It’s been more than a year since the iPad Air 2 launched, but finally, rumors are starting to emerge about the iPad Air 3. Apple is said to be planning a spring launch for its refreshed 9.7-inch tablet.
Here’s everything we think we know about the iPad Air 3 so far.
A new spring launch
Apple used to release new iPads like clockwork in the fall, but when the iPad Pro launched, the iPad Air 3 was nowhere to be found. Now, a 9to5Mac report hints at the possibility of a March launch date, which is in tune with earlier rumors. Sources say that the event will only take place the week of March 14 if the stars align and three products are all ready for launch: the iPhone 5SE, an Apple Watch refresh, and the iPad Air 3.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo backed up the spring launch date theory with a research note, asserting that the iPad Air 3 would launch in spring 2016.He didn’t mention a date, though.
Related: Read our review of the iPad Mini 4
Updated specs and accessories
When it comes to the iPad Air line, it sometimes seems that there isn’t much of a difference between models. This time around, the specs might get a bigger boost.
In September, MyDrivers reported the iPad Air 3 may feature a 2,334 x 3,112-pixel display, which would be a hugeleap from the current 1,536 x 2,056-pixel display on the iPad Air 2.
The iPad Pro features an A9X processor, Apple’s newest chipset, and we suspect the iPad Air 3 may run on the same chip. The A10 processor has not been revealed yet, and Apple usually adds a new number chip to the iPhone first.
Related: 7 must-have iPad Pro accessories for your new tablet
Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the iPad Air 3 will not feature Force Touch, Apple’s new pressure-sensitive display technology for iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The iPad Pro didn’t have Force Touch, so it is unlikely the iPad Air 3 would receive special treatment.
Accessories are a possibility for the iPad Air 3, considering the iPad Pro launched with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. We might see a smaller keyboard for the 9.8-inch tablet to interest professional types who want a smaller display, though this is nothing more than speculation for the moment.
We expect a lot more leaks and rumors to arrive in the time between now and March, and we will continue to update this article as we receive more information.
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