Mar 14, 2017 03:25 PM EDT By Natalie Scott, UniversityHerald Reporter

Rumors about iPad Air discontinuation started to surface the internet last year but latest reports claim that the third-gen is under development. However, iPad Air 3 release date is reportedly being delayed because Apple has decided to resize it from 9.7-inch to 10.5-inch.

The New iPad Air is Coming

The spirit of iPad Air's loyal fans have uplifted once again when latest reports suggest about the latest release of its third-generation model. According to PC Advisor, the reliable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has already predicted last August that the next iPad Air will cost cheaper than iPad Pro 2 lineup, a 9.7-inch screen display and will be fueled by an A9 processor chipset.

Taking hints from Apple's formula for their 9.7-inch iPads, iPad Air 3 is presumed to sport a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels and 264ppi pixel density. It's not yet confirmed whether the device will feature a four-speaker audio system and Apple pencil support, but reports claim that an upgraded camera will probably make it, Expert Reviews reported.

When it comes to the physical aspect, iPad Air 3 is said to feature 6.1mm thin body or even thinner as Apple planned to shave off the next iPad Air's model. The device is also said to be built with the stronger aluminum material for durability and will come in three color options Gold, Silver and Space Grey and the possible addition of a Rose Gold model.

iPad Air 3 Release Date

There is an on-going confusion about the possible release date for iPad Air 3. While the iPad Pro 2 models are rumored to be released in March, DigiTimes reported that iPad Air 3 release date could be pushed back to the second half of the year since the device is still on the planning stage and Apple still has a lot of revisions in mind most especially to the device's size. 

However, another report suggests that iPad Air 3 could possibly have a back-to-back release with iPhone 8 during iPhone's 10th anniversary celebration on September. Though no official announcement from Apple yet as of this time. 

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