iPad Air M3 VS M2 - The REAL Difference Between M3 and M2 iPad Air!

Summary

Apple has released the new iPad Air with the M3 chipset, offering performance improvements over the previous M2 model, which debuted only a year ago. Both iPad Airs have similar displays, battery life, and features, with the main difference being the upgraded chip. The M3 brings a noticeable boost in CPU performance, particularly in single-core tasks, though both models feature the same RAM, storage options, and cameras. The pricing for the M2 and M3 models remains the same, making the M3 a worthwhile upgrade for users looking for better performance. However, the M2 iPad Air still offers excellent value, especially with discounts.

Takeaways

• 😀 The new iPad Air (M3) comes with the upgraded M3 chipset, compared to last year's M2 version, which is still available.
• 😀 Both the M2 and M3 iPad Airs feature Liquid Retina displays with identical resolution and PPI, offering similar visual performance.
• 😀 The brightness on the 11-inch M2 and M3 models is 500 nits, while the 13-inch models provide 600 nits of brightness.
• 😀 The refresh rate on all models is 60Hz, so there's no ProMotion feature included in the iPad Air range.
• 😀 The M2 and M3 chips both have 8-core CPUs (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) with 9-core GPUs and 16-core Neural Engines.
• 😀 Geekbench scores show a significant improvement in single-core and multi-core performance in the M3, with a higher boost in single-core performance.
• 😀 Both the M2 and M3 iPads have 8GB of RAM and offer storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB.
• 😀 Battery life is the same for both models—up to 10 hours of usage, with no notable changes in charging speeds (30W wired).
• 😀 Both models are equipped with four stereo speakers, 5G connectivity (on cellular models), and support for Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E.
• 😀 The rear and front camera specs are identical: both have 12MP cameras capable of 4K recording, and both support Apple Pencil (2nd Gen).
• 😀 The price for both the M2 and M3 iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, with the same color options available for both generations.

Q & A

What are the main differences between the M2 and M3 iPad Air models?

The main differences between the M2 and M3 iPad Air models are the chipsets. The M3 iPad Air features the new M3 chip, which offers improvements in single-core and multi-core performance over the M2, specifically in Geekbench scores. Apart from the chipset, the rest of the hardware, such as the display, RAM, storage options, and design, remain almost identical.

How does the display of the iPad Air M2 compare to the M3?

The display on both the M2 and M3 iPad Airs is exactly the same. Both models feature a Liquid Retina display with the same screen size options (11-inch and 13-inch), screen resolutions, and pixel density. However, the M3 model does have slightly improved brightness (600 nits for the 13-inch model), compared to 500 nits on the 11-inch models, which is consistent across both M2 and M3.

Is there a difference in processor performance between the iPad Air M2 and M3?

Yes, the M3 iPad Air shows improved performance over the M2 in both single-core and multi-core tests. The M2 scored 2,591 in single-core and 9,837 in multi-core Geekbench scores, whereas the M3 scored 3,159 in single-core and 12,900 in multi-core tests. The M3 also features the latest generation of Apple's chip architecture, contributing to faster performance.

Do both M2 and M3 iPad Air models have the same RAM and storage configurations?

Yes, both the M2 and M3 iPad Airs have the same RAM configuration of 8GB, and storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. There is no difference in RAM or storage options between the two models.

How does battery life compare between the M2 and M3 iPad Air?

The battery life is identical between the M2 and M3 iPad Air models, with both offering up to 10 hours of battery life, regardless of the screen size (11-inch or 13-inch) or the chip version (M2 or M3).

Are there any major differences in design or build between the M2 and M3 iPad Air?

No, the design and build of both the M2 and M3 iPad Airs are essentially the same. Both models feature the same screen sizes, weight (460g for the 11-inch model, 616g for the 13-inch model), and USB-C ports, with no significant changes in their physical appearance.

What are the main updates in terms of connectivity for the M3 iPad Air?

The M3 iPad Air continues to support Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G connectivity, just like the M2 iPad Air. There are no major changes in connectivity options between the M2 and M3 models.

Does the iPad Air M3 come with new camera features?

Both the M2 and M3 iPad Airs share the same camera setup, with a 12MP rear camera capable of recording 4K video, and a 12MP front camera with Center Stage support. While the M3 may offer slightly improved image quality due to its newer chip, the camera features are otherwise identical across both models.

Is there a price difference between the M2 and M3 iPad Air models?

No, the price for both the M2 and M3 iPad Air models is the same. The 11-inch model starts at $599, and the 13-inch model starts at $799, for both M2 and M3 configurations.

What are the color options available for the M2 and M3 iPad Air?

Both the M2 and M3 iPad Air models are available in the same color options: Blue, Purple, Space Gray, and Starlight. There are no changes in the color selections between the two models.