- By Konark Tyagi
- Fri, 28 Mar 2025 05:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Apple’s new iPad Air M3 hit India this month, and we’ve been testing the 11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular version with a huge 1TB of storage, priced at ₹1,24,900. The base model starts at ₹59,900 for the 128GB Wi-Fi version, which is decent for a tablet this powerful. It’s got a new M3 chip that promises speed, but here’s the thing—it looks *exactly* like the M2 iPad Air from last year. No new style, no big design shake-up. So, with summer trips, college season, or work-from-home days ahead, does it make sense for you? Let’s talk about it.
Design: Same Old, Same Old
If you’ve seen the M2 iPad Air, you’ve seen this one. It’s got the same flat edges, the same thin aluminium body (super light at 462 grams with Cellular), and the same four colours: Blue, Purple, Starlight (basically off-white), and Space Gray. It’s nice to hold—slips easily into your bag for a quick ride to the market or a family picnic. But honestly, I was hoping for something new. It’s like getting a fresh roti but with the same old sabzi—tasty, but not exciting.
Still, it’s practical. The 11-inch size is perfect—not too tiny, not too bulky—and the front camera’s now on the side, which makes video calls with your parents or friends way better. We popped a Jio SIM into our Cellular model, and it worked smoothly even in spotty areas like my buddy’s place in Gurgaon—no Wi-Fi hunting needed.
Screen: Pretty, But No Upgrade
The 11-inch screen (called Liquid Retina, just a fancy name for LCD) is bright and clear. Watching *Dunki* on Netflix or scrolling through Zomato for dinner options looks great—colours are sharp, and it’s easy to see even in sunlight. It’s perfect for late-night YouTube or jotting down notes for your next exam. But here’s the deal: it’s the same screen as the M2 Air. No changes. It’s still 60Hz, so it’s not as silky-smooth as some Android tabs that cost less and give you 120Hz. I was hoping for a fancier display—like the Pro’s mini-LED—but this is the same old one. It’s good, just not a wow.
Performance: M3 is a powerhouse
Now, this is where the M3 chip steps up. It’s fast—like, really fast. It’s got an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU, which means it can handle anything. We played *Call of Duty Mobile* and *Genshin Impact*—no stuttering, no overheating, and the graphics looked amazing. Editing a 4K video? Finished in no time. Even with WhatsApp, Hotstar, and a bunch of Chrome tabs open (because who doesn’t multitask?), it didn’t slow down a bit.
The 1TB storage comes in handy, you can save all your selfies, every SRK movie, and still have room for work stuff. The Cellular feature means you’re online anywhere—perfect for a long flight to the US or a café with bad Wi-Fi. Battery life’s good too—about 10 hours. I used it for work, some gaming, and a *Brooklyn 99* marathon, and it lasted all day. Plus, next month, Apple’s adding some cool AI tricks (called Apple Intelligence) for the India context that will make this even more exciting- stick around for that update.
ALSO READ: iOS 19: What To Expect From Apple’s Next-Gen OS, This Is What Leaks And Rumors Suggest
Accessories: Useful, But Costly
We tried the new Magic Keyboard (₹26,900), and it’s awesome if you type a lot—like essays for school or emails for your job. It’s got a bigger trackpad and handy shortcut keys, so it feels almost like a laptop. The Apple Pencil Pro (₹11,900) is great for drawing or scribbling notes—I made a quick sketch of a peacock, and it was so smooth. iPadOS 18 keeps everything simple—swiping apps is easy, and Stage Manager helps when you’re juggling a recipe PDF and a video call. But these extras add up fast. With both, you’re spending over ₹1.6 lakh—more than some laptops!
