The History of Apple’s iPad Air

Introduction

The iPad Air is a tablet device that Apple has been selling since 2013. It debuted as a series bearing the “Air” name to pursue a balance of performance and portability, with a thinner and lighter body than the conventional iPad (up to the 4th generation). This report summarizes the development background, specification changes, and user reception for each model from the original through the latest 7th generation (the M3-equipped model). As of July 19, 2025, the latest model confirmed is the M3-equipped iPad Air released in March 2025; therefore, we will refrain from discussing rumors or unannounced products beyond 2025.

Background of Development and the First Model

Background

After the first iPad appeared in 2010, Apple updated the iPad annually and introduced the smaller iPad mini in 2012. However, at about 650 g, the iPad of that era was considered heavy for carrying around for long periods. A new model was planned to reconcile high performance and portability, and the “Air” name was adopted, following the thin-and-light MacBook Air.

First iPad Air (1st generation)

Announcement & Release: Announced at an event on October 22, 2013 and released on November 1 of the same year. In Apple’s 2013 news release, it was described as “20% thinner and 28% lighter than the previous generation” while featuring a 9.7‑inch Retina display, and the bezel was narrowed to reduce the device’s width.

Main Features:

• At 7.5 mm thick and about 469 g (Wi‑Fi model), it was the thinnest and lightest iPad at the time. It used an aluminum unibody and kept the Home button while shrinking the overall body.
• It featured the newly developed 64‑bit A7 chip and M7 motion coprocessor, significantly boosting CPU and graphics performance. The A7 was also used in the iPhone 5s, but its clock speed was increased in the iPad Air for stronger performance.
• It had a 9.7‑inch, 2048 × 1536‑pixel Retina display, supporting Wi‑Fi and 4G LTE. It also supported MIMO with 5th‑generation Wi‑Fi (802.11n) and offered up to 10 hours of battery life.

User Reception: AnandTech praised its “excellent balance of weight and size,” and TechRadar lauded its thinness and the A7 chip’s performance. Wired criticized the speaker placement, and co‑founder Steve Wozniak questioned the tablet’s significance. The lack of a fingerprint sensor at the time was also noted by some.

Lineup Expansion and Model‑by‑Model History

iPad Air 2 (2nd generation)

Announcement & Release: Announced on October 16, 2014 and released on October 22.

Main Features:

• Thinner at 6.1 mm and lighter at 437 g (Wi‑Fi model) than the original, with the rear mute switch removed.
• The Apple A8X processor and 2 GB RAM claimed a 40% CPU performance improvement over the first generation. The display adopted a laminated structure without an air gap to reduce reflections.
• Touch ID fingerprint recognition was introduced for the first time, and it had an 8 MP camera supporting panorama mode.
• It received software updates from iOS 8.1 through iPadOS 15, supporting multitasking features like Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture.

User Reception: TechRadar called it “a fantastic tablet that pulls further ahead of the competition,” highlighting its thin design and screen quality. Cons included the removal of the mute/silent switch and the meager 16 GB base storage.

iPad Air 3 (3rd generation)

Announcement & Release: Announced and released on March 18, 2019. Coming after a four‑year gap, its support for the 1st‑generation Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard drew attention.

Main Features:

• It used a 10.5‑inch Retina display (2224 × 1668 pixels), with a chassis identical to the 2017 10.5‑inch iPad Pro.
• It featured the A12 Bionic chip and 3 GB RAM, delivering a substantial performance increase over the iPad Air 2.
• It retained the Lightning port and 3.5 mm headphone jack, with a relatively large 30.2 Wh battery.
• This was the last iPad Air with a Home button and Lightning port; subsequent models transitioned to USB‑C.

User Reception: TechRadar highly rated the processing power of the A12 Bionic and the quality of the display, stating it offered “twice the performance of the entry‑level iPad and is ideal for students.” On the other hand, its dated design and support only for the 1st‑generation Apple Pencil were criticized.

iPad Air 4 (4th generation)

Announcement & Release: Announced on September 15, 2020 and began shipping on October 23. The iPhone 12 series was launched around the same time.

Main Features:

• The design was refreshed, adopting a flat‑edged chassis similar to the 11‑inch iPad Pro and a Liquid Retina display (10.9 inches, 2360 × 1640 pixels).
• It used the A14 Bionic chip (6‑core CPU, 4‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine), offering 40% faster CPU and 30% faster graphics than the A12 Bionic.
• The Home button was removed and Touch ID was integrated into the power button. It transitioned to a USB‑C port and supported Wi‑Fi 6/Bluetooth 5.0, a 12 MP rear camera, a 7 MP front camera, and stereo speakers.
• It supported the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd generation), and came in five colors including blue and green.

User Reception: Tom’s Guide evaluated it as offering “Pro‑level performance and refined design at a more accessible price,” and TechRadar also praised its performance and design. However, the lack of Face ID and a relatively high price were cited as drawbacks.

iPad Air 5 (5th generation / M1)

Announcement & Release: Announced on March 8, 2022 and began shipping on March 18. Official sales ended on May 7, 2024, when its successor arrived.

Main Features:

• It used the M1 chip (8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine) also used in Macs, along with 8 GB RAM. Apple claimed 60% faster CPU and 2× faster graphics than the previous generation.
• It had a 10.9‑inch Liquid Retina display (3.8 million pixels) with True Tone, wide color, and an anti‑reflective coating.
• It offered a 12 MP wide rear camera and a 12 MP ultra‑wide front camera with Center Stage, and Touch ID in the power button.
• Its USB‑C port supported 10 Gbps transfers, and the cellular model supported sub‑6 GHz 5G.

User Reception: The performance leap from M1 was praised, with PCMag calling it “a sublime balance of light weight and performance.” However, the design and features were largely unchanged from the 4th generation, diminishing novelty, and the price increase drew comment.

iPad Air 6 (6th generation / M2)

Announcement & Release: Announced on May 7, 2024 and released on May 15. For the first time, it came in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches.

Main Features:

• The M2 chip and 8 GB RAM were standard, with storage from 128 GB to 1 TB. Compared with M1, M2’s CPU was about 20% faster and its GPU about 35% faster.
• The 11‑inch model had a 2360 × 1640‑pixel Liquid Retina display, and the 13‑inch model had 2732 × 2048 pixels, each with up to 500 nits of brightness.
• It supported Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB‑C), with Touch ID integrated into the power button. The front camera was moved to a landscape position for better video‑conference framing.
• USB‑C supported 10 Gbps transfers and DisplayPort output; Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G were supported.

User Reception: In its review, The Verge said, “It’s a very good tablet, but for most people, the standard iPad offers better value.” The review pointed out that, relative to the price, there were few improvements and that M2 was already aging, concluding that the Air should be chosen primarily if you will use the larger display or Apple Pencil Pro.

iPad Air 7 (7th generation / M3)

Announcement & Release: Announced on March 4, 2025 and began shipping on March 12. Apple’s news release was titled “Apple introduces iPad Air with powerful M3 chip and new Magic Keyboard.” It came in 11‑inch and 13‑inch sizes, with prices unchanged from the previous generation ($599 and $799 in the U.S.).

Main Features:

• M3 chip: Featuring an 8‑core CPU and 9‑core GPU, Apple said it delivers up to 35% faster multithreaded CPU performance and 40% faster graphics than the M1‑equipped Air. It supports newer graphics technologies such as dynamic caching, mesh shading, and ray tracing, enabling up to 4× the rendering performance compared to the M1 generation.
• Apple Intelligence: Optimized for the personal AI features introduced with iPadOS 18, enabling generative tools such as Clean Up to remove unwanted objects in photos and Math Notes to solve handwritten calculations automatically.
• New Magic Keyboard: Adds a 14‑key function row and a larger trackpad, offering a more laptop‑like experience while keeping costs down.

User Reception: Tom’s Guide said, “Thanks to M3, performance improves by about 10% and Apple Intelligence makes it easier to use. Aside from expensive accessories, it’s the best iPad for most people.” The review praised the M3 Air’s aluminum chassis, bright Liquid Retina display, 12 MP camera, and long battery life, while noting that the leap from the M2 model is limited, so M2 users need not upgrade.

User Reception

The following summarizes user and media evaluations across iPad Air generations.

Main Models: Release Years & Key Features

Below is a table summarizing the main specifications of each iPad Air generation. To avoid long text, only the essentials of CPU, display, and notable features are included. It is limited to three columns to avoid horizontal scrolling.

Conclusion

Since the original model in 2013, the iPad Air series has evolved for over a decade around the theme of “balancing lightness and performance.” Initially characterized by the A7 chip and a thin body, the line added Touch ID and an even thinner chassis in the 2nd generation, then enlarged the screen while keeping costs down in the 3rd generation to meet demand in the education market. From the 4th generation in 2020 onward, the design was refreshed and transitioned to USB‑C; in 2022 the M1 chip—on par with Macs—brought a dramatic performance leap. The latest 7th generation implements the M3 chip and “Apple Intelligence,” expanding use cases with AI features and the new Magic Keyboard.

At the same time, its positioning as a “middle” model—between the high‑end iPad Pro and the entry‑level standard iPad—remains. Reviews often recommend the Pro for professional use and the standard iPad for cost‑conscious buyers, continually questioning the clear reasons to choose an Air. Especially in the 6th and 7th generations, some point out that changes beyond the chip update are limited, making future product differentiation a challenge for Apple. Even so, its thin and light chassis and balance of performance and price remain attractive, and it continues to be supported by many users as a tablet that satisfies creative needs with a large display and Apple Pencil Pro.

Official Press Releases (Apple Newsroom)

• Title: Apple introduces iPad Air with powerful M3 chip and new Magic Keyboard
  Publisher: Apple Newsroom
  Date: 2025‑03‑04
  URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/

• Title: Apple introduces all‑new iPad Air with A14 Bionic
  Publisher: Apple Newsroom
  Date: 2020‑09‑15
  URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/09/apple-introduces-all-new-ipad-air-with-a14-bionic/

• Title: Apple introduces the most powerful and versatile iPad Air ever (M1)
  Publisher: Apple Newsroom
  Date: 2022‑03‑08
  URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-introduces-the-most-powerful-and-versatile-ipad-air-ever/

• Title: Apple Introduces iPad Air
  Publisher: Apple Newsroom
  Date: 2013‑10‑22
  URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/archive/2013/10/

Media Reviews / Analysis Articles

• The Verge — “The new Apple iPad Air is great — but it’s not the one to get”
  Date: 2024‑05‑13
  URL: https://www.theverge.com/24155407/apple-ipad-air-review-2024

• Tom’s Guide — “Apple iPad Air M3 review: The sweet spot just got even sweeter”
  Date: 2025‑03‑10
  URL: https://www.tomsguide.com/tablets/ipads/ipad-air-m3-review

• TechRadar — “iPad Air 2 review”
  (updated) Date: 2021‑06‑07
  URL: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/tablets/ipad-air-2-1269207/review

• Macworld — “2025 iPad Air M3: What you need to know about the brand new iPad Air”
  Date: 2025‑03‑04
  URL: https://www.macworld.com/article/2595313/ipad-air-2025-release-date-specs-display-size-price-processor.html

Wikipedia (Series / Each Generation)

• iPad Air (series overview)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air

• iPad Air 2
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_2

• iPad Air (3rd generation)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_(3rd_generation)

• iPad Air (4th generation)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_(4th_generation)

• iPad Air (5th generation)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_(5th_generation)

• iPad Air (6th generation)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air_(6th_generation)