Apple’s iPad range has expanded to include a variety of users over the years. At one end, there is the budget iPad for users who desire affordability and minimalism. At the other end of the spectrum, there is the iPad Pro for power users who get the best from Apple. Dead in the middle lies the iPad Air—a computer that provides a close-to-Pro experience without the price of a Pro.
In 2025, Apple has refined the iPad Air even further, making it one of the most versatile and value-packed tablets available today. If you’re considering an iPad but don’t know whether to go for the entry-level model or spend big on the Pro, the iPad Air might just be the sweet spot you’re looking for.
A Premium Yet Lightweight Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the iPad Air is its design. Apple has carried over the sleek aluminum build and flat-edge design language from the Pro models, giving the Air a premium look and feel. At just 6.1 mm thin and weighing a little over 450 grams, it is extremely portable—easy to slip into a backpack or hold comfortably for hours.
Color choices continue to be a strength, with Apple making the iPad Air available in bright colors such as blue, purple, starlight, and space gray so that users can select a style that reflects their personality. Though it takes many of its design cues from the iPad Pro, the Air retains a slightly more relaxed vibe, one that makes it appealing to a broader audience.
Breathtaking Display for Work and Play
The iPad Air features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, delivering crisp visuals, wide color support, and True Tone technology for comfortable viewing in any lighting. Whether you’re editing photos, streaming your favorite shows, or simply browsing the web, the display looks vivid and sharp.
Although it lacks ProMotion (Apple’s 120 Hz refresh rate tech) like the iPad Pro, few users will notice the difference in most everyday tasks. The screen remains smooth and engrossing, finding a middle ground between quality and affordability.
M3 Chip Power—Pro Performance Without the Price
Under the hood, the 2025 iPad Air is powered by Apple’s M3 chip, the same chip used in some of Apple’s laptops and the last-generation iPad Pro. What this means is that you get laptop-level performance in a generationable tablet.
The M3 chip provides turbo-speed performance for multitasking, creative apps, and even serious gaming. Whether you’re trimming a 4K video in iMovie, drawing intricate drawings in Procreate, or running graphics-heavy games, the iPad Air makes it look easy.
That’s where the Air truly excels—it delivers most of the Pro’s capability without the hefty price. For most users, it’s more power than they’ll ever require.
iPadOS 18—Tablet-Class Software at Desktop Speed
The iPad Air’s hardware is impressive, but Travelers is the software that holds everything together. With iPadOS 18 under the hood, the Air comes with a myriad of multitasking capabilities, such as Stage Manager, Split View, and enhanced drag-and-drop. These make app switching effortless, especially when coupled with a keyboard and mouse.
Additionally, Apple continues to optimize its ecosystem apps, from productivity tools like Pages and Keynote to creative powerhouses like Final Cut Pro (now available on iPad). This means that whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, the Air adapts to your workflow.
Camera and Connectivity Upgrades
The iPad Air isn’t a camera device, per se, but it doesn’t skimp on the equipment, either. It comes equipped with a 12MP rear-facing camera for the occasional photo or document scan and a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage—a feature that intelligently keeps you in view during video calls. For students taking online classes or working professionals on constant Zoom calls, that’s a big win.
On the connectivity side, the Air features a USB-C port, which allows for quicker data transfer and support for more accessories. It also has Wi-Fi 6E for super-fast wireless speeds and an optional 5G model for constant connectivity on the go.
All-Day Battery Life
Apple guarantees 10 hours of battery life, which is more than sufficient for an entire day of work, streaming, or taking notes. In actual usage, the iPad Air provides consistent endurance, making it a great travel companion. Together with its compact build, this makes it one of the most portable and powerful tablets in Apple’s collection.
Accessories That Change the Experience
Perhaps the largest advantage of the iPad Air is that it can be compatible with Apple’s accessory ecosystem. The Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) makes the Air a capable creation instrument, ideal for a student trying to take notes or an artist who wants to sketch in the field.
Combine it with the Magic Keyboard, and you have a lightweight substitute for a laptop, complete with a responsive trackpad and backlit keys. For those looking to get work done and have some fun too, this pairing turns the iPad Air into an incredibly versatile device.
Who Should Buy the iPad Air?
The iPad Air is for users who desire something more than the fundamentals but not necessarily the maximum power of the iPad Pro. Below are a few groups who will be most drawn to it:
- Students: With Apple Pencil compatibility, robust multitasking, and an ultralight design, the Air is ideal for note-taking, research, and study sessions.
- Creative Professionals: Designers and digital artists have almost-pro performance on a lower budget, together with app support such as Procreate and Affinity Designer. almost-pro
- Daily Users:For general web browsing, streaming, and light productivity, the iPad Air is plenty capable, and its thin build makes it a pleasure to carry around.
- Travelers:Thin, powerful, and durable, the Air is the perfect device for those who are always on the move.
iPad Air vs. iPad Pro – Major Differences
Several shoppers wonder whether they can simply settle for the iPad Pro. Although the Air and Pro have much in common, here are a couple of differences:
- Display: The Pro has a bigger size and ProMotion (120 Hz), and it makes animations and scrolling look smoother.
- Performance: The Pro uses the newer M3 chip, making it superior for extremely demanding tasks.
- Storage: The iPad Pro offers better storage options, up to 2TB, than the max of 512GB on the Air.
- Price: The Air is still much more affordable while providing performance that’s plenty adequate for most.
For most users, the iPad Air provides 90% of what the iPad Pro can at a fraction of the cost, making it the better value.
Final Thoughts
The iPad Air 2025 is a testament to the fact that Apple is capable of finding the ideal balance between portability and testability. With its slim design, fast M2 chip, stunning display, and official support for professional-grade accessories, it is an incredible value.
If you’re a student, creative professional, or simply someone looking for a reliable tablet that can replace a laptop in many scenarios, the iPad Air should be at the top of your list. It may not have every Pro feature, but it delivers where it matters most—performance, versatility, and affordability.
