The new iPad Air might feature 90Hz refresh rate for the first time ever

The iPad Air is one of the most popular tablets on the market, offering a perfect balance of power, portability, and price.

With Apple’s track record of rolling out significant improvements with each new model, the 7th generation iPad Air is highly anticipated.

While no major changes are expected from the iPad Air 6 (2024), its successor could still introduce some significant improvements.

Here’s a breakdown of everything we know about its release date, price, and specs.

When will the new iPad Air be released?

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next-generation iPad Air, likely to be the 7th generation model, is expected to be released in early 2025.

Apple typically unveils new iPads early in the year, and reports suggest that the iPad Air 7 will be announced around March or April 2025.

This aligns with Apple’s move toward more flexible product release schedules, ensuring that each device gets the attention it deserves without a crowded launch event.

For context, here’s when recent iterations of the iPad Air arrived:

• 6th generation: May 2024
• 5th generation: March 2022
• 4th generation: September 2020
• 3rd generation: March 2019

How much will the new iPad Air cost?

While Apple hasn’t confirmed the exact pricing for the iPad Air 7th generation, it’s expected to remain within the current price range, offering competitive value against the iPad Pro.

The iPad Air 6th gen starts at £599/$599, so it’s likely the iPad Air 7 will have a similar starting price, around £599/$599 to £649/$649, depending on its storage configuration and any potential upgrades.

However, MacRumors reports that new accessories like an updated Magic Keyboard could push up the total cost for those looking for a more laptop-like setup.

What specs and features will the new iPad Air have?

Design

The design of the 7th-gen iPad Air isn’t expected to change significantly from its predecessor. Apple will likely retain the 11-inch and 13-inch size options, introduced in 2024, with an aluminium chassis featuring flat edges and rounded corners.

If so, then Apple might keep the Touch ID power button for biometric authentication and the USB-C port for charging and connectivity.

While the physical design may not change drastically, there could be new colour options to freshen up the lineup, building on the current palette of Space Gray, Purple, Blue, and Starlight.

Display

The display is one area where the iPad Air is different from the iPad Pro. The 7th gen iPad Air will likely stick with LCD technology, while the iPad Pro continues to offer OLED displays and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rates.

The iPad Air could also maintain its Liquid Retina display, but without the ProMotion feature, ensuring a lower price point than the Pro models.

However, a new rumour (via 9to5mac) suggests Apple is developing a 90Hz display for the next iPad Air. This information, shared by an anonymous source with the Upgrade podcast, indicates that the M3 iPad Air may be the first device to feature this new 90Hz “liquid motion” panel, followed by other Apple products like the iMac and Studio Display.

Analyst Ross Young had previously reported (via 9to5mac) on Apple’s plans for 120Hz ProMotion displays for the iPhone 17 series. However, this is the first time 90Hz display technology has been associated with non-iPhone Apple products.

Performance

The biggest upgrade expected in the 7th-generation iPad Air is the introduction of the M3 chip. This chip will bring significant performance improvements over the M2 chip found in the current iPad Air.

The M3 is based on Apple’s 3-nanometer process, offering up to 30% faster CPU performance and 15% improved GPU performance compared to the M2.

The M3 will also support hardware-based ray tracing, making gaming and graphics-intensive apps smoother and more responsive.

This chip is expected to keep the iPad Air powerful enough for multitasking, creative apps, and gaming while staying a step behind the iPad Pro’s rumoured M4 chip, which will remain Apple’s top performer.

Cameras

The iPad Air 7 is expected to feature the same 12Mp rear camera and 12Mp ultrawide front camera found in previous models. The focus for iPad Air cameras is more on video conferencing and casual photography, rather than the professional-grade features found in the iPad Pro.

Center Stage, Apple’s feature that keeps the user centred during video calls, will likely remain a key feature of the front camera, ensuring a more dynamic and professional video chat experience.

However, major camera upgrades are unlikely as the iPad Air is not designed for photography-focused users.

Battery & Charging

With the M3 chip’s improved energy efficiency, the iPad Air 7 could offer longer battery life compared to its predecessor. The current model offers around 10 hours of battery life, and we can expect similar or slightly better performance in the 7th gen model.

Charging will continue to use USB-C, which has become standard now, and while there is no confirmation, it’s possible that the iPad Air 7 might offer faster charging speeds thanks to the advancements in battery technology and the wider adoption of USB-C Power Delivery standards.

Software

The iPad Air 7 will ship with iPadOS 19 or iPadOS 18.2, depending on its release timing, bringing new software features including Apple Intelligence. This software integration will allow the iPad Air to use AI-driven capabilities like improved Siri functions, automated email sorting, and notification summaries.

That’s everything we know so far. In the meantime, you may also be interested in more of the best iPads and best tablets around.