Apple has yet to confirm if it will come out with a new iPad Air iteration this year. According to speculations, should the iPad Air 3 roll out, it will be the last iteration in the lineup, as Apple is said to streamline its products and will discontinue the series.
Reportedly, the new iPad Air 3, while featuring marked improvements and tweaks over the iPad Air 2, will still be released as an above-average tablet lineup, at least until the iPad Pro 2 comes out next year. Supposedly, with Apple streamlining its products, the above-average tablet segment will be taken over by the 2016 edition of the iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch slate with almost similar dimensions and design as the iPad Air lineup. Meanwhile, the top-tier tablet lineup will be taken over by the iPad Pro 2 iterations, which will reportedly come out in both the 12.9-inch original design, as well as a smaller 9.7-inch counterpart.
When the 2016 edition of the iPad Pro was released earlier this year, some industry followers have mentioned that the iPad Air lineup is no more. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has almost the same dimensions and design as the iPad Air – including the weight – though its specs are just a step below the original, larger iPad Pro tablet. In addition, it is said that with the delays on the release of the iPad Air 3, Apple may be thinking of ditching the lineup altogether.
Supposedly, the iPad Air 3 is to be launched late last year, but Apple has changed its schedule in favor of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The setback caused the iPad Air 3's release to be delayed by early 2016. Prior to the 2016 iPad Pro's confirmation, observers predicted that the iPad Air 3 will come out in the planned March launch event.
