There is still no information on the horizon about the Apple iPad Air 3, and of course, Apple themselves are keeping completely quiet on the issue. Meanwhile, we’ve seen various rumors around the Internet, and some paint the development of the device in quite the negative light. In fact, some of the rumors imply that Apple are going to cancel the iPad Air line completely.
The reason, according to these rumors, is that the company is getting a bit overwhelmed trying to maintain their multiple lines at the moment, and they want to optimize their production by focusing on a smaller number of products more efficiently.
And considering that the iPad Air has long had an overlap with certain other devices by the company, those rumors say, it makes sense that Apple would want to cut it out. However, others are saying that Apple have no such plans on their mind right now, and that the company is actually looking to actively work on all of their current lines.
It’s a messy situation for sure. And without an official statement from Apple, it’s only going to get worse, especially with the holiday season approaching. It’s a great period for people to propagate the most ridiculous rumors they come across, and we have no doubt that Apple’s products are going to be affected by this.
What are the more positive rumors saying about the iPad Air 3? The device could pack some impressive specifications if those claims are correct, particularly on the physical design side. It’s possible that we may see an iPad Air 3 with an even slimmer and more lightweight frame than before, as Apple’s engineers have been working hard in that direction.
This won’t come at the cost of processing power though, as some of the predictions for the iPad Air 3 speak of an A10 processor. This will bring the device in line with Apple’s current flagship mobile products, and it should offer more than enough power for not only everyday use, but also more advanced tasks suitable for “power users”.
As for the most important question – the release date – there is no information from Apple so far. Nobody expects the tablet to hit the market in 2016 at this point though, but nobody seems to have a good idea when in 2017 we can expect it either.
If Apple really are working on the iPad Air 3 though, they should probably try to get the device ready by the spring season, or at least by the first half of the year in the latest. Competition in this market segment has been growing steadily, and Apple no longer have the advantage of having such a unique form factor.
Other manufacturers have been going after the same idea, some quite successfully, and some are saying that this could also explain Apple’s delay in releasing their own new tablet. The company could be waiting for their competitors to make a more serious move, after which they would try to compete with the new product directly.
If this rumor turns out to be true, it’s probably not a bad idea to watch out for interesting events in other areas of the market for hints about Apple’s own moves. In other words, the release of an attractive-looking slim tablet by another company could be the trigger that Apple are waiting for.