Introduction
The new iPad Air is powered by the formidable M3 chip, featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. For the first time, it introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading technologies, delivering up to 4x faster graphics performance compared to models with the M1 chip. It features an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, a 60Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of brightness. The new iPad Air is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and the redesigned Magic Keyboard. The following is a detailed review covering everything from design to performance.
Product Appearance
The packaging is in Apple's usual style, with a picture of the tablet printed on the front.
The box contains the iPad Air M3, a 20W USB-C charger, a dual USB-C cable, and some documents.
It features a Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360 by 1640, a peak brightness of 600 nits, and support for the P3 wide color gamut and True Tone. The display also includes an anti-reflective coating, delivering vivid and rich colors for an exceptional viewing experience.
It is available in four finishes: Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight.
A magnetic connector is located on the back near the bottom, enabling compatibility with the Magic Keyboard designed for iPad Air.
It features a 12MP wide rear camera and studio-quality microphones. On the front, it’s equipped with a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, now positioned in landscape orientation.
The volume buttons, Apple Pencil magnetic port, and microphone are on the right.
The USB-C port supports charging as well as DisplayPort for video output, with USB 3 data transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s.
There are no physical buttons on the left.
There is a power button, speaker, and microphone on the top.
The length of the iPad Air is about 24.5 cm (9.65 inches).
The width is about 17.7 cm (6.97 inches).
The thickness is about 5.81 mm (0.23 inches).
The weight is about 459.5 g (16.21 oz).
The model of the included 20W charger is A2940. It can support input of 100-240V~ 50-60Hz 0.5A. It can support the output of 5V3A and 9V2.22A.
ChargerLAB POWER-Z KM003C shows it supports PD2.0 and DCP charging protocols.
The dual USB-C cable adopts a woven design.
The length is about 1 meter.
ChargerLAB POWER-Z KM003C shows it doesn't have an E-marker chip.
Compatibility Test
Next, let's do the charging compatibility test.
Original Chargers
Charge with the included 20W charger, the power is about 8.65V 2.13A 18.45W.
Charge with the Apple 70W charger, the power is about 14.64V 2.01A 29.50W.
We tested Apple chargers one by one, all paired with the original 3A dual USB-C cable. The compatibility is excellent.
We summarize the test results into a bar chart. All tested chargers can reach the power limit of the charger itself or the power limit of the tablet, with a maximum charging power of 29.81W.
Third-party Chargers
We also used a variety of third-party chargers with the original cable during the test. Let’s take a look at the results.
There are no compatibility issues. Most third-party chargers can reach a voltage of around 15V, and a few are 9V and 12V.
We summarize the test results into a bar chart. Third-party chargers can reach the maximum charging power supported by the charger or tablet, and the overall compatibility performance is excellent. The maximum charging power is 31.32W.
Third-party Power Banks
We also used a variety of third-party power banks with the original cable during the test. Let’s take a look at the results.
There are no compatibility issues. Most power banks can reach a voltage of about 9V or 15V, and a current of about 1 to 2A.
According to the bar chart, the test results are consistent with those of third-party chargers, and the overall compatibility performance is also excellent.
Full Charging Test
We use the Apple 70W charger to fully charge the iPad Air 11 M3. And put them into a 25°C (77℉) thermotank throughout the test.
The voltage is always around 15V. The charging curve can be divided into six parts. In the first part, the power stayed at 27W for the first 16 minutes. Next, the power drops to 24W. Then, the power rises to 26W. After 52 minutes, the power gradually drops to 18W and 15W in turn. The final part begins at 1 hour and 41 minutes, the power slowly drops to almost zero. It takes 2 hours and 16 minutes to be fully charged.
We also turn it into another curve. The Apple 70W charger can charge the iPad Air M3 to 50% in 45 minutes. And it can reach 80% in 1 hour and 22 minutes, 100% in 2 hours and 16 minutes.
Temperature Test
We also recorded the highest temperature on the front and back after charging for 20 minutes, 40 minutes, and 60 minutes.
20 minutes Charging
After 20 minutes, the maximum temperature on the front is 36.3℃ (97.34 ℉).
The back is 37.8℃ (100.04 ℉).
40 minutes Charging
After 40 minutes, the maximum temperature on the front is 37.0℃ (98.6 ℉).
The back is 42.4℃ (108.32 ℉).
60 minutes Charging
After 60 minutes, the maximum temperature on the front is 36.8℃ (98.24 ℉).
The back is 42.7℃ (108.86 ℉).
We also turn it into a bar chart. During charging for 1 hour, the temperature is between 36.3 and 42.7°C. Considering the charging power, the charging power is maintained between 18 and 27W within 60 minutes, and the temperature is relatively high.
Summary of ChargerLAB
The 11-inch iPad Air (M3) is powered by the M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU, introducing hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for up to 4x improved graphics performance compared to the M1 model. It features an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, 60Hz refresh rate, and 600 nits peak brightness. Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard, it has an aluminum body, measuring 5.81mm thick and weighing 459.5 grams, making it lightweight and portable for on-the-go use.
The iPad Air 11 (M3) is equipped with a 28.93Wh battery and comes with a 20W charger. During testing, the maximum charging power reached 31.32W, falling short of the expected 45W. It offers excellent compatibility with both the included charger and third-party chargers or power banks. Using the Apple 70W charger, it can charge up to 50% in 45 minutes, with a full charge taking 2 hours and 16 minutes.
Overall, the iPad Air 11 (M3) is well-suited for users who require high performance but don’t need professional-grade equipment. Whether it's for students studying and taking notes, professionals for light office work, or creators for simple design and drawing, it handles these tasks effectively. However, its lack of a high refresh rate display and the prolonged heat buildup during charging are notable drawbacks.
Related Articles：
1. Unboxing of Apple iPad Air M3
2. Charging Compatibility Test of Apple iPad Air M3
3. Charging Review of iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
