On Monday, Apple introduced a new iPad Air featuring the M4 chip.

According to the company, the device is engineered to be quicker due to an enhanced neural engine and increased memory, improving its efficiency for AI applications. This Air is claimed to be 30% faster than the M3 iPad Air and 2.3x faster than the M1 version.

Nonetheless, the new model continues to be priced at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch variant. For educational customers, the price drops to $549 for the 11-inch iPad Air, while the 13-inch model begins at $749.

The iPad Air now boasts an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, making it a solid option for gaming as well as image and photo editing. Additionally, the device’s unified memory has grown by 50%, now totaling 12GB, with memory bandwidth reaching 120GB/s, which Apple claims will allow users to execute AI models more swiftly than on older devices.

The 16-core Neural Engine is also reported to be 3x quicker than its counterpart in the M1, facilitating the execution of on-device AI models.

The revamped Air offers support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, running on Apple’s new connectivity chips, the N1 and C1X, for wireless and cellular functions. The dimensions remain unchanged from before, measuring 9.74 x 7.02 inches for the 11-inch model and 11.04 x 8.46 inches for the 13-inch version.

It features a front-facing 12MP Center Stage camera and a 12MP Wide camera on the back. As usual, Apple accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil, or Apple Pencil Pro are compatible with this device.

The upgraded iPad Air will be available for preorder on Wednesday, March 4, on Apple.com and through the Apple Store app in 35 countries and regions, including the U.S. There are four colors to choose from: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. Storage options available include 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

The new iPad is among several announcements scheduled for this week, alongside the launch of the new iPhone 17e and anticipated enhancements to the MacBook lineup. These launches are strategically planned to align with Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, where Apple’s smartphone competitors such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, and others are showcasing their latest technologies and hardware.

Apple typically abstains from participation in MWC or other trade shows, opting to present its products during its own events. This week, it will unveil a range of new offerings with hands-on demonstrations in select cities.