Apple continues to grow its iPad lineup with the reintroduction of iPad Air, that was last updated almost five years ago. The new iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019 model) potentially could be referred to as iPad Air 3. It increases the screen size to 10.5-inches from prior 9.7-inch iPad Air 2, but otherwise looks the same.
The new iPad Air (10.5-inch) joins the just announced iPad mini (7.9-inch) and regular iPad (9.7-inch) as the three models that retain the iconic home button (with Touch ID) and support Apple Pencil (1st generation). The larger and more expensive iPad Pro models round out Apple’s confusing mix of iPads now priced from $329 to $1899 and sized from 7.9- to 12.9-inches.
The new iPad Air lands at a sweet spot in pricing at $499 with 64GB of storage. The previous “Air” models boasted thinness and the new iPad Air stays equally as thin at 6.1mm while bringing processing power, storage and cameras up to current standards. Apple’s A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine claims to boost performance 70% in conjunction with double graphics capability over the prior model. The new iPad Air 10.5-inch also offers 20% more screen over its 9.7-inch predecessor and an advanced Retina display with True Tone technology. Front and back cameras are much improved at 7 and 8-megapixels respectively.
The new iPad Air adds compatibility with Apple’s Smart Keyboard for an additional $159. The Smart Keyboard lets you type on a full-size keyboard whenever you need one. It connects to iPad Air with the Smart Connector without the need for pairing or charging. Just attach the Smart Keyboard and start typing. And when you’re done, it folds to create a slim, lightweight cover.
Apple Pencil (1st generation, $99) is also compatible with the new iPad Air, but not included. Use it to write, draw or sketch. It’s sensitive to pressure and tilt so you can easily vary line weight, create subtle shading, and produce a wide range of artistic effects — just like a conventional pencil, but with pixel-perfect precision.
Price and Availability
The new Apple iPad Air 10.5-inch is available for pre-order now and will start shipping on March 26, 2019 in silver, space gray or gold in various configurations:
