iPad Air 3 release date, news, specs rumors: Next Air tablet to arrive March 2017?

For the Apple followers, the arrival of the iPad Air 3 is long overdue. Many tech enthusiasts expected that the next iPad Air iteration would appear in 2015. Unfortunately for those expecting a revamped iPad Air tablet, the Cupertino-based tech giant instead released an entirely new iPad device, the larger and more powerful iPad Pro. With this, there is a growing speculation that Apple has already discontinued the iPad Air series, and the iPad Air 3 will not be seen in the foreseeable future.

To note, it has been two years since Apple released the current iPad Air 2 model. This long period of waiting without any signs of an iPad Air refresh led some people to think that the iPad Air 3 will no longer be released, according to Engadget. Also to add to the growing speculations is the introduction of the iPad Pro last year, boasting a powerful A9X processor, making it far more efficient than the previous iPad Air units with their A8 chipset. 

However, there is still a possibility that the iPad Air 3 will be released in the coming months. Specifically, the next Apple hardware event expected to happen in March 2017 may showcase the newly refresh iPad Air tablet, Yibada reported.

It is rumored that the iPad Air 3's design may adopt the iPhone 6S's 7000 series aluminum body. To further strengthen the specs features of the iPad Air, the next Air tablet may also use the latest A9X chipset similar to the iPad Pro. Likewise, the iPad Air 3 may also use the Retina Flash for its front camera, similar to the smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro variant.

IT Pro noted that the public should not get their hopes up that Apple will continue the iPad Air series next year. With other iPad devices such as the iPad Mini 5 and iPad Pro 2 also rumored to be released next year, there might be a smaller room for the arrival of the iPad Air 3. It is best to wait for Apple's official announcement and take the initial rumors regarding the device with a grain of salt.