Industry observers anticipate Apple will skip the M3 generation and equip the iPad Air with the M4 chip when the spring 2025 refresh lands. The Air lineup, refreshed last year with the M2, remains available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, offering a balanced blend of portability and screen real estate. Initial speculation favored an M3 launch, but the prevailing rumor mill now leans toward M4 as the more probable upgrade. The broader narrative mirrors Apple’s habit of issuing paired generations and keeping pace with other devices, where performance gains come primarily from processor advancements rather than dramatic design changes. In this cycle, the emphasis appears to be on efficiency, sustained thermal performance, and real-world speed improvements, particularly for multitasking, photo editing, and app launch responsiveness. — industry sources
The forthcoming iPad Air models carry internal codenames J607, J608, J637 and J638. The plan focuses on boosting performance and feature sets rather than introducing a new chassis. Proponents of this approach expect the M4 to pull the Air closer to the iPad Pro by delivering stronger CPU and GPU capabilities, while continuing Apple’s practice of sharing silicon families across iPad and Mac devices. This strategy would keep the familiar Air silhouette intact while delivering noticeable gains in everyday tasks, multitasking, and app responsiveness. It would also emphasize efficiency improvements and improved thermal behavior to sustain demanding workloads during longer sessions. — industry sources
Earlier rumors proposed a strict sequence in which the iPad Air would always trail the iPad Pro by a generation. In practice, that dynamic shifted when a Pro model arrived with the M4 ahead of the Air, signaling a broader change in Apple’s silicon strategy. The move suggests a more synchronized ecosystem across the tablet lineup, with the goal of delivering comparable performance for the mid-range Air while preserving the iPad Pro as the configuration reserved for heavy workloads. The outcome is a more seamless experience across devices that share core technologies and software optimizations, reducing fragmentation for developers and users alike. — industry sources
Beyond the chip upgrade, the Air refresh is expected to include Apple’s next-generation 5G modem, a feature that would extend fast wireless connectivity to the Air as it reaches this generation. The modem would align Air with other models in the wider family, including the iPhone SE and a more budget-friendly iPad line. In parallel, a revised Magic Keyboard tailored for the iPad Air is in development. The keyboard is anticipated to borrow several functional cues from the iPad Pro accessory while keeping the outer shell lightweight and largely plastic. The conjunction of silicon and modem improvements with enhanced keyboard ergonomics would give the Air a more productive stance in everyday use and creative workflows. — industry sources
Alongside the tablet rumors, industry chatter has touched on a potential design refresh for Apple’s budget-friendly watches. The idea is to refresh aesthetics and materials on the lower-end wearable line to better align with the refreshed tablets and phones, completing a broader push to refresh a wider set of devices. The cross-device refresh strategy would aim to unify look and feel while delivering practical upgrades in durability, performance, and software experiences. — industry sources