Tech media outlet MacRumors published an article yesterday (November 21) compiling and summarising all currently available information about the 2026 iPad Air, concluding that Apple is expected to launch the new iPad Air in spring 2026 (likely March or April).
Design
The update will primarily focus on internal hardware improvements, with the exterior design expected to remain essentially unchanged. This means buyers will get a more powerful iPad Air that looks virtually identical to the current model.
The new iPad Air is anticipated to offer no significant design changes:
- Same 11-inch and 13-inch size options
- Retention of the Touch ID top button and USB-C port
Display-wise, it will continue to use a standard LED panel, while higher-end OLED and ProMotion (adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate) technologies remain exclusive to the iPad Pro lineup.
Chip
The most significant upgrade comes in the form of the M4 chip. Although built on the same 3 nm process as the M3, the M4 uses a more advanced second-generation 3 nm node, delivering substantial gains in both performance and efficiency.
Key improvements over the M3:
- CPU cores: up to 10 (vs 8 on M3)
- CPU performance: up to 30% faster
- GPU performance: 21% faster
Geekbench 6 benchmark comparison
|
Metric |
M3 Score |
M4 Score |
Improvement |
|
Single-core CPU |
3,088 |
3,864 |
+25.1% |
|
Multi-core CPU |
11,711 |
15,288 |
+30.5% |
|
Metal GPU |
47,466 |
57,603 |
+21.4% |
For users engaged in demanding tasks such as video editing or running AAA games, these gains will translate into noticeably smoother performance. The faster neural engine will also continue to provide robust support for Apple Intelligence features.
Connectivity
Connectivity is another major highlight of this refresh. The 2026 iPad Air is expected to adopt Apple’s in-house N1 networking chip (first introduced in the iPhone 17 series), which significantly improves wireless performance and efficiency.
Thanks to the N1 chip, the new iPad Air will support:
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 6
providing substantially faster wireless speeds in compatible environments.
Cellular models will feature Apple’s custom C1X modem, which offers superior power efficiency and tighter system integration compared to third-party solutions, resulting in improved battery life.
Pricing
There are currently no rumours suggesting a price increase. The 11-inch model is expected to retain its starting price of $599, while the 13-inch version will remain at $799.
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
