In October 2013, the very first iPad Air was launched. Exactly one year after that, the iPad Air 2 was released. Because of this annual turnover, the public expected the third redesign to come in 2015 and then in 2016. However, Apple left the iPad Air 3 out of its September event. Furthermore, the device is not expected to appear in the yet-to-be-announced Mac event this month. Instead, the new tablet is estimated to arrive in March 2017.

As PC Advisor notes, there is definitely still a need for the iPad Air line, so Apple has every reason to release the iPad Air 3. There were rumors that the iPad Pro would make the lighter family insignificant, but the pricing is definitely an issue. The Pro line starts at around US$800, which does not provide users with plenty of wiggle room. In order for consumers to upgrade within the US$450 - US$799 price tag, the iPad Air is necessary.

The iPad Air 3, which is expected to come with a roster of new features and better specs, might be thinner than the current 6.1mm iPad Air 2. This is because Apple is reportedly using a stronger, yet lighter aluminum for its build. Much like before, the device will come in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray options. However, the Cupertino-based company might throw in a Rose Gold option as it has done as of late.

Expected to arrive in the what has become Apple's standard 9.7-inch frame, 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution is also likely to be on the table. The iPad Pro 3 is also expected to come powered with the A10 chip, which is currently found in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It is also likely that Apple will install a better camera system in the upcoming tablet.

As Travelers Today adds, Apple might also make the iPad Air 3 compatible to Apple accessories. To do this, the device would need the Smart connector feature for the Smart Keyboard. It is also highly suspected that the Apple Pencil can be of use on the device.