Apple’s iPad Air was updated in March 2025, but other than a new M3 chip, not much changed about it. A year later, Apple is expected to update its mid-range tablet again with a performance-focused refresh rather than a redesign. Here’s everything you need to know about the new iPad Air for 2026.
2026 iPad Air: At a glance
- What’s New: M4 chip, N1 wireless chip, possible price increase
- What’s staying the same: Design, display, cameras, RAM
2026 iPad Air performance and specs: Will the 2026 iPad Air be faster?
- M4 chip
- 8GB RAM
- N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
- C1X 5G modem
Apple
The main feature for the 2026 iPad Air will be a new processor. According to an internal Apple document, the M3 is expected to be replaced by an M4 chip.
While we are familiar with the M4 chip, which has already featured in the 2024 iPad Pro, it’s not clear what the specification of the M4 in the iPad Air will be. The iPad Pro came with a 9-core or 10-core CPU, depending on the storage. We believe Apple will offer only the 9-core CPU with a 10-core GPU.
The 2025 iPad Air had 8GB of RAM, the minimum required to run Apple Intelligence. We expect the new iPad Air will also have 8GB of RAM standard.
With the iPhone 17, Apple released a new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking technology. We expect the N1 to appear in the iPad Air, along with the iPhone Air’s C1X 5G modem for cellular models.
2026 iPad Air design and display: Will Apple redesign the iPad Air?
- 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina displays
- Similar dimensions and thinness
Britta O’Boyle
Apple offers the iPad Air in 11- and 13-inch models, and the new iPad Air is expected to have the same design and screen options. What might change is the colors; Apple currently offers the M3 iPad Air in four colors (Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray), the same options as the M2 model. Apple often changes the colors when introducing a new generation, so it would be unusual to have the same options for three generations.
The iPad Air has used the same LED backlit Liquid Retina display for several generations, and we expect it to continue with the M4 update. Apple’s more expensive iPad Pro uses tandem OLED panels, but we don’t expect that technology to come to the iPad Air for several years.
2026 iPad Air cameras: Are the cameras changing?
- 12MP rear camera
- 12MP Center Stage front camera
Eugen Wegmann
Apple doesn’t upgrade its iPad cameras annually like the iPhone. The iPad Air has had the same two cameras since the M1: a 12MP front camera with Center Stage and a 12MP rear wide-angle camera. It’s unlikely the hardware will change, although Apple could introduce new software features.
2026 iPad Air price: Will the iPad Air cost more in 2026?
Tariffs, rising RAM prices, and other supply-chain cost increases could drive prices up this year. Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the Q1 2026 financial results earnings call that the company is in “supply chase mode” and facing industry-wide constraints for components. However, any price increase would likely affect the higher-end configurations, and we expect the M4 iPad Air to still start at $599 for the 11-inch model.
