Apple iPad Air M3 launch live updates – and is a new MacBook Air still coming too?
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05 Mar 2025 01:23:39 am.
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AppleCEOTim Cookchanneled his inner Phil Collins this week by posting "There’s something in the Air" as a teaser; and now we know which Air he meant – Apple has justannounced a new iPad Air M3 tablet with a refreshed Magic Keyboard.
Will that be the only Air update from Apple this week? We're staying tuned and keeping this Live Blog fresh with Apple news.
The new iPad Air comes in 11-inch or 13-inch sizes, both of which cost the same as before. You can pre-order the 11-inch model for $599 / £599 or the 13-inch version for $799 / £799 ahead of a March 12 delivery, in your choice of Blue, Purple, Starlight, or Space Gray color options.
Apple also quietly updated the base iPad today, doubling the base storage but keeping the A16 chip. This means it won't get Apple Intelligence – an odd decision, considering how much Apple has been promoting its AI features.
So where does this leave the much-rumored MacBook Air M4? Speculation from the likes of Bloomberg reporter and accurate Apple tipster Mark Gurman suggested thatApple was set to announce the MacBook Air M4 any day now. This iPad Air M3 announcement likely doesn't change that, it just means waiting a little longer.
Of course, Apple remains as tight-lipped as ever, so this page will act as a one-stop-shop for the latest rumors, opinion and speculation so far building into what could be a larger Apple announcement on the horizon.
Let's get to it.
>>>A2224 Battery for Apple iPad Pro 11 2nd Generation
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T22:08:54+00:00">5 March 2025 at 06:08</time><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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Of course, Tim Apple didn't say "iPad Air" in his hint on X, he just said "Air," which is why we've been anticipating a MacBook Air refresh, but is it possible there is another Air on the way? Maybe I just have smartphones on the brain after an exciting start to 2025, with some of the best phones we've seen already making an early appearance, but I think it's possible, if remotely so, that Apple could talk about a new iPhone.
I don't mean the iPhone 16e, of course, I mean the hotly-anticipatediPhone Air. Samsung showed off aGalaxy S25 Edge, a super-thin version of its latest flagship smartphone, and that seemed to make sense considering all the rumors we've heard about a slim new iPhone.
Apple usually launches new iPhone models in September, but the iPhone 16e just launched, and it wouldn't hurt sales too much to announce an upcoming member of the family, just to get people excited (and maybe help buyers forget about Samsung).
If Apple announces the iPhone Air this week, I'll take a bow, but don't hold me responsible if it never comes up.
>>>A2043 Battery for Apple iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Generation
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T18:29:06+00:00">5 March 2025 at 02:29</time>
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has taken to X to shed a bit more light on what we could see tomorrow. As he previously reported, the MacBook Air with the upgraded M4 processor is still expected to arrive this week, but we also might be getting some other devices.
It would make sense that Apple wants to finish updating its entire Mac lineup to its latest and greatest chipsets. The MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac were all upgraded to the M4 chip series in October of 2024, leaving the MacBook Air, Mac Sutido, and Mac Pro needing an update at some point.
While it’s fully expected that if the MacBook Air’ does get an upgrade, they’ll replace the M3 chip with the base M4, Gurman predicts that the new Mac Studio will get an M4 Max chip, but instead of an M4 Ultra it’ll be the M3 Ultra. Still likely plenty powerful, though.
>>>A1725 Battery for Apple iPad Mini5
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T17:17:51+00:00">5 March 2025 at 01:17</time>
Where does this leave the MacBook Air M4?
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It initially looked odds-on that Apple would announce the MacBook Air M4 today, rather than a new iPad Air – but the rumor mill isn't always correct, and it was new iPad day instead.
Does this mean the new MacBook Air is on the back burner? Not at all – in fact, I'd imagine we'll see that laptop refresh sooner rather than later. Maybe even tomorrow, if we're lucky.
While Apple isn't quite adopting the12 days of OpenAIapproach we saw last year, when the ChatGPT maker made a new announcement every day for almost a fortnight, it is definitely moving away from big events towards smaller announcements.
With that in mind, keep your eyes peeled this week for a MacBook Air M4 refresh – we'll be here to update you the second it's announced.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T16:30:00+00:00">5 March 2025 at 00:30</time>
When can you buy the new iPad Air M3?
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You can pre-order the new iPad Air M3 right now, with availability starting from March 12. So that's just over a week to wait, but which version should you get? I've broken down the pricing below.
With the maxed out version iPad Air M3 costing $1,449 / £1,449 / AU$2,499 (that's with 1TB storage and both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity), it might not sound so mid-range.
But that's unlikely to be necessary for most people – I'd personally be tempted by the 11-inch (512GB) Wi-Fi version, which looks ideal for travel, streaming and photo editing. Your needs may vary though, so here's a price breakdown for every model...
Model | $US | £UK | AU$ |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (128GB), Wi-Fi | $599 | £599 | AU$999 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (256GB), Wi-Fi | $699 | £699 | AU$1,199 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (512GB), Wi-Fi | $899 | £899 | AU$1,549 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (1TB), Wi-Fi | $1,099 | £1,099 | AU$1,899 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (128GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $749 | £749 | AU$1,249 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (256GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $849 | £849 | AU$1,449 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (512GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,049 | £1,049 | AU$1,799 |
iPad Air M3 11-inch (1TB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,249 | £1,249 | AU$2,149 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (128GB), Wi-Fi | $799 | £799 | AU$1,349 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (256GB), Wi-Fi | $899 | £899 | AU$1,549 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (512GB), Wi-Fi | $1,099 | £1,099 | AU$1,899 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (1TB), Wi-Fi | $1,299 | £1,299 | AU$2,249 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (128GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $949 | £949 | AU$1,599 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (256GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,049 | £1,049 | AU$1,799 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (512GB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,249 | £,1249 | AU$2,149 |
iPad Air M3 13-inch (1TB), Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,449 | £1,449 | AU$2,499 |
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T15:26:35+00:00">4 March 2025 at 23:26</time>
What's new with the Magic Keyboard?
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Arriving in the slipstream of the new iPad Air M3 is a refreshed Magic Keyboard for the Air series – so what's new?
The new keyboard attachment – which costs $269 / £269 for the 11-inch model, and $319 / £319 for the 13-inch one – gives you a larger trackpad than before, and also a row of function keys that you could previously only get on the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.
That means you can quickly tweak things like screen brightness or music volume, and generally get a more laptop-like experience. That's important because, with its new M3 chip, the latest iPad Air could tempt those who think (with some justification) that theiPad Pro 13-inchis overkill for their needs...
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T15:00:40+00:00">4 March 2025 at 23:00</time>
New base iPad misses out on Apple Intelligence
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We've previously said thatthe Apple Intelligence launch is a mess– and Apple'squiet refresh of the entry-level iPadisn't going to help change people's minds about that.
Apple base iPad – now called the iPad (A16) – comes with a new chip, double the starting storage (128GB, up from 64GB), and the same price tag as before (starting at $349 / £329). But bizarrely, that A16 chip means it can't support Apple Intelligence.
Granted, Apple Intelligence features still aren't exactly living up to their potential, but it's strange for Apple to add a new product to its iPad lineup that doesn't support the features it's been crowing about for the last six months.
It might also make it difficult to recommend the new cheaper iPad, but we'll see when we get it in for testing...
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T14:15:10+00:00">4 March 2025 at 22:15</time>
Apple announces... a new iPad Air M3
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Well, that wasn't quite the MacBook-flavored news we were expecting, but we'll take it for now – Apple has just announced a new iPad Air with an M3 chip plus a new Magic Keyboard.
The new Air comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes – and the chip upgrade hasn't affected its price tag either, with the prices starting at the usual $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch). The new Magic Keyboard, meanwhile, has a bigger built-in trackpad and a new 14-key function row.
Will the new iPad Air be an option for those waiting for the new MacBook Air M4? Probably not, judging by our Managing editor Matt Hansen's experiences whenswapping his laptop for an iPad. But Apple's new Air certainly looks like a compelling mid-range tablet option.
The only question now is when we'll see that MacBook Air M4...
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T13:37:41+00:00">4 March 2025 at 21:37</time>
The page for the MacBook Air M3 is still up and running. Usually if there's a product drop that's imminently imminent, then Apple tends to have a message saying its updating the store.
Equally, pre-orders for a new MacBook Air might not go live on the same day as the announcement. Watch this space.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T13:32:18+00:00">4 March 2025 at 21:32</time>
As an FYI, I'm keeping an eye on theApple Newsroom webpage, just in case Apple suddenly drops its announcement today.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T13:00:11+00:00">4 March 2025 at 21:00</time>I reckon Apple's announcement will come on Wednesday<figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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So when do I think Apple will make an announcement? I'm predicting Wednesday.
Historically, Apple has favored Tuesdays for its product launches, but the iPhone 16e was launched on Wednesday, February 20. And my gut instinct tells me Apple could drop its announcement tomorrow, which would be two weeks on from the last announcement.
I feel that makes sense as it give some room for the nws to breathe before we get into the weekend. Of course, I could be totally wrong.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T12:20:02+00:00">4 March 2025 at 20:20</time>Don't expect a new iPad Air this week<figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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But then maybe Apple could go a bit rogue and reveal a new iPad Air.
However, putting aside Gurman's speculation that new iPads won't get revealed this week, I'm not convinced we'll see a new iPad Air this week.
That iPad uses the M2 chip, so is arguably due a specs boost. But I'm not sure the iPad Air necessarily need a lot more power. For power-users the M4-equipped iPad Pros exist, albeit at pretty high prices.
Then again, giving a refreshed iPad Air an M3 chip would be one way for Apple to use up any M3 chips it had lying around and give it something else to announce. If that's the case, then I tend to agree with Gruman and don't expect to see a new iPad Air get revealed today; likely Apple will keep such an announcement in its back pocket for a reveal later.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T12:10:48+00:00">4 March 2025 at 20:10</time>
As I mentioned earlier, the blue line that strikes through the word 'Air' has the look of a MacBook Air when closed, so would point towards a revealed of a new Air models.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T12:09:19+00:00">4 March 2025 at 20:09</time>
Right, enough chatter about my thoughts on the MacBook Air. Let's take a closer look at the video Tim Cook posted. Check it out below.
See more
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Speaking of AI, I'd expect Apple announcement to lean hard on talking about Apple Intelligence and its integration into macOS, along with how an M4 chip-equipped Air will be poised perfectly to crunch through onboard AI tasks.
Not sure that'll rock my world but I stand ready to be entertained and informed.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:55:50+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:55</time>
Then again, I'm not a huge user of the AI-poweredApple Intelligencetools, which I suspect will only get more demanding as they advance.
So having M4 power could certainly make a new MacBook Air more futureproof.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:53:50+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:53</time>
Speaking from my experience with the MacBook Air M2, I'm rather unfussed on the next-generation Air having a dollop more power.
My Air has enough grunt to deal with basically any everyday task I throw at it. I opted for the model with 8GB of RAM and I don't think it's ever felt slow. Sure, it won't churn through the handful of proper PC games macOS supports, but it can run the excellentBaldur's Gate 3so one might argue what more does one need...
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Dialing in my specualtion, the obvious upgrade for the MacBook Air, and one that I've mentioned earlier, would be an M4 chip.
We've already seen this system-on-a-chip get used in the latest versions of the iPad Pro, Mac mini and iMac, so it makes sense for new MacBook Air models to get it.
I highly doubt Apple will have tweaked the silicon to work any differently for the MacBook Airs than these other devices, though there's sure to be more headroom to push the chipset a little harder in a laptop chassis than in the iPad Pro.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:44:46+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:44</time>
A final request for a MacBook Air upgrade would be a move to OLED displays. I feel Apple could thread the line of balancing bolder display tech with energy efficiency.
But if such an upgrade was coming this year I reckon the rumor mill would have been churning it out by now; we've heard no whispers.
When I'm in the office I use a Samsung laptop with an OLED display and adore how rich its colors are, and that deep contrast OLED offers. So there's potential here, but I suspect Apple will keep OLED panels for its MacBook Pros for a good few years still.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:39:48+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:39</time>
Other design changes and upgrades I'd like to see could come in the form of faster charging; the MacBook Air is by no means a slouch when sucking up electrical juice but it's not amazingly quick either.
I'd also not mind a few more ports. An extra USB-C slot would be appreciated, especially if Apple adds it to the right-hand side where there's seemingly loads of spare space.
And while I doubt Apple will ever do it, I'd love to see a full-sized SD card slot on the next-generation MacBook Air, as that would make transferring photos from my DSLR to macOS far easier than it currently is for me.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:35:09+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:35</time>
On the flipside, I'd not want Apple to mess with the Force Touch trackpad, which is basically the best trackpad I've used on any laptop.
It's big, smooth and responsive and I adore it. Force Touch is an odd name however...
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has a great keyboard that Apple could draw inspiration from.
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Other areas for MacBook Air improvement could come in the form of a refreshed keyboard. I love the keyboard on my Air, and my fingers fly across it when I'm writing at speed.
However, there's not the deepest of key travel and sometimes I feel the keyboard lacks the tactile feel of the amazing keyboard on theMicrosoft Surface Laptopmodels; those balanced snappy responses with a decent bit of travel to make for a wonderfully tactile experience; I feel nostalgic for my oldSurface Laptop 2.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:28:13+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:28</time>
But there are no rumors indicating to a reworked MacBook Air design. So I'm not going to hold my breath and expect the display notch to have been given a nip and a tuck.
Equally, one can never be 100% sure when it comes to Apple. And the MacBook Air's design language is a bit long in the tooth for tech standards. So perhaps we could be in for a surprise.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:26:06+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:26</time>I'd like a new design for the MacBook Air please Apple
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The design of the MacBook Air could do with a refresh
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Having said that I love theMacBook Air M2, I'd not mind a few tweaks to the slim laptop's design. A 14-inch display, perhaps facilitated by some narrowing of the display bezels and a trimming down of the display notch, would definitely get my attention.
I love the LCD Retina display on my Air M2, but it can feel a tad cramped at times when I'm trying to get work done on the go and at speed.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:19:24+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:19</time>
As someone still using the MacBook Air M2, which is a fantastic little laptop that's going very strong after two years of consistent use, I'm not overly convinced Apple really needs to refresh the Air lineup on just a specs basis.
But Apple is Apple, and minor refreshes to its products are to be expected... if not exactly desired.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:16:19+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:16</time>Expect M4 chip power<figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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So what do I and others expect to see from the Apple announcement? Well as discussed it'll very likely be a pair of new MacBook Air laptops.
While the current pair of MacBook Airs are hardly old, having been refreshed last year with the M3 chip, they don't sport the very latest chips; those can be found in theMacBook Pro 14-inchandMacBook Pro 16-inch.
Those models rock the 'Pro' version of the M4 chip, so we can expect to see non-pro version come to refreshed Airs.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:09:44+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:09</time>
The last Apple announcement of the newsroom ilk came in the form of theiPhone 16ereveal. Apple simply posted an information drop on its website and had the phone up for pre-order pretty sharpish.
There was a decent amount of information to chew over but one could argue the announcement lacked Cupertino's normal appetite for showmanship. I expect the announcement this week to be very similar to that of the iPhone 16e's.
<time class="no-wrap live-feed-date" datetime="2025-03-04T11:05:03+00:00">4 March 2025 at 19:05</time>Thinking differently...<figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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In days gone by, Apple would normally have a couple of big events a year with an in-person or live streamed event that would usually see the reveal of a handful of products around specific categories, such as phones, tablets and computers.
But as the crew at Cupertino have started to push out ever-more iterative updates to Apple's product lines, these events have given away to announcements on social media and Apple's own newsroom page. To me this lacks the spectacle but does give us regular Apple announcements to chew over.
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