Tablets · Ranked #4 of 15 · Best all-round Apple tablet

Apple iPad Air (M3)

85
Highly rated
Average of 6 professional reviews
4 of 6 recommend it · one critic disagrees
Where the 6 reviews landedRange 70–90

Exact average 85.0 · all scores printed by the outlets

WIRED's review has no printed score; we read it as 70/100. The other 5 average 88.

Apple iPad Air (M3)Image: Apple

6 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPad Air (M3), and 4 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: battery life.

Reviewed by Trusted Reviews, Tech Advisor, Tom's Guide and 3 more

The catch: The keyboard and Pencil are costly, and it barely changes from the M2 model.

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What 6 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 90
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2025

    A small update that is pointless as a refresh, yet as Apple's mid-range tablet it is very good and easy to recommend, with more power at the same price and strong battery life.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  2. 90
    Tech AdvisorHands-on review · 2025

    A superb tablet with excellent performance, build and battery that the reviewer would happily recommend to those wanting power and portability.

    Read Tech Advisor review
  3. 90
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2025

    A fantastic all-round tablet with strong performance, a lovely display, reliable battery and handy Apple Intelligence features.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  4. 90
    The DisconnektHands-on review · 2025

    A faster version of an already excellent tablet that stays the best iPad for most people.

    Read The Disconnekt review
  5. 80
    Expert ReviewsHands-on review · 2025

    A brilliant and very powerful tablet, but expensive once accessories are added, to the point where a MacBook Air is a better buy for laptop replacement.

    Read Expert Reviews review
  6. 70
    WIREDHands-on review

    A capable tablet with a modest performance bump, but it feels like a stale refresh with an ordinary LCD, unchanged battery and a clumsy iPadOS for work.

    Read WIRED review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Performance5 of 6
Battery life4 of 6
Picture quality3 of 6

What critics dislike most

Battery life2 of 6
Price2 of 6

Other tablets critics rate highly

OnePlus Pad 3Image: OnePlus
Top pick, narrowlyOnePlus Pad 37 reviews · broad agreement88
Apple iPad Pro (M5)Image: Apple
Best screenApple iPad Pro (M5)15 reviews · broad agreement87
RedMagic Astra 2Image: RedMagic
Best Android gaming tabletRedMagic Astra 26 reviews · one critic is far keener85
OnePlus Pad Go 2Image: OnePlus
Best affordable tablet batteryOnePlus Pad Go 25 reviews · critics agree85

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Common questions

Is the Apple iPad Air (M3) worth it?

Critics are divided: 4 of 6 recommend it. The keyboard and Pencil are costly, and it barely changes from the M2 model.

Do critics agree about the Apple iPad Air (M3)?

One critic disagrees: scores range from 70 (WIRED) to 90 (Trusted Reviews), a spread of 20 points across 6 reviews. WIRED's review has no printed score; we read it as 70/100. The other 5 average 88.

What do critics dislike about the Apple iPad Air (M3)?

Battery life (2 of 6 reviews), Price (2 of 6 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Apple iPad Air (M3)?

The OnePlus Pad 3 (critic score 88), top pick, narrowly.