With the introduction of the 3D Touch, users expect that the devices Apple will put out in the future will have the said feature. However, word on the street is that the purported new tablet from Cupertino, the iPad Air 3, will not be donning the new technology.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, whose track record on Apple predictions is deemed reliable, claimed in his latest research notes that the latest iteration of the Apple tablet will be skipping 3D Touch due to production issues.
"While we think the 3D Touch supply chain produced more to avoid shortages in the early stages, slower end-product demand and improved back-end assembly yield have resulted in the current high inventory," Kuo said via (9to5mac).
"As 1Q16 demand looks to slow on seasonality and competition from other brands' new models, we believe 3D Touch supply chain capacity utilization is currently lower than peak level of 30%, and that will last through 1Q16," he added.
The iPad Air 3 is expected to be unveiled in March along with a 4-inch iPhone as well as the second iteration of the Apple Watch. The smartwatch is expected to get the 3D Touch. It was in the original edition of the product that Apple actually introduced the technology.
Interestingly, the undersized budget-friendly iPhone will also do without the feature. However, this move is necessitated by the fact that being a low-end version of its mobile offerings, Apple is simply cutting the costs.
Macworld points out that the Apple iPhone 7, the supposed smartphone flagship of the company, will have 3D Touch on board. The device is expected to be released in September next year. From the looks of it, Apple is doing away with the acclaimed feature from its first batch of releases next year such as the iPad Air 3 to cater to its later offerings.
Whether or not the iPad Air 3 will get 3D Touch, only time will tell.
