Apple iPad Air M3 review: the premium tablet to beat

New iPad has laptop-level power, reliable battery life, great video call camera and a choice of screen sizes

Apple's iPad Air continues to be the premium tablet to beat, with the latest version featuring a chip upgrade to keep it ahead of the pack.

The new iPad Air M3 costs from 599 (699/$599/A$999) - the same as its predecessor - and comes in two sizes with either an 11in or 13in screen. It sits between the base-model 329 iPad A16 and the 999 iPad Pro M4, splitting the difference in price and features.

Screen: 11in or 13in Liquid Retina display (264ppi)

Processor: Apple M3 (9-core GPU)

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TB

Operating system: iPadOS 18.4

Camera: 12MP rear, 12MP centre stage

Connectivity: Wifi 6E (5G optional eSim-only), Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Touch ID, Smart Connecter

Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm or 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm

Weight: 460g or 616g