Apple’s M3 iPad Air Offers Great Value at $499

Apple’s recent price hikes have hit hard, pushing the cost of iPads and other devices up by hundreds of dollars. If you missed out on last week’s Prime Day deals, there’s still a solid offer available: the 128GB iPad Air with the M3 processor, featuring both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular capabilities, is currently priced at $499. This is just $50 more than the base iPad, which has risen to $449 from $349, making the Air a much faster and superior option overall.

The previous generation Air matches the base iPad’s 11-inch display but enhances the experience with a laminated, antireflective coating and a wider color gamut, making it ideal for both entertainment and content creation. With its M3 processor, it outperforms the A16 thanks to additional cores and includes support for Apple Intelligence, along with compatibility for the upcoming iPadOS 27. Plus, it supports the Apple Pencil Pro.

When compared to the newer M4 Air, which starts at $749 for the Wi-Fi version and a staggering $899 for cellular, the M3 Air holds its ground well. While the M3 is slightly slower and has 8GB of RAM instead of 12GB, it remains nearly identical in functionality for a significantly lower price. At $500, the M3 Air is an excellent deal.