The iPad Air is one of the most popular tablets on the market, offering the perfect balance of power, portability and price.
With Apple’s track record of rolling out significant improvements with each new model, the 7th generation iPad Air is highly anticipated.
If no major changes are expected compared to the iPad Air 6 (2024), its successor could still introduce some significant improvements.
Here’s a look at everything we know about its release date, price, and specs.
When will the new iPad Air be released?
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next-generation iPad Air, likely the 7th generation model, is expected to be released in early 2025.
Apple usually unveils new iPads at the start of the year, and reports suggest the iPad Air 7 will be announced around March or April 2025.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
This aligns with Apple’s move toward more flexible product release schedules, ensuring that each device gets the attention it deserves without a crowded launch event.
For context, here’s when recent iterations of the iPad Air arrived:
- 6th generation: May 2024
- 5th generation: March 2022
- 4th generation: September 2020
- 3rd generation: March 2019
How much will the new iPad Air cost?
Although Apple has not confirmed the exact price of the 7th generation iPad Air, it is expected to remain within the current price range, offering competitive value compared to the iPad Pro.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The iPad Air 6th generation starts at £599/$599, so it’s likely that the iPad Air 7 will have a similar starting price, between £599/$599 to £649/$649, depending on its configuration. storage and potential upgrades.
However, MacRumors reports that new accessories, like an updated Magic Keyboard, could drive up the total cost for those looking for a laptop-like setup.
What specs and features will the new iPad Air have?
Design
The design of the 7th generation iPad Air is not expected to change significantly from its predecessor. Apple will likely keep the 11-inch and 13-inch size options, introduced in 2024, with an aluminum chassis featuring flat edges and rounded corners.
If so, Apple could keep the Touch ID power button for biometric authentication and the USB-C port for charging and connectivity.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
While the physical design won’t change drastically, there could be new color options to freshen up the lineup, building on the current palette of Space Gray, Purple, Blue, and Starlight.
Display
One area where the iPad Air is different from the iPad Pro is the screen. The 7th generation iPad Air will likely stick with LCD technology, while the iPad Pro continues to offer OLED displays and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates.
The iPad Air could also retain its Liquid Retina display, but without the ProMotion feature, ensuring a lower price than the Pro models.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
However, a new rumor (via 9to5mac) suggests that Apple is developing a 90Hz display for the upcoming iPad Air. This information, shared by an anonymous source with the Upgrade podcast, indicates that the iPad Air M3 could be the first device to feature this new 90Hz “liquid motion” panel, followed by other Apple products like the iMac and Studio Display.
Analyst Ross Young previously reported (via 9to5mac) on Apple’s plans for 120Hz ProMotion displays for the iPhone 17 series. However, this is the first time 90Hz display technology has been paired with non-iPhone Apple products.
Performance
The biggest upgrade expected for the 7th generation iPad Air is the introduction of the M3 chip. This chip will bring significant performance improvements over the M2 chip found in the current iPad Air.
The M3 is based on Apple’s 3-nanometer process, delivering up to 30% faster CPU performance and 15% improved GPU performance compared to the M2.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The M3 will also support hardware-based ray tracing, making gaming and graphics-intensive applications smoother and more responsive.
This chip should keep the iPad Air powerful enough for multitasking, creative apps, and gaming while still lagging behind the M4 chip in the iPad Pro, which will remain Apple’s highest performer.
Cameras
The iPad Air 7 is expected to feature the same 12MP rear camera and 12MP ultra-wide front camera found in previous models. The iPad Air’s cameras focus more on video conferencing and casual photography, rather than the pro-grade features of the iPad Pro.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Center Stage, Apple’s feature that keeps the user centered during video calls, will likely remain a key feature of the front camera, ensuring a more dynamic and professional video chat experience.
However, major camera upgrades are unlikely, as the iPad Air is not designed for photography-focused users.
Battery and charging
Thanks to the improved power efficiency of the M3 chip, the iPad Air 7 could deliver longer battery life than its predecessor. The current model offers around 10 hours of battery life and we can expect similar or slightly better performance in the 7th generation model.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Charging will continue to use USB-C, which has now become the standard, and while there is no confirmation, it is possible that the iPad Air 7 will offer faster charging speeds thanks to advancements in battery technology and wider adoption of USB-C power delivery. Delivery standards.
Software
The iPad Air 7 will ship with iPadOS 19 or iPadOS 18.2, depending on its release schedule, bringing new software features including Apple Intelligence. This software integration will allow iPad Air to use AI-based features such as enhanced Siri functions, automated email sorting, and notification summaries.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
That’s all we know so far. In the meantime, you might also be interested in more of the best iPads and best tablets on the market.
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