iPad Air 3 release date, rumors, latest news: Apple to launch three new iPads this year?

An industry analyst has predicted that Apple will be launching at least three new iPad models in the second quarter of 2017, and one of them could be the long-rumored iPad Air 3.

As reported by MacRumors, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a new research report which discusses his expectations regarding the future of Apple's iPad line-up. According to Kuo, Apple is planning to introduce three iPads in 2017: a 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2; a 10 or 10.5-inch mid-size, bezel-free model; and a "low-cost" 9.7-inch iPad.

The 12.9-inch as well as the 10 or 10.5-inch iPad pro models are expected to be powered by the A10X chip, a beefed-up version of the A10 chip featured in the iPhone 7. This high-end chip will reportedly be manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

On the other hand, the low-cost 9.7-inch model will be equipped with the A9 chip (similar to the chip found in the iPhone 6s), which will be manufactured by Samsung.

Kuo also predicts that the low-priced 9.7-inch iPad will likely be the biggest seller among all three iPad models, accounting for 50 up to 60 percent of total iPad shipments. The 10-plus-inch iPad Pro is also expected to see more demand from commercial and tender markets.

According to Tech Radar, it is possible that the rumored 9.7-inch model will not be a part of the iPad Pro line-up at all. If its power and specs are not in the league of the other rumored iPad Pro models, the more affordable Apple tablet could be marketed as the iPad Air 3 instead.

As previously reported, earlier rumors suggested that the iPad Air 3 could sport a 12-megapixel camera and an improved Bluetooth capacity. With 4 GB of RAM, the tablet could be released three variants, differing in internal storage capacity (64GB, 128GB and 256GB).

Should Kuo's predictions prove to be true, Apple supporters and tech enthusiasts can expect the iPad Air 3 to arrive sometime this year, between April and June.