Apple likely to launch new iPad Air models with M3 chip in April 2025

A recent leak suggests that Apple will soon launch the new iPad Air lineup with 11-inch and 13-inch display with M3 chipset.

In Short

• Apple is likely to launch a new iPad Air lineup in April
• The new lineup is rumoured to include M3 chip
• Along with iPad Air Apple is also planning to launch the entry level iPad 11

In the year 2025, Apple is expected to bring significant upgrades to its devices across the ecosystem. As we draw closer to the first phases of launches—Apple typically starts launches with spring events in March or April—the anticipation around what’s new is growing higher. For starters, in its spring launch, Apple is likely to announce the new lineup of iPad Air models, and a new report suggests that these models will feature the M3 chip.

In one of his latest private posts on X— as reported by MacRumors—tipster Evan Blass shared an image of source code mentioning the names of the anticipated 11-inch iPad Air, 13-inch iPad Air, and iPad 11 models. This image suggests the possibility of these launches and the chipset these devices will come with. Although Blass has not shared the source, the image hints that Apple is likely to launch the new iPad Air lineup soon. The launch was earlier suggested by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who stated that Apple is likely to launch the new iPad Air lineup around April 2025.

Meanwhile, the leaked source code image by Blass indicates that the upcoming iPad Air models and the iPad 11 will feature the M3 chip—removing the possibility of the M4 chip, which was earlier speculated. Additionally, an earlier report by Gurman noted that the new iPad 11 will come with the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, which will allow these iPads to support the Apple Intelligence features and its AI units.

Additionally, the iPad Air is also likely to arrive with a 90Hz display and could include Wi-Fi 7 support, a better mic array, and potentially Apple's own 5G modems, ditching the reliance on Qualcomm's chips. The iPad 11 is also expected to feature improved connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E/7, Bluetooth 5.3, and possibly 5G support.

In addition to more improvements and powerful chipsets, the new iPad Air lineup and iPad 11 are also speculated to come with new Magic Keyboards. In one of his newsletters, Gurman shared that Apple is planning to launch a new Magic Keyboard for entry-level iPads. These keyboards will be updated and have some new features adopted from the 2024-launched Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. This may include a thin and lightweight design with an aluminum palm rest, a larger glass trackpad, and a row of function keys with shortcuts for features like display brightness and volume.

All the new iPad Air, iPad 11, and Magic Keyboard models are likely to arrive in Apple’s spring launch, which is possible in late March or early April. Along with the iPad Air refresh, the upcoming launch slot is also expected to bring the new-gen iPad SE—the iPhone SE4—with significant upgrades over its predecessor. With an A18 series chip, support for Apple Intelligence, a 48-megapixel rear camera, and Apple's in-house modem, the new affordable iPhone is expected to deliver an improved experience.