Apple iPad Air 3/New iPad Pro Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Apple has officially announced its long-rumored event for March 21. And it’s widely expected that we’ll see two new products unveiled there: a 4-inch iPhone (supposedly called the iPhone SE) and a new 9.7-inch iPad. Whether that new tablet is dubbed the iPad Air 3 or the “iPad Pro (9.7-inch)” — or something else — is anybody’s guess, however.

An iPad update comes at a time when overall tablet sales continue to slow. Last year’s iPad Pro, though well-received by some graphics and media professionals, hasn’t found the broad embrace — popular or critical — of its predecessors. The Mini 4, which also debuted in 2015, is a capable little tablet, essentially a shrunken Air 2. But most shoppers still opt for the older Mini 2, which is available for half the price. And the reception for these two has been especially muted compared to that of the celebrated Air 2, a CNET Editor’s Choice and still the gold standard for the category.

As is custom, Apple has kept mum on what’s coming next and when it’s coming, so we have no choice but to formulate hypotheses. We are fortunate, however, to have legions of Apple fanboys, supply chain moles and educated guessers churning out predictions that we will collect, collate and chronicle in the space below.

Editors’ note: This story was originally posted on January 19, 2016 and last updated on March 11, 2016.

The iPad Air 3 could be a slightly smaller version of 2015’s iPad Pro (far right).

James Martin/CNET

Announcement and release dates

Apple typically introduces new iPads in the fall. The newest models, the iPad Pro and Mini 4, were announced in September 2015, with the latter hitting immediately and the former two months later. The iPad Air 2 hit store shelves in September 2014.

Apple will host an event at 10 a.m. PT on March 21 on its Cupertino, California, campus.

Screenshot by Shara Tibken/CNET

Likely changes are afoot, however. On March 10, Apple invited selected media to a March 21 event at its headquarters. The invite, which teases, “Let us loop you in,” characteristically lacks detail about the nature of the event. Still, in the absence of official word, numerous sources are reporting that Apple will use it to introduce a successor to the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 and a 4-inch iPhone that will replace the iPhone 5S as the company’s entry-level model.

Earlier rumors had suggested that Apple dedicate the event to the celebration of the Apple Watch’s first birthday — and the introduction of its successor. The current consensus, however, is that Apple is more likely to unveil only a WatchOS update and new bands — materials, designs, and colors — rather than new hardware.

Of course, nothing beyond the date of the event is official.

Design

With the Air 2, Apple basically perfected the dimensions of the tablet: it’s exceptionally portable, can be carried easily in one hand, and makes for comfortable reading, playing and viewing. Given the amount of time the company has taken to tinker with the next version, expectations are soaring. But Apple has improved on seemingly perfect products before.

The iPad Pro is far and away the fastest and most powerful Apple tablet at the moment, and, according to 9to5mac.com’s Mark Gurman, the next iPad will follow in its footsteps. He reports that the next-generation 9.7-inch model will be part of a new iPad Pro line and will set the stage for a streamlining of the iPad portfolio, which will include the sunsetting of the iPad Mini 2 and original iPad Air. As for the nomenclature — that’s anyone’s guess. The Apple iPad Pro Mini? The Apple iPad Mini Pro?

Foreshadowing this development, French site Nowhereelse (via AppleInsider) previously predicted that the iPad Air 3 could fold in such iPad Pro features as a quad-speaker upgrade, as well as a first-ever (for an iPad) LED flash for the rear camera. According to 9to5mac.com, the new iPad could feature the same 12-megapixel camera used in the iPhone 6S.

Recent stories from Techradar and Engadget bolstered the four-speaker rumor and suggested the Air 3 would also include Pro-style Smart Connectors for attaching peripherals like keyboards — upgrades that could add a sliver of thickness to the Air 3. Gurman also reports that the new model will include support for the Apple Pencil as well as a smaller version of the Smart Keyboard cover attachment.

Under the hood

Obviously, an iPad hitting in March would run the current iOS 9 operating system, and be in good shape to run its inevitable successor, iOS 10, which would presumably be unveiled in June and released concurrently with the iPhone 7 in September. And by iOS 9, of course, we mean version 9.3 (now in beta) which adds such notable new features as Night Shift, a setting that changes the colors on the screen at night; revamps of Apple’s News and Health apps and CarPlay technology; password protection for Notes; and multiple user accounts for educational settings.

iOS’s new Night Shift feature lets you change the screen color for better nighttime reading.

Sarah Tew/CNET

One thing you likely won’t see on the iPad Air 3 is 3D Touch, the pressure-sensitive display on the newest iPhone models. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that feature is an unlikely to surface on the iPad Air 3 due to “production issues.”

Another area of interest is processing power. A recent Bloomberg profile of Apple SVP for hardware technologies Johny Srouji confirmed that the next iPad Air will come equipped with the A9X chip — the processor currently available only in the iPad Pro.

The iPad Air 2 delivers pretty solid battery life — right around Apple’s rated lifespan of about 10 hours between charges. (You can use the iOS 9 battery-saving feature to extend that as needed, and standby time is especially good.) Though thinner is almost always better, we would hope that Apple would not shave down run time for a microscopically thinner profile.

Pricing

The high-end of the portfolio seems comfortably inhabited by the iPad Pro, which is priced more like a laptop than a tablet and sells for $799 for the 32GB entry-level model. If the iPad Air 3 were to stick to the current pricing scheme as the Air 2, we’ll see something like $499, £399 or AU$699 for a 16GB model; $599, £479 or AU$829 for a 64GB model; and $699, £559 or AU$959 for a 128GB model. LTE connectivity will likely add $130, £100 or AU$160 for each.

But, if Apple leaves the Air 2 in the lineup and dubs the new model a smaller iPad Pro, it’s possible that prices and capacities could be more like $599 (£479 or AU$829) for 32GB, $749 for 128GB.

Scroll down for a reverse-chronological look at the latest rumors.

March 10, 2016

CNET: Apple sends invites for March 21 event with clue ‘let us loop you in’

A 4-inch iPhone and an updated iPad are among the new products expected to be announced.

February 29, 2016

9to5mac.com: New 9.7-inch iPad Pro may best 12.9-inch model with 12MP camera, 4K video

Apple’s next iPad will include a 12 megapixel rear camera comparable to the sensor in the iPhone 6s, according to sources.

February 25, 2016

9to5mac.com: Apple’s next iPad — a 9.7-inch model — will be part of Pro line

Apple could differentiate the next-generation 9.7-inch iPad from its predecessor by making it part of the iPad Pro line.

February 18, 2016

Bloomberg: iPad Air 3 to come equipped with A9X processor

Bloomberg profile of Apple SVP confirms that the next iPad Air will use the A9X currently found only in the iPad Pro.

February 12, 2016

9to5mac.com: 4-inch iPhone 5se & iPad Air 3 planned to go on sale March 18th

Mark Gurman doubles down, calling Apple’s debut of the next iPhone and iPad for mid-March.

February 2, 2016

Buzzfeed: Apple To Debut New iPad, Smaller iPhone At March 15 Event

John Paczkowski predicts that Apple will have a small event on March 15 to announce a 4-inch iPhone and new iPad.

February 1, 2016

Engadget: iPad Air 3 drawing hints at a smaller iPad Pro

Engadget shows off a leaked drawing that seems to confirm the iPad Air 3 will borrow the quad-speaker and Smart Connector design of the larger iPad Pro.

January 28, 2016

CNET: Apple iPad Air 3 may spring up in March

The company will host an event during the week of March 14 to unveil its first products of 2016.

January 25, 2016

Apple Insider: Leaked ‘iPad Air 3’ design suggests four speakers, LED flash

Apple’s rumored third-generation iPad Air might adopt not just a quad-speaker design, but also an LED flash for its rear-mounted camera, according to a design illustration.

January 12, 2016

CNET: 7 new features coming to your iPhone and iPad with iOS 9.3

Apple’s given its next iOS update to developers to test; here’s what’s new and noteworthy.

January 8, 2016

CNET: Hey, Apple, leave that jack alone

The iPhone 7 may be missing a 3.5mm headphone jack when Apple releases the phone this year. A new petition begs the electronics giant not to switch to a Lightning jack.

December 31, 2015

CNET: Apple Byte: Apple’s secret lab is working on 3D Touch for bigger screens like the iPad

Sources report that the iPad Air 3 will be released in the first half of 2016 but is unlikely to get a 3D Touch display.

December 15, 2015

9to5mac: KGI: iPad Air 3 to be released in 1st half of 2016, ‘unlikely to have 3D Touch because of production issues’

Research notes suggest that iPad Air 3 will not feature 3D Touch due to “insufficient supply chain capacity.”

December 3, 2015

CNET: Is the iPhone 7 getting rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack?

A report claims Apple will make Lightning its do-everything port for a slimmer iPhone 7.