A new leak suggests that Apple plans to equip its upcoming iPad Air models with the M3 chip, while reserving the more powerful M4 chip exclusively for the iPad Pro lineup. This strategy would maintain a clear performance gap between the two tablet models.
M3 Chip for iPad Air, M4 for iPad Pro
According to a recent leak by Evan Blass, the next-generation iPad Air will feature Apple's custom M3 chip. This is the same chip that was skipped by the previous generation of iPad Pro models. While there were speculations that Apple might jump directly to the M4 chip for the iPad Air, this leak suggests that the company intends to keep a distinction between its "Air" and "Pro" lines.
Historically, the iPad Pro and iPad Air have shared the same chip for a brief period before the Pro models received a further performance boost. Currently, the iPad Pro boasts the M4 chip, while the iPad Air uses the M2.
Details from the Leak
The information was shared in a private social media post by Evan Blass, showcasing what appears to be source code mentioning unreleased 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models, as well as an entry-level iPad 11. The leak does not specify whether the base-level iPad 11 will feature the A17 Pro chip or an older chip. There are also no details on the upcoming iPhone SE 4 mentioned in the leak.
Why the M3 Over M4 for iPad Air?
One possible reason Apple might stick with the M3 chip for the iPad Air is to optimize its supply chain. The M4 chip uses TSMC's 3nm technology with low yields, and using the M3 chip for the iPad Air would reduce the demand for these advanced, and more difficult to manufacture chips.
Potential Launch Timeline
While the leak suggests the new iPad models are set to launch in the Spring, specific details about release dates are still not available. Rumors indicate that Apple might announce these devices in April.
Source: evleaks private
