- FURTHER READING: I experimented with Apple’s latest affordable iPhone 16e modelo
- EXPLORE FURTHER: Apple might unveil as many as five additional items.
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Following weeks of rumors and conjecture, Apple It finally revealed its newest addition to the iPad series last week. the iPad Air.
The latest gadget comes equipped with an M3 chip along with Apple's AI Tools, enhancing Apple Intelligence, making it even quicker and more potent compared to its predecessors.
The 11-inch and 13-inch iPads Available in four vibrant colors—blue, purple, starlight, and space gray—with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
In addition to the iPad, Apple launched a completely new product as well. Magic Keyboard , which connects to the tablet via magnets.
Before its official launch this Friday, Apple graciously provided me with the iPad Air and Magic Keyboard for testing purposes, and I must say, I was not let down.
Together, the two gadgets provide an exceptionally comparable user experience to using a MacBook.
The keyboard ensures a pleasant typing feel, and the updated 14-function key row facilitates straightforward adjustments of settings like screen brightness and sound volume.
Furthermore, due to the ability to attach and detach the keyboard, the iPad Air combined with the Magic Keyboard offers greater versatility compared to the MacBook Air .
Apple iPad Air & Magic Keyboard
Our verdict
The iPad Air doesn’t differ significantly from its predecessor, with the primary enhancement being the inclusion of the M3 chip.
The new device truly shines when paired with the updated Magic Keyboard.
By attaching magnetically, this gadget converts your iPad into something similar to a MacBook at once, making it ideal for those who prefer not to use touchscreens.
Sadly, these gadgets have quite a substantial pricetag attached to them. Buyers looking to purchase both the 13-inch 1TB iPad Air along with the Magic Keyboard will be faced with a total cost of £1,598.
How we test iPads
During iPad tests, we put them through various practical scenarios such as using them at work, in our living spaces, and while being outdoors.
We assess the devices by examining both their hardware and software quality, covering aspects such as the camera performance, battery longevity, design elements, and screen quality.
Every iPad undergoes multiple days of rigorous hands-on testing, enabling us to deliver a comprehensive evaluation to assist customers in making well-informed choices.
Why trust us
Shivali Best The Science & Technology Editor at MailOnline, with extensive experience of nine years evaluating products and authoring reviews. In 2014, she obtained her Master’s degree in Science Journalism from City University London. Prior to her current role, she served as the Deputy Science & Technology Editor at The Mirror.
iPad Air review
Display
The iPad Air is available in two sizes — 11 inches and 13 inches — and Apple generously provided me with the bigger one for testing.
The 13-inch version boasts a charmingly vibrant screen, ideal for enjoying films, gaming, or jotting down notes.
Certainly, if your intention is to replace a laptop with an iPad Air paired with the Magic Keyboard, you may discover that the 13-inch screen feels somewhat cramped particularly when utilizing applications such as Microsoft Excel or Final Cut Pro.
Magic Keyboard
The Magic Keyboard It might be my most beloved feature added to the iPad Air, completely revolutionizing how one interacts with it.
The keyboard attaches via magnets, and a smart connector handles both power and data transfer, eliminating the need for fiddling with Bluetooth setup.
The integrated trackpad is spacious and delightful, whereas the updated 14-function key row offers convenient access to various useful features such as volume adjustments and display luminosity settings.
As soon as it’s linked with your iPad, you barely notice that they are individual gadgets because they integrate so smoothly.
I frequently utilize my iPad in the kitchen, where the keyboard significantly simplifies searching for ingredients, compiling my grocery list, and flipping through various recipes.
If you're hesitating about investing in the Magic Keyboard, I can't recommend it enough!
The Magic Keyboard is an ideal match for the iPad Air. Offering a superb typing feel along with a trackpad for precise work, all within a stylish and lightweight build.
Apple Intelligence
Similar to many of Apple's latest gadgets, the iPad Air is designed for use with Apple Intelligence – Apple’s collection of artificial intelligence technologies.
Although these features are also present on Apple’s newest iPhones, they truly shine when utilized on the bigger display of the iPad Air.
With the assistance of the updated Clean Up tool, I effortlessly eliminated unwanted objects from my pictures. Additionally, the Image Wand feature within the Notes application quickly converted my crude drawings into striking cartoon illustrations.
Being a journalist, I am particularly fond of the proofreading tool that utilizes AI technology to detect and correct spelling as well as grammar mistakes within written content.
When paired with the Magic Keyboard, this transforms the iPad Air into an ideal device for jotting down notes efficiently.
Price
The new iPad Air doesn’t come cheap at all, particularly if you opt for the additional expense of purchasing the Magic Keyboard.
The cost of the iPad Air varies from £599 for the 11-inch version with 128GB of storage up to £1,299 for the 13-inch variant equipped with 1TB of storage.
The Magic Keyboard costs £269 for the 11-inch version, or £299 for the 13-inch variant.
Therefore, if you decide to purchase both devices, your total cost would range from approximately £868 to £1,598.
For reference, the new 13-inch MacBook Air has a price range of £999 to £1,399.
The significant distinction between them, nonetheless, lies in their adaptability.
The MacBook Air is an excellent laptop, yet the keyboard comes as it is whether you approve of it or not.
On the other hand, the Magic Keyboard can be detached from the iPad Air in just moments, allowing for either a tablet-style use or a more laptop-like interaction.
Apple Insights: Top Features
Apple Intelligence is basically a trendy moniker for Apple’s renewed emphasis on artificial intelligence, spurred by the significant popularity of ChatGPT.
Take a glance at some of the top features of Apple Intelligence, arriving in the UK with the release of iOS 18.2.
ChatGPT-Siri integration
Certainly, the most significant portion of Apple Intelligence lies in the integration of OpenAI's widely-used chatbot. ChatGPT using Siri, which is Apple’s built-in digital helper.
Apple stated that with enhanced 'language comprehension abilities' provided by ChatGPT, Siri will assist you across various applications and speed up daily activities.
You can still use the side button to long-press and invoke Siri as usual; however, with ChatGPT integrated, Siri will now have the capability to 'respond to countless queries regarding how to perform various tasks' that were previously beyond its scope.
Sure, for instance, you might say, "Play the podcastJamie suggested," and Siri would find and start playing the specific episode, eliminating the need for the user to recall if the recommendation came via text or email.
Alternatively, you might inquire, "What's the estimated arrival time for mom's flight?" and Siri will locate the flight information then compare it with current flight tracking data to provide the expected arrival time.
AI-generated emoji
If you frequently struggle to locate the perfect emoji during chats, Apple has a solution for you.
A particularly enjoyable aspect of Apple Intelligence is the AI-created emojis that Apple refers to as 'Genmoji,' combining 'generated' and 'emoji.'
Within the Messages application, you have the option to type a brief description of the desired emoji — for instance, 'grinning face with sunglasses' or 'owl playing turntables.'
Similar to AI tools that can generate bizarre artworks with just a handful of words. From that initial prompt, Genmoji provides an AI-created representation of your idea.
If you're not satisfied with what the AI has created for you, there are several alternative choices available for you to select from.
Clean Up
The Clean Up feature in Apple’s Photos application performs highly refined adjustments to images, leaving no visible indications that they have undergone editing.
This feature enables users to eliminate 'disturbing elements' from the backdrop of an image — such as a photobomber lurking behind a family photograph.
Tidying Up is highly akin to Google's photo-editing technology Google's 'Magic Eraser' feature for its Pixel smartphones, which has been widely advertised in recent years through various company commercials.
However, the technology has been labeled by certain individuals as 'Orwellian' because it has the capability to alter reality and 'fabricate a false memory'.
Regarding "Clean Up," a reviewer noted that it could be misused as it allows for simple deletion of evidence.
Image Playground
AI also drives a novel image-generation tool named 'Image Playground,' accessible across various applications such as Messages and Pages.
Using Image Playground, users can generate images within moments by selecting one of three styles: 'animated,' 'illustrative,' or 'sketched.'
An promotional image seems to display an picture of someone transforming into a video-game style 3D character donning a spacesuit within what looks like an 'animated' environment.
Similar to Genmoji, this exciting image generation tool aims to assist iPhone users in communicating and expressing themselves through novel methods, according to the company.
Movie Memories
The extensive media storage capacity of an iPhone makes it incredibly enticing to sift through your pictures and videos for a wave of nostalgic feelings.
Acknowledging this trend, Apple has introduced 'Movie Memories,' an AI-powered feature designed to create ideal home movies for viewing on your device.
When you input a brief description — such as "last summer in our garden" — the AI has the capability to scour your media collection and organize photographs and videos into a cohesive film with its own storyline.
Since no film truly shines without the right soundtrack, you’ll receive song recommendations from Apple Music to complement your memories.
Once more, Apple emphasizes the privacy concerns related to utilizing AI for searching through personal information.
"As with every Apple Intelligent feature, user photos and videos remain private on the device and aren’t shared with Apple or anybody else," the statement reads.
AI writing tools
Utilizing AI to streamline your writing isn’t novel—take Microsoft’s Copilot AI as an instance; it generates initial drafts and proposes revisions in Word documents.
However, now Apple is entering the fray with its own AI-driven writing instruments.
The technician will rewrite, edit, and condense content across various applications such as Mail, Notes, and Pages, along with certain external apps.
The company states, 'Regardless of whether you're organizing your lecture notes, refining a blog post for clarity, or perfecting an email, Writing Tools assist users in feeling more assured about their written work.'