Apple devices always generate excitement and we are not just talking about when they release, but also when they are in the works.
The Cupertino-based company took the wraps off its refreshed MacBook lineup in October and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September. However, one refreshed Apple device that was notably missing in both the announcements was the iPad.
Rumors that the company is working on its next-gen iPad Air 3 tablet, the successor of the iPad Air 2, have been swirling online for a while now.
The iPad Air 2 was introduced by Apple in October 2014 and the fact that it's been two years since the line was refreshed has surprised experts and consumers alike. Apple continues to remain mum on whether an iPad Air 3 is in the offing.
However, rumors have allowed us to glean some information on the impending, much-awaited Apple tablet. We take a look at the rumored specs, features and release date of the iPad Air 3.
Specs
The iPad Air 3 is rumored to have a 9.7-inch 4K display and will allegedly house the latest A10 processor. It will also be 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) thick, making it sleeker than the iPad Air 2's 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches).
Some experts are of the belief that the tablet will take a leaf out of the iPhone 7 Plus and could possibly have a dual-camera setup.
The tablet is rumored to sport an 8-megapixel primary camera, which will offer support for LED flash, as well as a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera.
In addition to the stunning display with a "sharper resolution," the device may house 4 GB of RAM and a bigger battery when compared to the previous iterations.
Features
The iPad Air 3 could offer support for 3D Touch, a pressure-sensitive technology, which is available on the iPhone 7 and was introduced with the iPhone 6s. Some reports have suggested that the company is working on a scalable version of the technology, so that it can be deployed on bigger devices such as the iPad.
The iPad Air 3 is also anticipated to offer a fingerprint sensor and remove the 3.5mm jack like it has for the iPhone 7.
The iPad Air 3 could also be waterproof like the iPhone 7 and a leaked image suggested that it could boast four speakers instead of the two touted by its previous iteration. Two speakers will be on the bottom and two on the top.
Apple could also introduce the Jet Black and Rose Gold color options for the iPad Air 3, hues that the iPad Air 2 was not available in.
Release
The tablet was previously rumored to be launched alongside the 4-inch iPhone SE in March 2016. While rumors are rife that Apple will finally unveil the iPad Air 3 in March 2017, some reports suggest that the device will never see the light of day as it has been two years since the company introduced the tablet.
Hopefully, the iPad Air 3 will debut in March 2017 and end the prolonged wait for consumers.
