Sep 26, 2016 07:45 AM EDT By Vinay Patel, UniversityHerald Reporter

The recently concluded iPhone 7 unveiling event didn't quite turn out to be what avid Apple fans were anticipating it to be. While the Cupertino based tech firm unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2, the company remained mum regarding its line of tablet flagships, particularly the equally anticipated, iPad 3.

That being said, optimistic fans hazard a guess that since Apple iPad 3 was a no-show during the iPhone 7 unveiling event that took place on September 7, the next likely timeframe for the device's launch could be sometime in the first quarter of 2017.

The speculations stems from a recently released theory by acclaimed analyst from KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo claimed that Apple is likely to roll out three different variants of iPads in 2017 - the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and an economical 9.7-inch iPad. It's worth noting that Kuo did not include a variant for the last mentioned iPad on the list. This stirred conversations among gadget enthusiasts that this could be the long awaited iPad Air 3, MacRumors reported.

Another reason why Apple could opt to launch the device in a "spaced-out" manner is the dramatically dropping sales of tablets in the wake of the recent onslaught of hybrid tablet's popularity.

Likewise, the purported iPad Air 3 is expected to boast an array of awe-inspiring features, and if the device's 2017 release date comes to fruition, it won't be surprising if the purported device turns out to be at the top of every buyer's list as it is said to come with some killer features.

The iPad Air 3 is expected to be powered by a robust A10 processor and a fresh iOS 10 out of the box. Moreover, it is likely to come with the minimum 64GB of internal memory.

But that's not all! If rumors proved to be true, the iPad Air 3 will feature an AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display with 2,048 x 1,538 resolution. In addition, it is said to be equipped with four-speaker audio system, and Apple support, ChristianDaily reported.

Furthermore, iPad Air 3 is pegged to support the tech firm's Apple Pencil; however, those interested in getting their hands on the accessory will need to shell out some extra money.

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