Apple’s latest iPad Air refresh introduces powerful hardware enhancements, including the M3 chip and an upgraded Magic Keyboard, but some tech analysts question whether the company has missed an opportunity for a truly revolutionary upgrade.
9to5Mac argues that while the M3 chip brings significant improvements, Apple’s focus on hardware rather than AI-driven software innovation could be a missed opportunity in today’s AI-dominated tech landscape.
Where Apple Got It Right
The M3 chip makes the new iPad Air incredibly fast, enabling fluid multitasking, high-performance gaming, and AI-assisted creative workflows. Bloomberg highlights that this update positions the iPad Air as one of the most powerful tablets in the market, especially with:
- New AI features, including real-time transcription and document summarization
- Better FaceTime camera positioning for landscape mode optimization
- Expanded storage options, with base models starting at 128GB
Where Apple Could Have Done More
Despite these upgrades, some critics argue that the update isn’t as groundbreaking as expected. The Verge points out that Apple chose to prioritize hardware performance over major AI advancements, leaving some tech enthusiasts disappointed.
- No major redesign – The iPad Air looks nearly identical to previous models
- Limited AI enhancements – Apple’s competitors are integrating more advanced AI-powered features
- No new software innovations – The iPad still relies on iPadOS, without a macOS-style upgrade
Some industry experts believe that Apple’s strategy focuses on incremental improvements, rather than bold innovation that could truly set the iPad apart in the AI-driven era.
Should You Buy the New iPad Air?
For those who already own an M2 iPad Air, this update might not be compelling enough to upgrade. However, for users coming from older models or looking for a laptop alternative, the M3 chip and Magic Keyboard improvements make this a worthy purchase.
With AI now dominating Apple’s product roadmap, it remains to be seen whether future iPads will lean further into AI-powered computing or continue focusing on hardware-first upgrades.
