iPad News and Rumors 2016: New iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 5 Specs Teased; What to Expect?
New versions of Apple's iPad devices are stirring up rumor mills within the tech world in terms of their final release dates and specifications.
The iPad Air 3 expected release date
Apple just released the iPad Pro 9.7 inch in March earlier this year. With the 9.7-inch tablet market getting a little bit crowded in the Apple lineup, analysts predict that the new iPad Air will not be released anytime soon.
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However, a low cost iPad is underway, slated for release in 2017. Rumors are still pretty thin to support whether this would be the new iPad Air 3, but the release date, the specs, and the pricing all point toward the unveiling of a new and improved budget tablet.
IPad Air 3 specifications
For the specifications, out with the old, in with the new is the name of the game. The iPad Air 3 is expected to inherit the latest technology Apple has to offer. As the iPad Pro gets updated, the present technology of the Pro lineup would be relegated to the Air tablets, with optimized performance with the least amount of pricing.
The Apple A9 or A9X chipset would see action to power the device, giving the new iPad the smoothest usage performance. Also, Apple is said to be researching and experimenting with new technology to incorporate harder aluminum to the devices' chassis. This would result in a tougher and possibly slimmer overall form factor.
Audio speakers have also been one of the waterloos of the Apple devices, which the Pro lineup solved with its stereo speakers. This feature is expected to make a return in the third iteration of the iPad Air. The device will certainly be run by iOS 10 in the software department, same as all the other devices to be released after its official release in September 2016.
The iPad Mini 5
If Apple stays true to its naming practice, the tech company will never release an iPad Mini 5. It will instead be rebranded as the iPad Mini Pro, as no iPad generation as of yet has released the fifth digit moniker. Rumors are even circulating that Apple will separately introduce the iPad Mini 5 and an iPad Mini Pro.
As opposed to its Air sibling, the new iPad Mini is expected to be released later this year. It may even arrive with the new iPhone on September.
IPad Mini 5 specifications
Similar to the expected iPad Air 3, the new iPad mini is expected to inherit the powerful A9 or A9X chipset. The new aluminum technology would also make the device slimmer and lighter.
Speculations also point to the tablet getting the stereo speakers. In line with the rumors about the new iPhones, the 3.5mm headphone jack is also said to be hacked from the feature set. The device will also be powered by the newly released iOS 10.
Final thoughts
As with previous iPad updates, no drastic changes are expected with both the iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 5. The design, camera, and other technologies present in the current lineups are expected to return.
With the tablet market slowly growing more stagnant, these new iPads are expected to fare well with the public due to their budget-friendly pricing.
