iPad Air 3 and 9.7-inch iPad Pro Mini news

It’s been more than a year since the iPad Air 2 launched, but finally, rumors are starting to emerge about the iPad Air 3. Apple is said to be releasing its refreshed 9.7-inch tablet in March 2016. So far, rumors hint that the iPad Air 3 will take several cues from Apple’s giant iPad Pro in order to make it more appealing to customers. In 2015, tablet sales began to decline for Apple and other manufacturers, but the iPad Pro has been something of a success in these troubled times for tablets.
Related: iPad Pro review
Although much is still unknown about the iPad Air 3, rumors have begun to pick up in early 2016. Here’s everything we think we know about the iPad Air 3 so far.
Updated on 03-10-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in images showing what may be the case to a new iPad

New iPad to be an iPad Pro Mini?

Rather than playing the part of a sequel, it looks as though the latest Apple iteration will be part of the iPad Pro line. Think of this latest iPad as the 13-inch MacBook Pro to its 15-inch sibling — a 9.7-inch version would be a smaller alternative to the original 12.9-inch model.
Following on from reports the iPad Air 3 may support the Apple Pencil stylus, and have a Smart Connector for a keyboard, a set of images leaked on Twitter via Steve Hemmerstoffer, a regular device leaker. The pictures show a case for an iPad, which is referred to as the iPad 7, iPad Air 3, and the iPad Pro Mini. It’s notable due to cutouts for dual speakers on the top — there could be another two on the base, like the iPad Pro, but it’s not pictured here — plus the three-pin Smart Connector on the side.
The camera lens cutout is also big enough to accommodate a flash unit, which has also been rumored for inclusion on the next iPad model, whatever it may end up being called.

A new spring launch

Apple used to release new iPads like clockwork in the fall, but when the iPad Pro launched, the iPad Air 3 was nowhere to be found. Previously, a 9to5Mac report hinted at the possibility of a March launch date, and while that seemed to be reaffirmed by another report suggesting a March 15 unveiling, the latest news suggests that the highly anticipated product event will actually take place the week of March 21. Not only will the iPad Air 3 be shown off that week, but also the iPhone 5SE, and new Apple Watch band options. It’s still unclear as to whether Apple always planned it this way or if it had to move the date.

More speakers and design rumors

So far, we haven’t heard much about the iPad Air 3’s design, although Apple isn’t expected to change it too much. The iPad Air 3 will likely be all-metal, super slim, and sleek like always. This is reflected in a leaked image showing a supposed schematic of the future tablet, sent to Engadget. The body is a very similar shape to the iPad Air 2, but with several differences that echo previous rumors.
Four speaker grills are shown — two on the top and two on the base — there’s a connector which may link to a keyboard accessory, and also a hole under the camera lens for what may be the first LED flash unit on an Apple tablet. Apparently sourced from a reliable contact, the picture also has some dimensions, which show tiny increases in the width and thickness of the tablet.
Related: Read our review of the iPad Mini 4
The leak follows another from  Nowhereelse.fr, and matches it closely, except for the absence of the keyboard connector port. It was claimed at the time of the leak that it was a design drawing of the Air 3.

Nowhereelse.fr

In the drawing, the Air 3 clearly sports four speakers — just like the iPad Pro. The extra speakers would certainly provide a better audio experience than previous Airs have. The only other visible change seen in the drawing is the addition of an LED flash next to the rear camera. Of course, neither of these images may represent the actual design of the iPad Air 3, but both say their sources have been accurate in the past. For now, both remain unofficial, and therefore only rumor.

An Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard for the Air 3?

Accessories are a possibility for the iPad Air 3, considering the iPad Pro launched with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. 9to5Mac hinted that the two accessories may hit the iPad Air 3, too. Tech site Macotakara spotted some third-party iPad cases with the same Smart Connector that the iPad Pro uses to connect to Apple’s new keyboard accessory and third-party ones. The cases appear to be intended for the iPad Air 3, so it’s possible that Apple will introduce a version of its Smart Keyboard for the new 9.7-inch Air 3. Of course, the cases could also be fakes and the source isn’t the most reliable, so it’s best to treat this as a rumor right now.

Macotakara/Alibaba

A late January report from 9to5Mac revealed that Apple is currently testing versions of the iPad Air 3’s touchscreen with the Apple Pencil. Although it’s not certain that the Air 3 will support Pencil, it seems like it’s a real possibility. Since Apple sells the stylus separately, Pencil support on other iPad models like the Air 3 would generate a nice bit of cash for the company.
Related: The 10 best iPad accessories to make more of your Apple tablet
We might see a smaller keyboard for the 9.7-inch tablet to interest professional types who want a smaller display, though this is nothing more than speculation for the moment.

Updated specs and iOS 9.3

Often times, the iPad Air sees minimal updates at best between models, but this year we might see a few big changes, as Apple tries to make the tablet appealing to customers that want similar performance to the iPad Pro in a smaller package.
The iPad Air 3 might come with a 4K display (3,840 x 2,160-pixels), 4GB of RAM, and a larger battery, according to a late January report from DigiTimes. That would be a huge leap in performance from the iPad Air 2, which comes with a 1,536 x 2,056-pixel display and 2GB of RAM. Before you get too excited, the report cites unnamed supply chain sources, and DigiTimes is sometimes wrong about Apple device news.
In September, MyDrivers also reported that the iPad Air 3 may feature an upgraded display, with a 2,334 x 3,112-pixel density. That is less than the DigiTimes report, but more in line with Apple’s oddball resolution choices.
Related: 7 must-have iPad Pro accessories for your new tablet
The iPad Pro features an A9X processor, Apple’s newest chipset, and we suspect the iPad Air 3 may run on the same chip. Apple hasn’t revealed the A10 processor yet, and we expect the iPad Air 3 to launch a few months before the iPhone 7, which is expected to feature a new processor.
Ming-Chi Kuo said in a December report that the iPad Air 3 will not feature Force Touch, Apple’s new pressure-sensitive display technology for iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The iPad Pro didn’t have Force Touch, so it is unlikely the iPad Air 3 would receive special treatment.
Although iOS 9.3 is still in beta, we’ve seen several new education features, including Classroom, which might help sell educators on iPads for the classroom. There’s also the Night Shift mode, which lessens the amount of blue light your phone emits before bedtime for a more restful sleep. 9to5Mac claims that the new software will arrive right in time for the Air 3.
We expect a lot more leaks and rumors to arrive in the time between now and March, and we will continue to update this article as we receive more information.