Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) Wi-Fi + Cellular

Name: Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) Wi-Fi + Cellular
Brand: Apple
SKU: 5165

Manufacturer: Apple

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) is an 11-inch tablet that brings together a slim 6.1 mm profile and a 460 g build with the computing capability of the Apple M3 chipset. Powered by an 8-core processor running at 3.4 GHz and paired with 8 GB of RAM, the device is designed to handle a wide range of tasks. The 11″ IPS LCD touchscreen delivers a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels at 264 ppi, backed by a 500-nit typical brightness and an anti-reflection coating for comfortable viewing in varied lighting conditions.

On the connectivity front, the iPad Air 11 (2025) supports Wi-Fi 6E alongside 5G cellular via a single nano-SIM and eSIM configuration, while Bluetooth 5.3 and USB 3.1 Type-C round out its wired and wireless options. The rear camera captures 12 MP stills and 4K video at up to 60 fps, and a matching 12 MP front-facing camera is included. A 7,606 mAh rechargeable battery is rated for up to 10 hours of use with fast charging support. Storage reaches up to 1 TB internally, and the M3 chip supports a maximum memory bandwidth of 100 GB/s alongside a 3 nm semiconductor process and 25 billion transistors.

Pros

The Apple M3 chipset built on a 3 nm process with 8 cores, 8 threads, and a 100 GB/s memory bandwidth makes this a capable tablet for demanding tasks
1 TB of internal storage provides ample space for large files, apps, and media without relying on external expansion
Wi-Fi 6E and 5G cellular support with both a physical SIM and eSIM slot offer flexible and fast connectivity options
The 11-inch IPS LCD display with a 500-nit typical brightness and anti-reflection coating handles varied lighting conditions well for everyday use
A broad set of privacy controls — including app tracking blocking, cross-site tracking prevention, and camera/microphone access options — gives users meaningful control over their data
At 6.1 mm thick and 460 g, the physical form factor is slim and light enough for extended handheld use

Cons

The display is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is notably lower than what some competing tablets in the same category offer
There is no water resistance rating, leaving the device vulnerable to accidental liquid exposure
No wireless charging support means the device must always be connected via cable to recharge
The lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack requires an adapter or wireless headphones for wired audio
Neither a stylus nor a detachable keyboard is included in the box, adding to the cost for users who need those accessories
NFC is absent, which limits contactless use cases such as tap-to-pay or quick pairing with compatible accessories

Who is this for?

This tablet is a strong fit for users who need a capable, portable device for demanding creative and productivity tasks, given the Apple M3 chipset with 8 cores, 100 GB/s memory bandwidth, and up to 1 TB of internal storage. The slim 6.1 mm build and 460 g weight make it practical for those who carry their device throughout the day, while 5G cellular connectivity with eSIM support suits professionals who need reliable access on the go. The extensive privacy controls, on-device machine learning, offline voice recognition, and direct OS updates also make it well-suited for privacy-conscious users and those who rely on a consistently up-to-date software environment.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who prioritize fluid visuals in fast-moving content or gaming will find the 60 Hz display refresh rate a limiting factor, as it does not match the smoothness offered by higher-refresh panels available in this device category. The complete absence of water resistance makes it a poor choice for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone likely to use the device in wet or dusty environments. Additionally, users who rely on wired audio accessories with a standard 3.5 mm jack will face immediate limitations, and those expecting stylus or keyboard input out of the box will find that neither accessory is included, requiring separate purchases to unlock those workflows.

Design:

weight	460 g
thickness	6.1 mm
width	247.6 mm
height	178.5 mm
volume	269.59926 cm³
Stylus included	✕
Has a detachable keyboard	✕
Has a backlit keyboard	✕
water resistance	None
Has tilt sensitivity	✓
maximum operating temperature	35 °C
lowest potential operating temperature	0 °C

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) measures 178.5 mm in height and 247.6 mm in width, with a 6.1 mm thickness and a weight of 460 g, giving it a compact physical footprint of approximately 269.6 cm³. The device does not include a stylus, a detachable keyboard, or a backlit keyboard, and it carries no water resistance rating. It does support pen tilt sensitivity, making it compatible with accessories that utilize that capability. Operating temperatures range from 0 °C at the lower end to a maximum of 35 °C.

Display:

screen size	11"
resolution	2360 x 1640 px
pixel density	264 ppi
Display type	IPS, LCD
refresh rate	60Hz
has branded damage-resistant glass	✕
has anti-reflection coating	✓
brightness (typical)	500 nits
has a touch screen	✓
Has sapphire glass display	✕
Has an e-paper display	✕

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) features an 11″ IPS LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels at a pixel density of 264 ppi. The display operates at a 60Hz refresh rate and reaches a typical brightness of 500 nits, complemented by an anti-reflection coating to reduce glare in bright environments. It does not use branded damage-resistant glass or sapphire glass, and it is not an e-paper display.

Performance:

internal storage	1024GB
RAM	8GB
Chipset (SoC) name	Apple M3
GPU name	Apple M3 GPU
CPU speed	8 x 3.4 GHz
has an external memory slot	✕
semiconductor size	3 nm
Supports 64-bit	✓
Uses big.LITTLE technology	✓
Has integrated graphics	✓
number of transistors	25000 million
Has NX bit	✓
CPU threads	8 threads
Supports ECC memory	✕
Has TrustZone	✓
maximum memory amount	24GB
supported displays	2
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	20W
CPU temperature	114 °C
Uses HMP	✓
maximum memory bandwidth	100 GB/s

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) is driven by the Apple M3 chipset, built on a 3 nm semiconductor process and housing 25,000 million transistors, with an 8-core CPU running at 3.4 GHz across 8 threads and a TDP of 20W. The chip supports 64-bit processing, big.LITTLE technology, Heterogeneous Multi-Processing (HMP), NX bit, and TrustZone security, while integrated graphics via the Apple M3 GPU can drive up to two displays simultaneously. The tablet comes with 8 GB of RAM and offers up to 1,024 GB of internal storage, with a maximum supported memory amount of 24 GB and a memory bandwidth of 100 GB/s; the DDR5 memory runs at up to 6,400 MHz. There is no external memory slot and ECC memory is not supported. The CPU is rated to operate at temperatures up to 114 °C.

Cameras:

megapixels (main camera)	12 MP
megapixels (front camera)	12MP
video recording (main camera)	2160 x 60 fps
has a flash	✕
has a front camera	✓
has a built-in HDR mode	✓
can create panoramas in-camera	✓
supports slow-motion video recording	✓
has touch autofocus	✓
has a BSI sensor	✓
has manual white balance	✕
has a CMOS sensor	✓
wide aperture (main camera)	1.8f
has continuous autofocus when recording movies	✕
Has a front-facing LED flash	✕
has manual ISO	✕
has a video light	✕
Has timelapse function	✓
wide aperture (front camera)	2.4f
Shoots 360° panorama	✕
has a serial shot mode	✓
has built-in optical image stabilization	✕
has 3D photo/video recording capabilities	✕
Has a dual-tone LED flash	✕
has manual focus	✓
Has a RGB LED flash	✕
has manual exposure	✓
has manual shutter speed	✓

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) features a 12 MP rear camera with a BSI CMOS sensor, an aperture of f/1.8, and support for 4K video recording at up to 60 fps, along with slow-motion video, timelapse, burst mode, panorama, and HDR. Manual controls cover focus, exposure, and shutter speed, while touch autofocus is also available; however, continuous autofocus during video recording, manual white balance, manual ISO, and optical image stabilization are not supported. The rear camera does not include a flash of any kind, nor does it offer 3D or 360° panorama capture. A 12 MP front camera with an f/2.4 aperture is included, though it lacks a front-facing flash.

Audio:

has stereo speakers	✓
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack	✕
number of microphones	2
Has a radio	✕

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) includes stereo speakers and a dual-microphone setup for audio input, but does not feature a 3.5 mm headphone jack or a built-in radio.

Battery:

battery power	7606 mAh
Battery life	10 hours
Supports fast charging	✓
has wireless charging	✕
has a battery level indicator	✓
has a rechargeable battery	✓
has a removable battery	✕

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) is equipped with a 7,606 mAh rechargeable battery rated for up to 10 hours of use, and it supports fast charging for quicker top-ups. A battery level indicator is built in, while wireless charging and a removable battery are not supported.

Connectivity & Features:

Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
SIM cards	1 SIM, 1 eSIM
has Mail Privacy Protection	✓
has on-device machine learning	✓
has clipboard warnings	✓
has location privacy options	✓
has camera/microphone privacy options	✓
can block app tracking	✓
blocks cross-site tracking	✓
supports split screen	✓
has SharePlay	✓
has Live Text	✓
has notification permissions	✓
has full-page screenshots	✓
has Quick Start	✓
has theme customization	✕
has Wi-Fi password sharing	✓
has PiP	✓
Can play games while they download	✕
has an extra dim mode	✕
can offload apps	✓
has focus modes	✓
has media picker	✓
has dynamic theming	✕
has dark mode	✓
has battery health check	✓
Has USB Type-C	✓
has a cellular module	✓
has 5G support	✓
is a multi-user system	✕
gets direct OS updates	✓
has GPS	✓
has a child lock	✓
has an HDMI output	✕
has NFC	✕
Has a fingerprint scanner	✓
USB version	3.1
Supports widgets	✓
Bluetooth version	5.3
has a gyroscope	✓
is DLNA-certified	✕
Is free and open source	✕
Has offline voice recognition	✓
has a compass	✓
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Has sharing intents	✓
Has customizable notifications	✓
Uses 3D facial recognition	✕
supports Galileo	✓
supports ANT+	✕
Has a barometer	✓
has an accelerometer	✓
has AirPlay	✓
has voice commands	✓
Has an iris scanner	✕
Has a built-in projector	✕
supports Ethernet	✕
Has an infrared sensor	✕
Tracks the current position of a mobile device	✓

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) supports Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 4 alongside 5G cellular connectivity through a single nano-SIM and eSIM configuration, with Bluetooth 5.3 and USB 3.1 Type-C also on board; HDMI output, NFC, Ethernet, and ANT+ are not available. For navigation and sensing, the device includes GPS with Galileo support, a gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, and compass, as well as mobile device position tracking. A fingerprint scanner handles biometric authentication, while 3D facial recognition and an iris scanner are absent. On the software and privacy side, the tablet offers Mail Privacy Protection, location privacy options, camera and microphone access controls, clipboard warnings, app tracking blocking, and cross-site tracking prevention, along with on-device machine learning and offline voice recognition. Feature-wise, it supports split screen, Picture-in-Picture, SharePlay, Live Text, AirPlay, focus modes, dark mode, widgets, customizable notifications, full-page screenshots, Wi-Fi password sharing, media picker, app offloading, battery health check, child lock, Quick Start, voice commands, sharing intents, and direct OS vendor updates. It does not support multi-user accounts, theme customization, dynamic theming, an extra dim mode, playing games while downloading, DLNA certification, a built-in projector, or an infrared sensor, and it is not free and open source.

Miscellaneous:

Type	Laptop, Desktop
DDR memory version	5
RAM speed (max)	6400 MHz

The chipset is classified under the Laptop and Desktop processor type category, and the device uses DDR5 memory with a maximum RAM speed of 6,400 MHz.

Final Verdict

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) is a well-rounded tablet that brings together a genuinely capable hardware foundation and a thoughtfully assembled feature set. The Apple M3 chipset paired with up to 1 TB of internal storage positions it firmly as a device that can handle serious workloads in a slim, portable form, and the combination of Wi-Fi 6E, 5G cellular, and comprehensive privacy controls adds real-world versatility for both mobile professionals and everyday users. Where it falls short — namely the 60 Hz display, the absence of water resistance, and the lack of included accessories — these are trade-offs that prospective users should weigh against their specific needs. For those whose priorities align with its strengths, the iPad Air 11 (2025) represents a coherent and capable choice within the tablet category.