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iPad Air

386 'iPad Air' stories October 2013 - November 2013
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iPad Air 5

The iPad Air was first introduced in 2013 along the iPad mini 2 and the cylindrical “Trash Can” Mac Pro. With a 9.7-inch display, it was really thin and light, weighing only 469 grams – over 25% lighter than its respective predecessor, the iPad 4. But that’s history. Today, iPad Air is even larger, slighty lighter, and more powerful with Apple’s M-Series chips.

The current (6th generation) iPad Air with M3 was unveiled on March 4, 2025 via a press release and became available a week later on March 12, 2025. Along with the new M3 chip, Apple also gave us a new Magic Keyboard to go along with it and an updated version of the base iPad.

Pricing was unchanged for the new iPad Air, with the 11-inch model starting at $599 and the 13-inch model starting at $799. The device is available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.

6th gen iPad Air with M3 and its new Magic Keyboard.

Here are some iPad Air with M3 performance stats from Apple:

  • 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU
  • Support for dynamic caching, along with hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing
  • 2x faster than iPad Air with M1
  • 3.5x faster than iPad Air with A14 Bionic chip
  • 40% faster graphic performance than iPad Air with M1
  • 60% faster for AI-based workflows than the M1 iPad Air

You can now purchase the new iPad Air on Amazon.

Be sure to check 9to5Toys first for iPad, and other Apple deals happening across the web.

iPad Air Keyboard Smackdown: Latest cases from Logitech, Belkin, and ZAGG

Avatar for Mark Gurman Nov 23 2013 - 3:29 pm PT
14 Comments
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With its wide-range of applications, touchscreen capabilities, portability, and fast processing, the iPad Air has been regarded by many users as a tablet capable of content creation. Coming from a dedicated laptop, however, the Multi-Touch keyboard is a weakness. Not because it is incapable, but because it is sometimes slower to type with, less accurate, and less comfortable.

This is why several iPad accessory makers have created solutions: keyboard attachments in the form of cases. For the past few weeks, I have been testing the latest keyboard case offerings for the iPad Air from Logitech, Belkin, and ZAGG. Below, I have put together a review and comparison of the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio, Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio, Belkin Slim Style Keyboard Case, Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case, and the ZAGG Folio Keyboard:


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Apple publishes “Life on iPad” web page highlighting stories of iPad usage across industries

Avatar for Mike Beasley Nov 21 2013 - 6:52 pm PT
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Apple has published a new page on its website titled “Life on iPad.” The page highlights stories of iPad usage in a variety of capacities from Broadway to the operating room. The page also features the video from the iPad Air keynote showing the iPad in many of these same uses.

There are six total stories on the page, each with an entirely different take on how businesses and individuals are using the iPad to to improve their jobs. For example, a page on Siemens Energy’s wind power division details how iPads have replaced countless pages of manuals and repair plans for workers working 250 feet in the air.


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Apple releases Apple Store app for iPad, with image-centric design and new trends section

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 20 2013 - 6:15 am PT
6 Comments

For the first time, Apple has released an Apple Store app optimised for the iPad, via TechCrunch.  The app uses the now-standard iOS 7 colour scheme and design elements, focusing on white space and text. The app is a separate download to the iPhone app, but offers all the same functionality you would expect, although some of the location-based features for retail are absent due to the different use cases of the devices.

Imagery is the focus — Apple is trading heavily on its beautiful Retina-display equipped iPads to show of its store products.


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Report claims 12.9-inch panel for larger iPad already in production, release early next year

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Nov 19 2013 - 5:33 am PT
23 Comments

<a href="http://www.t3.com/news/exclusive-t3-render-of-the-apple-ipad-pro">Mockup by T3</a>

The Korea Times is reporting that a “first tier display supplier” is already manufacturing a 12.9 inch panel for iPads. According to the report, Apple is looking to bring the bigger iPad to market sometime “early next year”…


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Retina iPad mini reviews notice stagnant color gamut compared to iPad Air, Nexus 7, and others

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 18 2013 - 9:54 am PT
24 Comments
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(via Apple.com)

Although initial reviews of Apple’s new Retina iPad mini bemoaned its cost but praised its display, a slew of more hands-on reviews have realized a notably narrower color gamut (same as the non-Retina iPad mini) compared to other popular tablets including the iPad Air and Nexus 7.

While it may not be immediately noticeable to many consumers, it’s certainly a fine, in-depth critique when investing in what you expect to be the best tablet on the market.

Is the Retina iPad mini sharper? Obviously. But don’t expect to see its colors pop in the same way that the iPhone 5 display delivered after the iPhone 4S. Check out the detailed comments below:


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Review: Studio Credence leather & felt book-style iPad case (and iPhone sleeve)

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 18 2013 - 7:20 am PT
4 Comments
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While I may be known for my addiction to all things anodised aluminum, I also have a love of natural materials, wood and leather especially. My MacBook Pro and MacBook Air both travel in BookBook leather cases (reviewed here by Jordan), so when Studio Credence announced a book-style case for the iPad, I decided to take a look.

First impressions

Studio Credence is clearly going for a bit of a rustic look. The packaging is undyed cardboard, with the case itself in a muslin-type drawstring bag. Open this, and what you have inside is a very similar approach to the BookBook range … 
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9to5Toys Last Call: TYLT 1800mAh power bank giveaway, Staples Black Friday, BioShock Inf. $10, StorEDGE deals back, more

Avatar for Nov 14 2013 - 10:00 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ Today’s can’t miss deals: Giveaway: TYLT Energi 1800mAh portable USB power bank w/ Micro USB cable

Staples Black Friday: Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $199, Toshiba 1TB $50, ZAGGkeys Pro $50, more PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web Get 75% off BioShock Infinite from 9to5Toys & GameAgent

PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 128GB $98, 64GB $40

Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

Black Friday:

New product announcements & reviews:

The Retina iPad Mini teardown reveals cross between iPad Air & iPhone 5s

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 13 2013 - 7:35 am PT
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Following close behind its teardown of the iPad Air, iFixit has now taken its toolkit to the Retina iPad Mini. While the company understandably focuses on repairability – that’s how it makes it’s money – we’re betting most people just want to have a peek inside.

Unsurprisingly, the new iPad Mini is essentially a cross between the iPad Air and the iPhone 5s … 
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Retina iPad Mini supplies expected to remain tight through the holidays

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 13 2013 - 4:28 am PT
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If you’re planning to give anyone a Retina iPad Mini as a holiday gift, it might be advisable to buy it sooner rather than later. Retina iPad Mini supplies are expected to remain constrained for the rest of the year, with two analysts both estimating production at around two million units. This is a very small number in what is likely to be a quarter with high demand.

KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo and IHS iSuppli’s Rhoda Alexander had both previously said they expected supply to be very tight, but this is the first time we’ve had sight of KGI’s estimates of the numbers.

We maintain our iPad mini R shipments forecast of around 2.2mn units for 4Q13. Considering production yield improvement at the supply chain, we forecast shipments will grow 102% QoQ in 1Q14 to 4.5mn units.


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Retina iPad mini clocks in at same speed as iPhone 5s, slightly slower than Air

Avatar for Mark Gurman Nov 12 2013 - 9:51 am PT
3 Comments

Following the release of the new iPad mini with Retina display this morning, a user of the device conducted a benchmark test via GeekBench. The results indicate that the processor speed is clocked at 1.29 GHz, and this almost the same speed as the iPhone 5s, which comes in at 1.30GHz. For comparison, the pricier, larger iPad Air comes in at 1.39 GHz.

In real world usage, it is unlikely that users will notice difference in speed between the new two new Apple tablets, but the difference is interesting in light of both products including the same 64-bit A7 architecture. Perhaps the Mini is clocked at a slightly slower speed for thermal considerations due to the smaller overall form-factor or too keep the battery/encasing size to within millimeters of its predecessor while retaining the same 10 hour battery life.

 

 


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Initial Retina iPad mini Apple Store rollout to be exclusive to Personal Pickup, Apple issues press release

Avatar for Mark Gurman Nov 12 2013 - 5:32 am PT
15 Comments
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Due to “limited supply” and “high demand,” the new iPad mini with Retina display will be available at Apple Stores exclusively through the Personal Pickup service for the time-being. Personal Pickup allows a customer to purchase a Retina iPad mini via the Apple Online Store, then pick it up at an Apple Retail location of their choosing. This also means that a customer who wants a Retina iPad mini cannot simply walk-in to an Apple Store and buy one (yet). It’s likely that Apple will allow walk-in purchases when demand meets supply. Apple notified its retail employees of the current sales exclusivity to Personal Pickup customers, and Apple’s own retail website seems to imply similar…


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Best Buy & Walmart Black Friday ads bring the year’s best Apple deals

Avatar for Nov 12 2013 - 5:16 am PT
3 Comments
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From 9to5Toys.com:

Yesterday it was Target. Today the Best Buy and Walmart Black Friday / Thanksgiving deal advertisements are now official. Both ads feature heavy discounting on iPads, iTunes cards, iPods, Macs, and more. The most impressive deals at Walmart include an iPad mini for $299 with a free $100 gift card, and free gift card offers with the purchase of an iPhone 5c/5c. Best Buy offers up to $200 off a new Mac laptop, 15% off iTunes cards, and an Apple TV for $85.

While we haven’t seen Apple’s Black Friday deals for this year, it’s pretty safe to assume they won’t stray too far from the ‘education pricing for all’ strategy implemented at preceding Black Friday promotions.

Head over to 9to5toys for complete coverage of these ads and all others that have leaked thus far as well as best deals as they happen.
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Report: GlobalFoundries Apple tie-in not as big a deal as it sounds, might be overflow supply line

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 12 2013 - 4:27 am PT
3 Comments
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Suggestions that Apple is looking to chipmaker GlobalFoundries to reduce its reliance on Samsung chips are rather wide of the mark, according to sources cited by AllThingsD. The rumors followed a story in the Albany Times Union that Apple might be looking to the Malta, New York, chipmaker to make iPhone and iPad chips.

In the most likely scenario, Samsung will still be the primary manufacturer of Apple’s chips for the iPhone and iPad, they said, continuing the role it has played since the earliest days of the iPhone: Building the chips that Apple designs under contract […]

Samsung will use GlobalFoundries for what is known as “flex capacity.” This is a long-standing industry practice under which a chip manufacturer pays to occasionally use another company’s factories when demand on their own factory is running higher than they would like, and they need a little help … 
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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air winner announced, 20% off iTunes, iPhone 5 for $370, iOS freebies, more

Avatar for Nov 11 2013 - 10:00 am PT
3 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Thank you to everyone who entered the iPad Air / SlickWraps Giveaway! We were absolutely blown away by the response we received. The winner has been contacted via twitter direct message. If you didn’t win, keep tabs on 9to5Toys all month long as we will continue to hold giveaways as we lead up to Black Friday.

Veterans Day Special FREE T-Mobile PrePaid SIM Card, use it for $30/month unlimited Data/Text plan


$50 iTunes gift card for $40: Save 20% on apps, music, movies, books, more

Virgin 10% off iPhone 5 + $35 credit yields prices starting at $370 and $30/month unlimited data plans.

Game/App Deals: PS Vita Wi-Fi: $160 shipped (Reg. $200), iOS freebies, Breaking Bad seasons 1-3 $9.99 each, more

Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

New product announcements & reviews:

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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air giveaway, Toshiba portable HD 1TB $60/2TB $100, Panasonic Lumix G5 camera $300, more

Avatar for Nov 8 2013 - 10:00 am PT
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Take a few minutes out of your lunch to cash in on some incredible deals. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Weekend update:

  • 2nd Generation AppleTV, perfect for hacking, $80 shipped
  • 1080P LED Monitors: 24-inch AOC: $120 shipped, 27-inch Viewsonic (refurb): $141+ship
  • Headphone Deals up to 82% off: Beats by Dre, Soul by Ludacris, Sony MDR, Pioneer DJ cans, more
  • LG G2 5.2″ 1080P Android 4.2 quad-core phone on Verizon Wireless: Free /w plan

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Giveaway: Apple iPad Air with awesome SlickWraps protective skin

Hard Drive Deals: Toshiba portable 2TB $100/1TB $60, Seagate portable 1TB: $60, WD 3TB desktop: $100

Panasonic Lumix G5 16 MP Compact System Camera with 14-42mm Zoom Lens: $300

PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 128GB $98, 64GB $40


Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

New product announcements & reviews:

A week with the iPad Air in three words: Believe. The. Hype.

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 8 2013 - 6:48 am PT
106 Comments
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All tech companies love to hype their shiny new gadgets. Nothing is ever a slightly better version of the last model, everything is a ‘breakthrough’, changes are always ‘dramatic’, performance is always ‘ground-breaking’.

Apple is of course the acknowledged master of the marketing arts, so if I’m honest I mentally toned-down all the claims in the keynote about it being “dramatically thinner and lighter,” and I responded to Phil Schiller’s claim that “once you hold one in your hand you will understand what a tremendous advancement this is” with a wry smile.

But having owned and used one extensively for a week now, I actually think Apple’s hype didn’t go far enough. This is not just a bit thinner and lighter, it’s virtually a third category of iPad … 
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Vodafone store evacuated as iPad demo model catches fire [Update: Not an Air]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 8 2013 - 4:13 am PT
11 Comments

Update: A Vodafone spokesperson says that the model that caught fire was not an Air:

“It was an earlier generation iPad with Retina display model — not one of the more recently launched devices. Apple is investigating the cause,” a Vodafone Australia spokesperson told Mashable.

A Vodafone store in Canberra, Australia, had to be evacuated and the fire brigade called in after a demo model iPad Air caught fire, reports news.com.au.

“A burst of flames” appeared from the charging port of an iPad demo model, a Vodafone spokesperson confirmed.

The fire brigade was called in after the store filled with smoke and sparks continued to appear from the charging port.

Nobody was hurt.

There have been several reports of iPhones and iPads catching fire while charging, but these have generally been associated with third-party or counterfeit chargers. As an official Vodafone store, a third-party charger would seem unlikely.

It’s reported that Apple sent a representative to the store to collect the iPad for investigation.

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Five year old genius proves wise beyond his years, disses free Sony tablet for iPad [Video] (Updated)

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 6 2013 - 7:15 am PT
16 Comments

[youtube http://youtu.be/XFxjy7f9RpY&start=300]

UPDATE: It looks like ABC removed the video from YouTube and Hulu. Maybe Sony wasn’t too pleased with the poor product placement?

UPDATE 2: There’s currently another version of the video below the fold.. for now. 

UPDATE 3: Alas, ABC has made the clip public again, but notably without the ending. See the video in its entirety below.

Five year old genius Arden Hayes would make Steve Jobs proud.

Not only can he hold his own when discussing United States politics and world geography, but Hayes proved his Real Genius when offered a free Sony Xperia tablet during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night.

“Well you could just give it away because we’re just planning to get an iPad for Christmas.”
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iPhone and iPad stock tracker site pulled after Apple issues takedown notice

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 6 2013 - 6:23 am PT
24 Comments
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The handy Apple Tracker site that allowed people to check Apple Store availability for new products has closed its doors after receiving a DMCA takedown notice from Apple.

I’ve decided to turn off the site. I’m not doing this because I want to, but rather because I received a DMCA takedown notice (you can see the full text below) from Apple. I’m not really interested in picking a fight with apple so … I guess it time to just say good bye … 
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T-Mobile sold more tablets on iPad Air launch date than the entirety of last quarter

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 5 2013 - 9:50 am PT
11 Comments
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We haven’t received any official numbers on Apple’s launch of the iPad Air last Friday, but today T-Mobile is offering a little bit of insight into how its first iPad launch went. T-Mobile tells AllThingsD that it sold more tablets on iPad Air launch day last Friday than it managed to during the entire last quarter.

The boost in tablet sales on iPad Air launch day could have been helped along by the carrier’s new offer of 200MB of free data with all tablets, including iPads. There was a bit of confusion around the deal and whether or not customers required a paid plan to access the data, but T-Mobile has since clarified that the offer is available to all customers:
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Twelve South’s BookBook Travel Journal: a beautiful rich, leather case for your iPad, new or old

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 5 2013 - 9:25 am PT
6 Comments
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Just in time for those new iPad Airs and soon-to-ship Retina iPad minis, Twelve South has introduced an all-in-one travel case for stowing your tablet along with tons of compartments for organizing your headphones, cables, and other accessories.

Keeping with the theme of the popular BookBook lineup, the Travel Journal takes the appearance of a vintage novel, both a tasteful stylistic statement and a clever security benefit. Twelve South says the dimensions are similar to that of Walter Issacson’s Steve Jobs biography and accommodates all previous models of full-sized iPads as well.

If you don’t have an iPad or just prefer to carry other accessories like for your MacBook, the BookBook Travel Journal looks great for holding your MagSafe power adapter, Magic Mouse, or other laptop accessories as well.

I’ve used Twelve South’s BookBook case back in my iPhone 4 days and found the material and build quality to be top notch. These leather cases are quite durable and tend to look better with age. Availability details and more photos below.
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iPad Air higher-tech but actually cheaper to produce than iPad 3, says research firm

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 5 2013 - 5:33 am PT
2 Comments
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Research firm IHS, which previously dismantled the iPhone 5s and 5c to calculate component costs, has now done the same with the iPad Air.

It concludes that while the technology in the iPad Air is significantly more advanced than in the iPad 3 (for some reason the company skipped the iPad 4), the total production cost is actually lower, reports AllThingsD.

The firm says Apple’s iPad Air […] costs between $274 and $361 to build depending on model. The […] total component cost of the base model, at $274, is still $42 cheaper than the entry-level third-generation iPad …


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