Apple will reportedly unveil the iPad Air 3 soon, but it won't come with an important feature.
According to KGI Securities analyst and Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo, the upcoming iPad Air 3 could roll out sometime in the first half of 2016, but the tablet won't include 3D Touch.
Despite being touted as the technology that can "bring a powerful new dimension to the Multi-Touch Interface," the feature won't be coming to the 9.7-inch tablet because of "production issues."
"While we think the 3D Touch supply chain produced more to avoid shortages in the early stages, slower end-product demand and improved back-end assembly yield have resulted in the current high inventory," he explains.
It seems a bit unclear what improvements can be expected from the next-generation iPad Air, but it's pretty safe to assume that it might get an upgraded processor.
Going over the rumored unveiling, Apple could premiere the iPad Air 3 at the rumored March 2016 event, where the Apple Watch 2 and the 4-inch iPhone 6c are expected to be revealed. However, if the tablet really isn't going to get much of an upgrade, then it might not get an appearance onstage.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 7 is going to get 3D Touch, which Kuo notes to have a "similar technology and structure" as the iPhone 6s. With that said, the components for the feature have affected the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus as well.
"3D Touch [is] one of the most severe production bottlenecks in [the] iPhone 6s supply chain," he notes.
It seems that 3D Touch is going to remain limited to iPhones in the meantime. At this point, all we can do is wait for an official word from Apple and cross our fingers. Hopefully, the iPad Air 3 is going to get some notable improvements before it hits the shelves.
