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iPad Air

386 'iPad Air' stories October 2013 - November 2014
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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.

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Microsoft Surface product placement in CNN election coverage fails as iPads revealed behind them [Updated]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 5 2014 - 7:16 am PT
35 Comments

Microsoft must have thought it had pulled off a nice piece of product placement when it gave CNN election commentators a bunch of Surface Pro tablets to help with their coverage. CNN dutifully covered its desks with the devices, resulting in a series of proud tweets from Microsoft fans.

There was just one small problem, noted by GeekWire: a closer look revealed that hidden behind the Surface tablets were the iPads that commentators were actually using. In one case, the commentator was actually using her Surface tablet as a stand for her iPad.

Microsoft, which was last year forced to write down $900M on its ill-fated tablet, has frequently taken pot-shots at the iPad, running a series of misleading Surface tablet ads attacking the iPad (and iPad mini) before more recently turning its attention to the MacBook Air. Switching overt advertising for product placement doesn’t seem to be working out too well.

Update: iMore later drew our attention to CNN anchor Mathew Sheffield digging deeper into the hole, claiming he was using both devices:

So, er, using the Surface as a dumb monitor while actually doing stuff on the iPad, then. Didn’t Microsoft tout the famed multi-tasking abilities of the Surface while claiming the iPad was only a single-use device … ?

Left image screengrab tweeted by Microsoft employee  Stephen Legler. right grab by IT developer @adamUCF

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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air from $339, A Dark Room for iOS goes free, Dell Black Friday ad leak, giveaways, more

Avatar for Nov 3 2014 - 3:49 pm 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+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

  1. Pre Order Exclusive – 55% off Code Black Drone + HD Camera
  2. BACtrack Vio – 14% off the Smartphone Breathalyzer
  3. World’s Largest iOS 8 + Swift Elearning Bundle

A Dark Room is now available for free on iOS (Reg. up to $3.99)

Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case

Small States – Tucker and Bloom: father & son create functionally beautiful bags, giveaway worth $175

Other new deals:


More deals still:

Black Friday:

New products/ongoing promos:

Several new banks get Apple Pay support including USAA, US Bank, Barclaycard, PNC, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 3 2014 - 7:52 am PT
26 Comments
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Update: USAA, US Bank and Navy Federal have just confirmed Apple Pay support starting today. In addition, MasterCard confirmed a roll out for Barclaycard, USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union, while readers report cards from PNC, and M&T Bank also working in Apple Pay.

Ahead of a previously announced Nov. 7 launch for Apple Pay support, a number of users today report being able to load USAA issued cards into the new payment service. We’ve received tips from readers regarding support for USAA Debit MasterCards and a long list of other customers online report support for other card types through the bank.

Apple has yet to update its support document detailing supported banks and card types. Currently the list includes American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, J.P Morgan, Merrill Lynch, U.S. Trust and Wells Fargo.

A long list of other supported banks and cards are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks and months, however. Apple previously said it had signed up approximately 500 banks for Apple Pay in the US.
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T-Mobile kicks off sales of new iPads, but no 128GB iPad Air 2 yet

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 29 2014 - 8:58 am PT
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Following opening up preorders for Apple’s new iPads last week, T-Mobile announced today that the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are now available to purchase from both its online and brick and mortar retail stores. T-Mobile’s website, however, notes that the 128GB iPad Air 2 is not yet available and currently only offers the 16GB and 64GB variants.

Sales at T-Mobile follows preorders through Apple, AT&T, Sprint and others kicking off earlier this month with first shipments of the device arriving last week. Apple, Sprint, and other carriers started sales of the device in stores last week.

Why exactly T-Mobile doesn’t have the 128GB model is unclear, but availability of certain models through carrier and retail partners has varied greatly from company to company since the launch last week. Through Apple’s website in the US, most versions of the 128GB iPad Air 2, apart from the Space Gray color option, have the same 1-3 day shipping estimate as the 16GB and 64GB models.

Through T-Mobile the iPads will be available through T-Mobile’s financing options for Simple Choice plan customers starting at $0 down for both tablets. $0 down with monthly payments (approx. $26 for iPad Air 2 and $22 for iPad mini 3) is for the 16GB entry level models, while the 64GB model will be available for $99 down and the 128GB models for $199 down.

The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are available from T-Mobile’s website and in-stores now.

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iPad Air 2 estimated to cost $275 in materials, Apple pays just $60 for 128 GB storage upgrade

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 28 2014 - 6:49 am PT
11 Comments

A report from IHS, via Re/code, has costed out the various components of the iPad Air 2. Naturally, these prices are estimates — the exact nature of the deals Apple negotiates with its suppliers are not common knowledge. The report says that the iPad Air 2 costs Apple $275 in materials, with the screen making up the largest share with costs around $77.


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iPad Air 2 anti-reflective screen a ‘major innovation’ but last-gen brighter/more efficient

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 27 2014 - 7:46 am PT
9 Comments
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Today DisplayMate Technologies published its usual detailed analysis of Apple’s latest product releases with an in-depth review of the display technology in the new iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 displays.

One of the more notable improvements in the new iPad Air 2 display is the anti-reflective coating that, according to DisplayMate, “reduces ambient light reflections by about 3:1 over most other Tablets and Smartphones (including the previous iPads), and about 2:1 over all of the very best competing Tablets and Smartphones (including the new iPhone 6).”
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Apple SIM simplifies buying international data plans with supported carriers, internal document clarifies

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 25 2014 - 10:54 am PT
12 Comments
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An internal Apple sales document clarifies the possible uses of the Apple SIM, which is included in cellular versions of the iPad mini 3 and Apple iPad Air 2. The Apple SIM launched with several supported carriers: T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint in the US and EE in the UK.

Given that EE is the only available carrier in the UK, the purpose of its existence in the region was unclear. However, this document confirms that customers travelling between the US and the UK can benefit from the deal.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air Smart Covers up to 50% off, Seagate 2TB desktop HDD $70, Beats Solo2 $160, more

Avatar for Oct 23 2014 - 12:42 pm 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+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:
PSA: original iPad Air Smart Covers will fit iPad Air 2, save up to 50% now

USB 3.0 Desktop HDDs: Seagate Backup Plus 2TB $70 (orig. $120), WD Elements 3TB $91 (orig. $160)

Beats By Dr. Dre Solo2 on-ear headphones (all colors): $160 shipped (Reg. $200), more

Bang & Olufsen enters the competitive portable Bluetooth speaker arena with its gorgeous BeoPlay A2

Small States: Tinsel and Timber makes beautiful wooden homes for Apple TV and other accessories, multiple giveaways & 10% promo code

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos:

Review: Pixelmator for iPad out now, a desktop-class photo editor for a mobile device

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Oct 23 2014 - 4:00 am PT
26 Comments
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Note: The app is still rolling out worldwide. Check back soon if the links don’t work for you!

Announced during Apple’s October event, Pixelmator for iPad ($4.99) is an important stepping stone in the iPad’s history. The Mac app is regularly featured by Apple as an exemplar app in the Mac App Store and it is clear Apple wants to use Pixelmator as a ‘trophy’ app in the same way. No doubt this app (aside from games) is one of a handful that will directly benefit from the A8X performance gains.

I tested the app on an iPad Air, although the app technically supports all the way back to iPad 3, even some operations on the Air felt slow. I would be a bit cautious if you intend to install it on one of Apple’s older tablets.

As a 1.0 release, the depth and breadth of this app is staggering. There are a myriad of effects, painting brushes, color adjustments and other features to help edit and create images. The vast majority of the Mac app’s functionality have been ported across to the iPad with a touch-friendly interface, including advanced editing options like layer styles. There are also some template options that aren’t currently included in the Mac app to appease the ‘Photo Booth’ selfie crowd.

Read on for 9to5Mac’s full review of Pixelmator for iPad …


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Apple iPad Air 2 first look: Unboxing, benchmarks, and camera performance (Video)

Avatar for Dom Esposito Oct 22 2014 - 7:13 pm PT
37 Comments

Today we’re taking a look at Apple’s fastest and thinnest tablet to date. The iPad Air 2 is more than just a pretty shell. This tablet packs some decent performance over its predecessor. While we haven’t had enough time with it to put together a full review, there are some main points we wanted to go over.

First up, this thing is crazy thin. Apple wasn’t exaggerating when claiming that it was thinner than a pencil. It’s 18 percent thinner than the iPad Air measuring a mere 6.1mm in thickness. This may not be a good thing for everyone, but for the most part it was comfortable to hold while playing games, watching movies, or any other tablet-based task. I’d hate to sound redundant, but damn this iPad is thin. Anyway, let’s jump in and take a look…


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Roundup: iPad Air 2 reviews are positive, while iPad mini 3 reviews sing the praises of last generation

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 21 2014 - 6:25 pm PT
46 Comments
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Reviews of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 have gone live across the web tonight and, as you may have expected, reviewers and pundits love Apple’s newest tablets. As usual, we’ve rounded up links to the reviews along with some choice quotes. You can find them all below the break:


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First iPad Air 2 deliveries begin in Australia

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 21 2014 - 4:34 pm PT
9 Comments
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The iPad Air 2 only recently started shipping with delivery dates of October 22nd and 23rd, and it appears the first devices have been delivered to Australian owners over the past few hours, as several 9to5Mac readers have tipped us. At least one device in the wild was tested on Geekbench recently, revealing some interesting undisclosed facts about Apple’s A8X processor.

iPad Air 2 buyers in the United States and other launch countries should expect to start seeing deliveries tomorrow. If you haven’t already ordered yours, you can get it on Apple.com today.

Thanks, tipsters!

More photos below…

Triple-core iPad Air 2 pegged as 55% faster than any other iOS device, Retina 5K iMac top score beats low-end Pro

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 21 2014 - 3:04 pm PT
18 Comments
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Geekbench results for the iMac with Retina 5K Display have hit the web and show that when it comes to 64-bit processing, the 4.0 GHz model of the new all-in-one comes out ahead of the lowest-end (3.7 GHz) Mac Pro. Of course, the rest of the Mac Pro family handily beats the iMac in the same category.

The extra power is almost certainly dedicating to keeping things running smoothly on the impressive new 5K display.

Meanwhile, on the mobile, new benchmarks for the iPad Air 2 have revealed…

Pre-ordered iPad Air 2 & iPad mini 3 units now shipping from Apple w/ Oct. 22-23 delivery date

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 21 2014 - 10:46 am PT
26 Comments
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For those that pre-ordered Apple’s new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, Apple has now started shipping the devices with an expected delivery date of Oct. 22 or Oct. 23 quoted to several 9to5Mac readers who pre-ordered on day one. Others have been quoted a delivery date of between Oct. 22-27.


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T-Mobile’s iPad Air 2 & iPad mini 3 pre-orders open tomorrow starting at $0 down

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 21 2014 - 9:02 am PT
1 Comment

T-Mobile confirmed today that it will officially start accepting preorders for Apple’s new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 tomorrow. The announcement follows preorders through Apple, AT&T and others kicking off late last week and an announcement from Sprint yesterday that it will begin selling the devices this week.

The device through T-Mobile, unlike iPads sold direct from Apple retailers, will of course be available through T-Mobile’s financing options for Simple Choice plan customers starting at $0 down for both tablets.

$0 down with monthly payments (approx. $26 for iPad Air 2 and $22 for iPad mini 3) is for the 16GB entry level models, while the 64GB model will be available for $99 down and the 128GB models for $199 down.

For qualified customers with a Simple Choice plan from T-Mobile, the iPad Air 2 (16GB) will be available for $0 down, with 24 monthly payments of $26.24 per month; the iPad mini 3 (16GB) will be available for $0 down, with 24 monthly payments of $22.08 per month.

Of course you’ll have to add the tablet to a Simple Choice plan, which will run you $10 a month and get you up to 5GB of data depending on your plan.

Preorders kick off tomorrow but T-Mobile said the tablets will be available to purchase in stores and online within a week. Apple is expected to start shipping initial preorders this week.

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9to5Toys Last Call: iSmartAlarm smart home system $125, best iPad Air 2 trade offer, RBI Baseball for iOS $2, more

Avatar for Oct 20 2014 - 3:01 pm PT
1 Comment

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

Today’s can’t miss deals:

iSmartAlarm smart home system $125 shipped (Reg. $200)

Best Buy trade offer is the best way to jump from iPad 2 to iPad Air 2

R.B.I. Baseball 14 for iOS/Android $2 (Reg. $5)

iPhone 5 factory unlocked manufacturer refurbished w/ 1-yr Apple warranty from $330 shipped

MacMall has the new Mac Minis (starting at $494) and Retina iMac ($2494) slightly marked down with tax in few states

Marshall’s iconic vintage style comes to its most affordable Bluetooth speaker yet

Apple drops refurbished iPad pricing: Retina iPad mini from $249, more

Small States: Tinsel and Timber makes beautiful wooden homes for Apple TV and other accessories, multiple giveaways & 10% promo code

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos:

iPhone 6/Plus deals, accessories, and more:

Apple releases iOS 8.1 with Apple Pay, iCloud Photo Library, SMS Relay & Instant Hotspot, more

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 20 2014 - 9:57 am PT
103 Comments
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Just as Apple announced at its iPad & Mac event last Thursday, iOS 8.1 is now publicly available with new features including Apple Pay, iCloud Photo Library, and additional Continuity features. Apple Pay is available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users for making payments for purchases with the new iPhone rather than a physical credit card in supported retail stores and apps; iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 users will be able to use Apple Pay within supported apps as well. In addition to iOS 8.1, Apple also released version 7.0.1 for third-generation Apple TV boxes.


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Sprint will begin sales of iPad Air 2, the first iPad w/ Spark support, & iPad mini 3 this week

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 20 2014 - 9:26 am PT
2 Comments

Sprint announced today that it will begin selling cellular versions of Apple’s new iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 this week following pre-orders of the device kicking off through Apple, AT&T on Friday. Sprint also noted that the iPad Air 2, which includes support for 20 LTE bands and speeds up to 150Mbps over LTE, will be the first iPad that supports its high-speed Spark LTE network.

Sprint Spark delivers average wireless speeds of 6-15Mbps and peak wireless speeds of 50-60Mbps today on capable devices, with increasing speed potential over time. Sprint is on track to reach 100 million Americans by year-end with Sprint Spark.

The iPad mini 3, however, doesn’t support the Sprint Spark network and will instead be limited to Sprint’s normal 4G LTE network.

Sprint will have the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 later this week online and in-stores. Sprint customers can add the new tablets to a Family Share plan for $10/month per tablet, but the carrier is waiving the fee through December 2015 for customers with a 20GB Family Share plan or higher. It also has a limited time 100MB of data for $10 in addition to its normal tablet plans.

Apple is already taking orders for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 that ship with its new universal SIM with support for AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile out of the box. Apple is expected to start shipping the new tablets this week.

The best iPad Air 2 cases already available to buy online (Running list)

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 17 2014 - 11:14 am PT
16 Comments
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Now that Apple’s new iPad Air 2 is officially up for preorder today through Apple’s online store, AT&T and others, you’re going to need a new case to accommodate the 18% thinner design. Not only will case makers have to make tweaks for the thinner design, removed side switch and other design tweaks, they will also have to make sure the home button is exposed for the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Below we’ve put together a list of cases that are already available to order and we’ll be updating as more cases get announced ahead of the new iPad Air 2 shipping to customers next week.
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iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 pre-orders kick off as Apple Online Store returns

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 17 2014 - 8:05 am PT
10 Comments
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After going down earlier this morning to update the site in preparation for selling the new iPads, the Apple Online Store is back up with both the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 available for pre-order. Current ship times for each model shows 2-4 business days while Apple said yesterday the new iPads would begin shipping by the end of next week. Buyers are reporting delivery promises of Thursday, October 23rd.
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Analysts remain positive about AAPL following event, focused on iPhone and Apple Pay

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 17 2014 - 5:00 am PT
14 Comments
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While the relatively modest iPad updates might have led to a flurry of ‘Apple is doomed’ reports from analysts, an early roundup by Fortune suggests that the consensus view so far remains positive. Most are rating it a buy or overweight – meaning they expect it to outperform typical stocks – with the majority setting a target price in the $112-120 range …


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