Apple Unveils New iPad Air Powered by the M4 Chip and iPadOS 26
TL;DR: Apple has launched the new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip and iPadOS 26. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, the tablet features 12GB of RAM, a landscape 12MP camera, and Wi-Fi 7 support. Prices start at RM2,799 in Malaysia, with pre-orders opening on 4 March.
Apple today announced the new iPad Air, bringing a significant jump in performance to its popular tablet line. Powered by the next-generation M4 chip and featuring 50 per cent more unified memory, the new iPad Air is available in both 11-inch and 13-inch models while maintaining its highly competitive starting price.
Unprecedented Performance with M4
The transition to the M4 processor brings blazing speed to the iPad Air. Featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, the new device is up to 30 per cent faster than its M3 predecessor and an impressive 2.3 times faster than the M1 model. This unlocks hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, delivering over four times faster 3D pro rendering for incredibly realistic gaming and design experiences.
Apple has also doubled down on artificial intelligence capabilities. The new iPad Air jumps to 12GB of unified system memory with a 120GB/s bandwidth to run AI models locally at lightning speeds. The upgraded 16-core Neural Engine effortlessly handles everyday tasks that rely on on-device AI, such as advanced subject search in photos or removing video backgrounds in Final Cut Pro.
Next-Generation Connectivity
The iPad Air now features Apple’s latest custom silicon for wireless communication. The N1 networking chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, significantly improving performance on 5GHz networks and enhancing the reliability of features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
For users on the go, cellular models are equipped with the new Apple-designed C1X modem. This chip delivers up to 50 per cent faster 5G cellular data performance while consuming 30 per cent less energy compared to the previous generation, keeping users connected worldwide with excellent battery life.
iPadOS 26 and Enhanced Hardware
The new iPad Air ships with iPadOS 26, which introduces a striking new “Liquid Glass” design language and an entirely new, intuitive windowing system for vastly improved multitasking. A supercharged Files app and a dedicated Preview app for sketching and PDF markup further enhance the tablet’s capabilities as a primary computing device.
Hardware refinements include a 12MP Center Stage front camera sensibly relocated to the landscape edge, making it perfect for video calls when attached to a keyboard. The device also features landscape stereo speakers that deliver exceptional sound quality for media consumption.
Pricing, Accessories, and Availability
Available in four gorgeous finishes, including blue, purple, starlight, and space grey, the iPad Air now starts with a generous 128GB of base storage. Configurations scale all the way up to 1TB.
- 11-inch iPad Air: Starts at RM2,799 for the Wi-Fi model and RM3,499 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
- 13-inch iPad Air: Starts at RM3,699 for the Wi-Fi model and RM4,399 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
The tablets are fully compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro (RM549) and Apple Pencil USB-C (RM349). To complement the device, the Magic Keyboard offers an amazing typing experience with a built-in trackpad and a 14-key function row, starting at RM1,299.
As with the iPhone 17e, customers in Malaysia can pre-order the new iPad Air starting tomorrow, 4 March, with official retail availability beginning Wednesday, 11 March.
