Apple introduces M4 iPad Air with faster performance, starts ₱42,990
MANILA, Philippines – Apple Inc. on Tuesday unveiled the new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, introducing faster performance, upgraded memory, and enhanced connectivity as part of its latest tablet lineup refresh.
The updated iPad Air features an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU, delivering up to 30 percent faster performance than the M3-powered model and up to 2.3 times faster speeds compared to the M1 version, according to Apple.
The device also includes a faster Neural Engine, increased memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified memory.
Price and Specs
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at P42,990 for the Wi-Fi model and P52,990 for Wi-Fi Cellular. The larger 13-inch model starts at P54,990 for Wi-Fi and P64,990 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
With education pricing, the 11-inch model starts at P38,990, while the 13-inch version starts at P51,990.
Both sizes are available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage configurations.
The new iPad Air runs on iPadOS 26 and supports accessories such as the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Magic Keyboard.
Features
Apple notes that the M4 chip enhances tasks such as photo compositing in Pixelmator Pro and video editing in Final Cut Pro.
The 9-core GPU supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, enabling over four times faster 3D rendering compared to the M1 model.
Unified memory increases to 12GB, while memory bandwidth reaches 120GB/s. The 16-core Neural Engine is up to three times faster than that of M1, supporting on-device AI tasks such as photo searches and background removal in video editing.
Connectivity is powered by Apple-designed N1 and C1X chips. The N1 chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, while the C1X modem in cellular models delivers up to 50 percent faster cellular data speeds and improved energy efficiency. The device also supports 5G and eSIM.
iPadOS 26 introduces a redesigned interface using “Liquid Glass,” a new windowing system, improved file management, and a dedicated Preview app for PDFs and images.
Additional features include enhanced audio controls, local capture for recordings, and Background Tasks.
Beyond its upgraded hardware and features, the new iPad Air comes in four finishes: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray.
In line with its sustainability goals, Apple said the new iPad Air uses 30 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled aluminum and cobalt, and is manufactured with 40 percent renewable electricity.
Additionally, its packaging is fully fiber-based and recyclable, supporting the company’s Apple 2030 carbon-neutral goal.
For consumers, the device will be available on Apple’s Philippine website and through authorized resellers, with availability details to be announced later. (By Rich Longakit, INQUIRER.net Intern)
