinions about Apple, but this is actually something I think Apple did right. Different OS that focuses on the way that the device is intended to be used. I have both a 13" iPad Pro and a 16" MBP and they both work plenty fine and excel at different things. The only time I want MacOS on my iPad is when I'm using it as a second display while I'm on the go and not at home. Also to be honest, the M1 wasn't a huge leap beyond the A12X for the iPad. This is just Apple making a clear distinction between its M series CPUs and their A series CPUs (in my opinion.)

 

[Valantar]

I think a lot of companies have gotten the merging of a laptop and tablet wrong. Apple solves this problem by not doing it and it honestly works. I know that people have their opinions about Apple, but this is actually something I think Apple did right. Different OS that focuses on the way that the device is intended to be used. I have both a 13" iPad Pro and a 16" MBP and they both work plenty fine and excel at different things. The only time I want MacOS on my iPad is when I'm using it as a second display while I'm on the go and not at home. Also to be honest, the M1 wasn't a huge leap beyond the A12X for the iPad. This is just Apple making a clear distinction between its M series CPUs and their A series CPUs (in my opinion.)

The code names show that developmentally, the M1 is the same as an A14X would have been, so you're right there. And I kind of agree with the UX part of merging tablets and laptops - it's just not something that can be done smoothly. Windows and MacOS both accept that, but with different conclusions - and Apple's solution is clearly the most idiot proof and user friendly for most people.

 

[Aquinus]

Apple's solution is clearly the most idiot proof and user friendly for most people.

For a lot of people, that's a huge benefit because your average user is a complete doofus.

 

[Iain Saturn]

Aquinus- “Also to be honest, the M1 wasn't a huge leap beyond the A12X for the iPad.”

lol what the?

You guys are silly.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Apple fans would buy gold plated shite if it had Apple logo on it, so these prices are normal.

 

[lemoncarbonate]

Now this is the only Apple product I'm interested in. I hope the screen is laminated this time.

Lol..they still want $130 for a stylus.

Daylight fucking robbery.

It is expensive but have you actually ever used it? As a heavy user of Apple Pencil, I can justify the price.

I've been drawing digitally for 10+ years on PC and tried many styluses both for drawing tablet and mobile devices. Based on those experiences, Wacom's pen is definitely the best. Samsung's tablet and Note series have decent styluses, made by Wacom, but not as good as the Wacom's own pen.

I bought iPad 6 and invested in Pencil Gen 1 with a bit of skeptical expectation. But after using it almost everyday for 2 years until now, Pencil is definitely up there on par with Wacom's pen. It feels very natural, comfortable to grip, no jittery line, very accurate, little to no delay or lag. The only downside is that Pencil uses battery, while Wacom pens have been battery-less for 15+ years. Samsung's styluses are also battery-less.

If I get the new iPad Air or Pro, I won't mind investing in Pencil Gen 2 as well.
Wacom pens are also not cheap you know.

 

[The Quim Reaper]

It is expensive but have you actually ever used it? As a heavy user of Apple Pencil, I can justify the price.

I was mainly referring to the cost to Apple, to manufacture them.

By now I'm willing to bet they cost less than $15 to get them to retail.

These things are nothing but the Apple version of a cash cow DLC.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

On amazon, the difference between Wacom pen and Apple pencil is about 3 or 4x more expensive for the Apple.

 

[lemoncarbonate]

I was mainly referring to the cost to Apple, to manufacture them.

By now I'm willing to bet they cost less than $15 to get them to retail.

These things are nothing but the Apple version of a cash cow DLC.

I see. Well I wish there were competitors or alternatives to Apple Pencil, or users like me will be very hard to move from iPad and Pencil, and Apple will keep charging high prices. Furthermore android has abandoned tablet market since long ago. But yeah, iPad and Pencil dont really have noteworthy competitor right now, so we don't have that many choices.

At least they are actually good.