Apple iPad Air 3 Rumors: Report Says Next-Gen iPad Could Be 9.7-Inch Version Of iPad Pro

Rumored to be unveiled in March, the Apple iPad Air 3 has been garnering a lot of attention, much like the flagship smartphones. However, a new report says the iPad Air 3 might turn out to be a compact version of the gigantic Apple iPad Pro.

Portal 9to5Mac says the next-generation iPad will have similar configurations as the iPad Pro. But then, the size of the display will be smaller at 9.7 inches. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, carries a huge 12.9-inch screen. Not to forget, Apple marketed this device as a 2-in-1 tablet much like the Microsoft Surface Pro 3/4 series.

With similar configurations and smaller footprint, there are rumors that the device could be called the “iPad Pro Mini” instead of “iPad Air 3.” But there is no confirmation from Apple thus far. However, the March event would likely see the launch of the 4.0-inch iPhone 5se, Apple Watch improvements and an iPad variant.

The upcoming iPad is expected to come powered by Apple A9X processor and backed by 4 GB of RAM. This device will also feature quad-speakers.

As it turns out, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro (or iPad Air 3) will reportedly support Apple Pencil. Thanks to the magnet-based Smart Connector, the California tech giant will extend a mini version of the Smart Keyboard to fit the upcoming iPad.

Speaking of color choices, Apple will be making the 9.7-inch iPad available in the traditional silver, gold and space gray hues. The tablet will apparently be available in two variants. This includes a Wi-Fi only model with either 32 GB or 128 GB of native storage space and a Wi-Fi + Cellular version bundled with 128 GB of storage capacity.

Phone Arena says the next-gen iPad will set the buyers back in the ambit of $799 and $1,079.

As always, readers should note that Apple has not confirmed the 9.7-inch iPad specifications or price thus far.