iPad Air M3 Review: Can It Replace My Laptop?

iPad Air M3 Review: Key Points

The reviewer used the 13-inch iPad Air M3 as their main computer for 14 days, connecting it to an external monitor and using a keyboard, mouse or trackpad, USB-C hub, and storage devices. It worked well for most tasks, but iPadOS and some apps created recurring workflow problems.

Hardware and performance

• The design is largely unchanged from the previous generation. The aluminum body is 6.1 mm thin; the 11-inch model weighs 460 g, and the 13-inch model weighs 616 g.
• It has USB-C 3 and Touch ID, but no headphone jack or microSD slot. A USB-C hub successfully handled a 4K monitor, SSD, SD cards, and other accessories.
• The M3, paired with 8 GB of RAM, is a modest step up from the M2 but a substantial upgrade over the A16 in the base iPad. The reviewer found it fast for office work, photo editing, gaming, and video editing, with little practical difference from their M4 iPad Pro in many apps.
• Resident Evil 3 ran smoothly. Some demanding games do not run on the base iPad, and Fortnite was limited to medium graphics settings.
• The 12 MP rear camera and 12 MP ultrawide front camera were described as solid. Cellular models support 5G via eSIM but cannot make phone calls.

Display, sound, and battery

• Both sizes have sharp, laminated LCD displays at 264 ppi. The 13-inch screen reaches 600 nits; the 11-inch model reaches 500 nits.
• The 60 Hz refresh rate is a notable drawback compared with many similarly priced Android tablets. The reviewer also found the LCD’s black levels and brightness inferior to OLED tablets and the iPad Pro’s Tandem OLED.
• The speakers sound very good, though the iPad Pro and Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra are louder.
• In the reviewer’s test—looping an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness—the Air lasted 5.5 hours. The reviewer considers battery life an area for improvement.
• The 13-inch model offers more screen space. Aside from display differences, the two Air sizes are very similar.

Laptop and desktop replacement test

As a laptop replacement, the Air worked well for the reviewer, particularly with its keyboard cover, which keeps the touchscreen easy to reach.

As a desktop replacement, Stage Manager and an external display were usable, but occasional problems arose. Window resizing in Google Docs could misbehave, and mouse scrolling was unreliable in Feedly and sometimes Lightroom.

Photoshop and LumaFusion are designed around touch input, making them awkward to use with a conventional mouse and keyboard. A trackpad worked better than a mouse, especially in Photoshop and LumaFusion, though it did not resolve every scrolling issue.

The reviewer’s verdict: the iPad can replace a desktop for many people who are not desktop power users, but they would not permanently replace their own desktop. A traditional desktop OS remains preferable for their fastest, most productive work.

Accessories and stylus

• The new Magic Keyboard adds a function row and has a metal core and hinge, plus a USB-C port in the hinge on the 13-inch version. It was comfortable to type on, but lacks backlighting and remains expensive: the reviewer cites $319 for the 13-inch keyboard.
• The Air supports Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro. Its laminated screen and tablet-optimized apps make handwriting and drawing much better than on the base iPad 11, which lacks a laminated display and Pencil Pro support.
• The Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard were praised for working well, but both are costly accessories.

Buying advice

• Choose the iPad Air over the base iPad 11 if you need stronger performance for demanding games, a laminated display, or Apple Pencil Pro support. Many less demanding games and everyday tasks work just as well on the base model.
• Consider the iPad Pro if you specifically want 120 Hz, OLED, or a brighter display. The reviewer did not find its extra performance necessary for most of their work.
• The Air’s strengths include performance, speakers, and a broad selection of apps optimized for tablet touchscreens, including Photoshop, Affinity Photo, and Lightroom. Its main compromises are battery life, the 60 Hz LCD, and mouse-and-windowing limitations for desktop-style work.

Guide and tutorial mentioned

The reviewer says they did not cover the Apple Pencil in depth in this review and points viewers to a separate under-six-minute video of Pencil tips and tricks.

Main source: The reviewer/narrator from My Next Tablet. No other speakers are identified.