January 14, 2025 – According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple might surprise the market by introducing a new iPad Air equipped with the M4 chip this spring, bypassing the M3 chip altogether. This move would contradict previous expectations that the iPad Air would receive an upgrade to the M3 chip this year.
Last May, Apple unveiled the iPad Air powered by the M2 chip, offering both 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes. Industry insiders had speculated that the iPad Air would be upgraded to the M3 chip in 2025. However, Gurman stated in his latest “Power On” newsletter that he “wouldn’t be very surprised” if Apple opts to leapfrog to the M4 chip instead.

In his report, Gurman revealed that the internal codes for the upcoming iPad Air are J607, J608, J637, and J638. He emphasized that the primary upgrades would focus on specifications rather than exterior design. “The current iPad Air runs on the M2 chip. If the 2025 model jumps straight to the M4, aligning it more closely with the iPad Pro, it wouldn’t shock me,” Gurman wrote. “This would mean the iPad Pro’s advantages over the iPad Air are narrowing, but that’s not unexpected. Most Mac computers use the same chip family, and the iPad could follow this pattern.”
This speculation contradicts previous rumors that Apple intended to keep the iPad Air one generation behind the iPad Pro in terms of processor technology. However, Apple’s release of the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024 already surprised many, as it was widely anticipated that these devices would feature the M3 chip. This suggests that Apple may not always adhere to a strict upgrade pattern, leaving the possibility open for the iPad Air to skip the M3 as well.
The next-generation iPad Air is expected to retain a similar design aesthetic but could include Apple’s forthcoming proprietary 5G modulator, which is also rumored to be included in devices like the 2025 iPhone SE, a lower-cost iPad, and the iPhone 17 Air.
Furthermore, Apple is reportedly developing a new version of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air. While this keyboard is not expected to feature an aluminum top case like the iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard, it may incorporate a function row and other capabilities borrowed from its Pro counterpart.