Tag: M3 iPad Air

  • New Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Set to Launch with M4 MacBook Air

    New Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Set to Launch with M4 MacBook Air

    Key Takeaways

    1. Apple quietly launched the M3 iPad Air and 11th generation iPad, featuring double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip.
    2. A new MacBook Air is expected to be released soon, alongside a new Mac Studio.
    3. The upcoming Mac Studio will use an M3 Ultra chip instead of the anticipated M4 Ultra chip, which is likely reserved for a future Mac Pro.
    4. The M3 Ultra chip is expected to provide significant performance advantages over competitors, particularly against AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus.
    5. Mark Gurman provided insights on the competitive landscape and performance expectations of the new Apple products.

    Apple caught everyone off guard with a quiet launch of the M3 iPad Air and the 11th generation iPad yesterday. Both devices are seen as mid-cycle updates, with the iPad offering double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip. Additionally, a new MacBook Air is expected to release this week, but there’s word of a surprise addition to the lineup.

    New Mac Studio on the Horizon

    Mark Gurman has revealed that the M4 MacBook Air is set to launch alongside a new Mac Studio. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Mac Studio, last featuring a two-generations-old M2 Ultra chip. This sparks an interesting question: which chip will the upcoming Mac Studio be equipped with?

    Speculations on Chip Performance

    Logic would suggest that the new model might use an M4 chip, but that’s not the case. Gurman mentions that it will actually utilize an Apple M3 Ultra instead of an M4 Ultra. He notes that the M4 Ultra is likely saved for a future Mac Pro. Still, the M3 Ultra should deliver more than sufficient power for a device of the Mac Studio’s caliber. Apple generally does not mix and match chips within a single generation, but the Ultra chip stands apart.

    Apple is already significantly ahead of its rivals this generation, and the M3 Ultra will only enhance that advantage. Its nearest competitor, AMD’s Strix Halo-based Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus, may compete well with the M3 Max, but the dynamics could change when comparing it to the M3 Ultra.

    Insights from Mark Gurman

    Mark Gurman shared these insights on X, highlighting the competitive landscape and the potential performance of the new products.

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  • iPad Air Update: M3 Chip, Apple Intelligence, New Magic Keyboard

    iPad Air Update: M3 Chip, Apple Intelligence, New Magic Keyboard

    Key Takeaways

    1. Apple introduced a new M3-powered iPad Air available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, maintaining a similar design to the previous model.
    2. The new iPad Air features 8 GB of RAM, supports Apple Intelligence, and offers storage options from 128 GB to 1 TB.
    3. The M3 chip in the iPad Air has nine GPU cores, one less than the full version of the M3 chip.
    4. Pricing starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, with no price increase from previous versions.
    5. New Magic Keyboards for the iPad Air are available, priced at $269 for the 11-inch and $319 for the 13-inch models, with availability starting March 13.

    Contrary to Mark Gurman’s expectations, Apple has made a surprising move by introducing a new M3-powered iPad Air along with the budget-friendly iPad 11th-gen. As the name indicates, this updated iPad Air utilizes Apple’s previous generation M3 System on a Chip (SoC), while the overall design and features of the compact tablet remain mostly unchanged.

    New Size Options

    The M3 iPad Air is offered in two sizes – 11-inch and 13-inch. However, it’s important to note that the Apple M3 included here has only nine GPU cores, in contrast to the ten cores available in the complete version. On the positive side, both models come with a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, as they support Apple Intelligence. Storage options start at 128 GB and can go up to 1 TB. Besides these updates, not much has altered compared to the previous iPad Air. The new M3 iPad Air comes in four color choices: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray.

    Pricing and Availability

    Pre-orders for the iPad Air can be made now, with prices beginning at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch version. Fortunately, there hasn’t been a price hike this time around. The 5G-capable versions start at $749 and $949, respectively. Additionally, Apple has unveiled two new Magic Keyboards designed for the iPad Air, priced at $269 for the 11-inch and $319 for the 13-inch models. Both the iPad Air variants and their accompanying keyboards will be available for purchase in stores starting March 13.

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