Less than a week before its much-awaited arrival, the Apple iPad Air 3 is now being dubbed as the small version of the iPad Pro.
Reports say that instead of an upgraded iPad Air 2, Apple enthusiasts will be introduced to a shrunken iPad Pro.
9to5Mac reports that the new 9.7-inch tablet will feature nearly identical features as the iPad Pro including an Apple Pencil support, the A9X processor, and a 4GB RAM.
The iPad Air 3 will also have the new Smart Connector port which allows users to connect Apple’s new Smart Keyboard.
Leaked images of the devices have tech enthusiasts conclude that the upcoming iPad Air is more likely aligned with the iPad Pro series than the iPad Air line.
MacRumor even called the upcoming device the iPad Pro mini and stated that it won’t be a surprise if the company decides to skip the iPad Air 3 title and give it another name.
Popular leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer shared on his Twitter account the tablet case featured at Chinese commerce site Alibaba.
Based on the images, Steve shared that the alleged iPad case features several cutouts. With a help of a dummy insert, these cutouts appear to be openings for a Smart Connector, four speakers, and an LED camera flash.
These features have long been rumored to come with the upcoming iPad Air 3. Although a new leak is not a confirmation, it does somehow has its authenticity.
The latest addition to the iPad Air series is rumored to pack a 1536 x 2046 screen resolution, an 8-MP rear camera, and a 1.2-MP front-facing camera. It is expected to be preloaded with the current operating system, iOS 9.
The iPad Pro was released last November and is the first iPad to feature a 4GB RAM. It features a 12.9-inch screen, seemingly larger than all previous iPad models.
It includes the A9X chip and the Apple M9 motion co-processor. It also features the Touch ID and the Retina Display. The iPad Pro is known for its two accessories, the Smart Keyboard, and the Apple Pencil.
In terms of appearance, the Apple iPad Air 3 isn’t expected to feature any drastic change and will probably look like its predecessor, but may feature a thinner build.
To support its thinner size, Vine Report speculates that Apple will use a higher strength aluminum for its chassis.
There are also rumors saying that the new iPad model may come with a new Rose Gold color apart from the standard Space Grey, Gold, and Silver color options.
Many were shocked when the Cupertino-based company decided to skip the iPad Air line for an upgrade last year.
The iPad Air 2 was first released way back in 2014 and was never given any update since. Instead, Apple unveiled the iPad Air Pro and a new iPad mini 4 along the 2015’s flagship phones.
Safe to say that a refresh button for the iPad Air series is long overdue. There are also reports that the device will carry the iPad Pro-like stereo speakers which point that the upcoming iPad Air is indeed a mini iPad Pro.
Along with the iPad Air 3, the March 21 event will also unveil a new iPhone. PC Advisor says that earlier speculations suggest that the new iPhone will be called iPhone 5SE. However, it might have been renamed to iPhone SE.
The 4-inch iPhone is rumored to boast of an iPhone 5-esque design with curved edges and features such as Touch ID and an A8 processor.
What’s more is that the price for the upcoming iPhone model will be very affordable. Just to be clear, the new model is not the latest flagship phone of the company. The iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus is slated to make its way in September.