iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2019
iPad Air (3rd generation)
After a four-year gap the Air returned as the sensible middle iPad: a bigger 10.5" laminated screen, the A12, and accessory support, minus the Pro price.
Revived the Air at 10.5" with Smart Keyboard and Pencil support.
iPad (8th generation) (2020)
iPad Air (3rd generation): key facts
When was the iPad Air (3rd generation) released?
The iPad Air (3rd generation) arrived on March 18, 2019. Apple discontinued it in September 2020.
How much did the iPad Air (3rd generation) cost?
The iPad Air (3rd generation) launched at $499 in 2019, about $614 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A12 Bionic at 2.49 GHz, 3 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, 10.5" Retina IPS, 2224×1668 (True Tone) display.
Why does the iPad Air (3rd generation) matter?
Revived the Air at 10.5" with Smart Keyboard and Pencil support.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A12 Bionic · 2.49 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 6 |
| Memory (RAM) | 3 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Display | 10.5" Retina IPS, 2224×1668 (True Tone) |
| GPU | Apple 4-core GPU |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 456 g |
| Dimensions | 250.6×174.1×6.1 mm |
| Operating system | iPadOS 12.2 |
| Released | March 18, 2019 |
| Discontinued | September 2020 |
| Launch price | $499 |
How the iPad Air (3rd generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 5.3× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.49 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.3× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 16,400 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $499 in 2019, about $614 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
It inherited the body of the discontinued 10.5" iPad Pro.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad Air (3rd generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11