Review Roundup: iPad Air (2025) – is this the Goldilocks of tablets?

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Look, we need to talk about Apple’s newest iPad Air. It’s that awkward middle child of the iPad family that’s trying really hard to convince everyone it’s got its life figured out. And you know what? It kind of does.

The 2025 iPad Air, now sporting Apple’s shiny new M3 chip, starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch variant. It’s the Goldilocks of tablets – not too basic, not too pro, just right for most people. But is it worth upgrading? Let’s dive in.

The M3 Situation: More Power, But Do You Need It?

Let’s start with the headliner: that M3 chip. Early Geekbench 6 results show the new Air hitting an average multi-core score of 11,605, compared to its M2 predecessor’s 9,817.

That’s roughly an 18% improvement, which sounds impressive on paper, but let’s be real – the previous M2 Air wasn’t exactly struggling to open your Pinterest boards.

The Verge notes that the M3 performs about 12-15% better than the M2 in real-world use, which is nice but not exactly earth-shattering. It’s like upgrading from a really fast car to a slightly faster really fast car – cool, but were you really hitting the limits of the old one?

Design and Display: Same Same, But Different

If you’re expecting a design overhaul, well… keep expecting. The new Air maintains the same design language as its predecessor, right down to the “extremely muted” colors. It’s like Apple found a winning formula and decided to stick with it – which isn’t necessarily bad.

The display options remain unchanged: you get either an 11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina display, both gorgeous but lacking the ProMotion technology found in the Pro models.

This won’t matter for most users, but if you’re coming from a 120Hz phone or laptop, you might notice the difference.

The Sweet Spot Gets Sweeter

Here’s where things get interesting. Engadget calls the iPad Air “Apple’s best overall tablet,” and they’re not wrong. It hits a sweet spot in the lineup that’s hard to argue with.

The regular iPad feels a bit basic for power users, while the Pro can feel like overkill (and wallet-kill) for many.

The Air gives you:

• M3 chip performance that’ll handle pretty much anything you throw at it
• Support for the latest Apple Pencil Pro
• A new Magic Keyboard option
• Center Stage-enabled 12MP front camera
• All without making you sell a kidney

The Price-Performance Proposition

At $599 for the 11-inch model, the Air maintains its predecessor’s pricing, which is actually pretty impressive given the chip upgrade.

The 13-inch model at $799 feels like a fair deal too, especially when you consider the capabilities you’re getting.

But here’s the thing about the iPad Air: it’s not about having the absolute best specs. It’s about having enough power and features to do what most people need, without the premium pricing of the Pro line.

As The Verge puts it, the iPad Air is “a study in tradeoffs” – and those tradeoffs generally make sense.

Performance in the Real World

Apple claims the M3 chip delivers up to 35% faster CPU performance compared to the M1 iPad Air, which is significant if you upgrade from that generation. But what does this mean in practice?

• Video editing is smooth and responsive
• Multiple apps run without a hiccup
• Gaming performance is excellent
• Photo editing is desktop-class
• Even demanding AR applications run without breaking a sweat

The Verdict: Evolution, Not Revolution

The 2025 iPad Air with M3 is exactly what it needs to be: a meaningful upgrade that doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken.

It’s the iPad most people should buy, and that’s not faint praise – it’s a recognition of Apple’s ability to deliver exactly what the majority of users need.

Should you upgrade?

If you’re coming from an M2 Air, probably not. The performance gains are nice but they’re nothing to write home about.

However, if you’re using an older iPad or looking to join the iPad ecosystem, the Air M3 is an excellent choice that’ll serve you well for years to come.

The Competition and Context

It’s worth noting that the Air M3 exists in an interesting space. It benchmarks closer to the M2 than the M4 iPad Pro, which helps justify the price difference between the lines.

You’re not getting Pro features like ProMotion or the more advanced camera system, but you are getting a device that’ll handle 95% of what most users throw at it.

Who Should Buy the iPad Air M3? A User Guide

Let’s break down exactly who this tablet is perfect for, and who might want to look elsewhere. After all, $599 isn’t pocket change, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right iPad for your needs.

For digital artists and designers, the iPad Air M3 provides excellent value, especially when considering its lower price point compared to the Pro models. The M3 chip handles creative apps with ease, though there are a few considerations:

Pros:

• Excellent Pencil responsiveness
• Powerful enough for professional creative apps
• More affordable than the Pro line
• Thin and lightweight at just 5.1mm

Cons:

• Screen brightness could be an issue when working outdoors
• No ProMotion display for ultra-smooth drawing

Students particularly love the 13-inch Air for note-taking, and it’s easy to see why. The larger screen real estate makes a significant difference when multitasking between notes and reference materials.

However, there are some trade-offs:

Pros:

• Perfect size for digital notes
• Powerful enough for research, paper writing, and test-taking
• Lightens the backpack considerably
• Education pricing available

Cons:

• Battery life could be better during heavy use
• Accessories (keyboard, pencil) add significant cost

The M3 iPad Air empowers users to be productive wherever they are, making it an excellent choice for business users.

The addition of AI features and enhanced accessories makes it even more compelling for professional use.

Ideal for:

• Document editing and review
• Video conferencing
• Email and calendar management
• Presentations
• Light photo and video editing

The device particularly shines when paired with productivity apps. You can easily work with Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, OneNote, and SharePoint, as well as Google’s productivity apps.

If you’re mainly looking for web browsing, media consumption, and occasional light work, the regular iPad might be a better value.

The Air’s power could be overkill for basic tasks, though its superior screen and design might still make it tempting

The iPad Air M3 hits a sweet spot for:

• Creative professionals on a budget
• Students who take lots of digital notes
• Business users who need portability and power
• Anyone who wants Pro-like features without Pro pricing

Skip it if you:

• Need the absolute highest performance (get the Pro)
• Just want basic tablet functionality (get the regular iPad)
• Require maximum brightness for outdoor work
• Are on a tight budget

Remember, while the base model starts at $599, the cost can increase quickly when adding accessories. Factor in at least $249 more if you want both the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard.

Final Thoughts

The iPad Air M3 is like that friend who’s really good at everything but doesn’t feel the need to brag about it. It’s not the cheapest iPad, nor is it the most powerful, but it might just be the smartest choice in Apple’s tablet lineup.

It’s powerful enough for most tasks, priced reasonably for what it offers, and designed to last.

Is it exciting? Maybe not in the way a new product category would be. But it’s exactly what it needs to be: a really good iPad that most people will be really happy with. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

Just remember: if you’re the type who needs to have the absolute latest and greatest, the Pro line is still there.

But for everyone else – and that’s most of us – the Air continues to be the sweet spot in Apple’s iPad lineup. It’s familiar, reliable, and now with the M3, even more capable than before.

What are your thoughts on the new iPad Air M3? Is it the sweet spot you’ve been waiting for, or are you holding out for the Pro? We’d love to hear your take!