iPad Air 3rd Gen Performance Review for Everyday Users

Introduction of iPad Air 3rd Gen

The iPad Air 3rd Gen remains one of Apple’s most balanced and practical tablets for everyday users in India who want strong performance without paying premium prices. Even though it was launched earlier, its A12 Bionic chip, 10.5-inch Retina display, and steady battery life still make it a reliable choice for students, professionals, casual creators, and entertainment lovers. With Apple’s long-term software support, the iPad Air 3 continues to run smoothly for most day-to-day tasks. This detailed review explains how the iPad Air 3rd Gen performs in everyday scenarios like browsing, studying, productivity, gaming, and content consumption.

Design and Build Quality: Lightweight, Strong, and Practical

One of the first things everyday users appreciate about the iPad Air 3rd Gen in India is its premium design. Despite being several generations old, the tablet feels modern due to its slim aluminum body, lightweight form, and solid build quality. It weighs just around 456 grams, making it easy to carry in backpacks, handbags, and student laptop sleeves.

The side bezels are slimmer compared to older iPads, making the display feel larger and more immersive. The Touch ID sensor remains on the home button, ideal for users who still prefer physical fingerprint unlocking. For daily users in India who commute by metro, office cab, or school bus, this lightweight and secure design is practical and durable.

Display Quality: Still Excellent for Work and Entertainment

The 10.5-inch Retina display is one of the strongest features of the iPad Air 3. Apple has used a True Tone panel with wide-color (P3) support, ensuring excellent color accuracy and sharpness. Whether streaming movies on Hotstar, reading eBooks, watching lectures on YouTube, or editing photos, the screen quality remains crisp and vibrant.

For users who want a tablet for sketching or note-taking, the iPad Air 3 supports the 1st Gen Apple Pencil. This is helpful for students in India preparing for competitive exams, architects taking quick sketches, or professionals doing handwritten notes.

The laminated display ensures minimal reflection, improving the experience indoors as well as outdoors under controlled lighting—perfect for long study sessions or work-from-home routines.

Performance: A12 Bionic Still Holds Up for Everyday Use

At the heart of the iPad Air 3rd Gen is Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, the same processor used in the iPhone XS series. Even today, the A12 continues to deliver fast and smooth performance for everyday tasks like:

• Web browsing

• Streaming HD videos

• Social media apps

• Email and document editing

• Online classes and Zoom meetings

• Light gaming and photo editing

For most users in India, the A12 feels fast and reliable. Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and even switching between heavy apps like Safari, Word, and YouTube is effortless. This makes it a great device for students, teachers, and office workers.

The iPad Air 3 also performs well in tasks like:

Split Screen Multitasking

Users can comfortably use Split View to browse the internet while writing notes or watch lectures while solving assignments.

Photo Editing

Tools like Lightroom, Canva, and Snapseed run without lag, making it useful for content creators.

Light to Moderate Gaming

Games like BGMI, Asphalt 9, and Genshin Impact can run at decent settings, although extended gaming may warm the device slightly.

Overall, the iPad Air 3rd Gen remains one of the best performers in its price segment for daily use.

Software Experience: iPadOS Makes the Difference

With iPadOS, the device gets powerful features like:

• Optimized multitasking

• Improved Apple Pencil support

• Better file management

• Floating apps

• Regular security updates

Apple continues to provide software updates to the iPad Air 3, which means:

✔ Better long-term performance
✔ Enhanced stability
✔ New features added regularly
✔ Longer device lifespan

For everyday users, this translates to a tablet that stays smooth for years, reducing the need for an urgent upgrade.

Battery Life: Full-Day Performance for Most Users

Battery life is one of the key strengths of the iPad Air 3rd Gen. With moderate use, it easily lasts 9–10 hours, which is perfect for:

• Online classes

• Office work

• Netflix and YouTube

• Browsing and reading

• Daily multitasking

Even for heavy users, the battery comfortably lasts a full day. Students preparing for exams or professionals attending multiple meetings can use it throughout the day without worrying about charging.

Charging is via Lightning port, which is slower compared to modern USB-C models, but acceptable for everyday use.

Camera Quality: Reliable for Video Calls and Scanning

The 8MP rear camera and 7MP front camera are not designed for photography enthusiasts, but for everyday tasks, they work very well.

Everyday Uses:

• Zoom video calls

• Google Meet classes

• Scanning documents

• Quick photos for notes

• Facial clarity in online interviews

For Indian students attending online classes or work-from-home professionals joining meetings, the front camera performs reliably with good lighting.

Audio and Multimedia: Great for Movies and Music

The stereo speakers deliver loud, clear audio suitable for:

• Watching movies

• Listening to music

• Attending online classes

• Following workout videos

Though not as immersive as quad speakers found on iPad Pro models, the audio experience is strong for everyday entertainment.

The 3.5mm headphone jack is an added advantage for users who still prefer wired earphones.

Storage and Connectivity: Basic but Sufficient

The iPad Air 3 provides storage options like 64GB and 256GB. For most everyday users, 64GB is manageable unless they download large game files or work heavily with offline media.

In India, students and professionals will appreciate the smooth Wi-Fi connectivity and optional cellular variants that support data SIMs for on-the-go use.

Who Should Buy the iPad Air 3 in India?

The iPad Air 3rd Gen is perfect for:

• Students: online classes, note-taking, studying

• Working professionals: office tasks, emails, meetings

• Creators: drawing, editing, content planning

• Entertainment lovers: movies, music, browsing

• Casual gamers: smooth performance on most games

If your usage includes very heavy gaming or advanced content creation, newer iPads may offer better performance—but for everyday use, the iPad Air 3 remains excellent.

Final Verdict: Still a Smart Everyday Tablet in 2025

Even in today’s market, the iPad Air 3rd Gen holds strong for everyday users in India. Its combination of the A12 Bionic chip, excellent display, good speakers, long battery life, and stable iPadOS performance makes it one of the best-value Apple tablets for regular tasks.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a casual user who wants a reliable tablet for years, the iPad Air 3rd Gen continues to offer impressive performance for its price. If you are purchasing a refurbished or pre-owned unit in India, it can be an even better deal, offering flagship-level smoothness at a budget cost.

FAQs of iPad Air 3rd Gen

Q.1. Is the iPad Air 3 still good for students?

Yes, it’s excellent for online classes, note-taking, reading, and multitasking.

Q.2. Does the iPad Air 3 support Apple Pencil?

Yes, it supports the 1st Gen Apple Pencil, ideal for writing and drawing.

Q.3. Is the iPad Air 3 still fast in 2025?

The A12 chip delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks even today.

Q.4. Can it handle gaming?

Yes, light and moderate gaming run well, though heavy gaming may require reduced settings.

Q.5. Is it worth buying in India now?

If priced well (refurbished or used), it’s still one of the best everyday iPads to buy.