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iPad When are we likely to see the Air3

B

Bungleaio

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 28, 2008
73
32
UK
I've been holding out for the Pro but after actually seeing one they are just too big for me. I'm still clinging on to my original 5 year old iPad but it's getting very frustrating to use.

When are we likely to see an update to the standard iPad? I can't remember when apple holds it's events, march?

I'm tempted to just find a decent black friday deal on the Air2 as it will be a massive upgrade from the original iPad that I've got.
 
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I'm kind of in a similar boat except I have the first iPad with a retina display (gen 3, the one they sort of forgot exists). Anyway, I'm holding out to see what happens with force/3d touch and the 4 speaker deal when looking at the next (air3?) iPad. Apple seems to put new features in flagship products first then lets them filter down into other lines like they did with the first unibody macbooks. I think an Air2 sized device that works with the pencil is exactly what I want but it doesn't exist yet.
 
Zeos said:
Well, the original cycle was Spring, and that changed to Fall. No reason it can't change back.
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anything can happen at anytime but I doubt it....for this cycle. I think next cycle you will see the Air/Mini adopt some of the features of the Pro and the Pro get some new features.
 
asoksevil said:
It has been spring until they changed it to fall starting from the iPad 4th.
Click to expand...
They changed it so all of the devices could use the same connector for charging. They gave it a speed bump also....but the big reason is the conversion to lightening.
 
The more I learn about the Pencil, the more I see it staying with the Pro only.

I think the Air 3 will have a slightly higher processor than the current Pro. Only the iPad Mini picks up 'old' spec chips at the moment and the Air line is still the main iPad line for the foreseeable future.
 
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I doubt the air 3 will have pencil support. Aside from a bigger screen, the pencil is the pro's only other usp and without it its just a bigger, faster ipad.

In keeping with its title (Pro) i think the pencil will be exclusive to pro models.
TBH i think apple realise that in reality the pro is just an ipad XL but the pencil kinda gives it it's pro wings
 
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Im the same boat too. Would suck to buy an Air 2 now only for them to release the Air 3 at the spring event. Considering iPads used to be spring release, it's not out of the realm of possibility to go back to a Spring release since it will be 1.5 years old by then and leave the Pro and iPhone together in the fall

Even with Black Friday deals, say the best one getting $150 off, a 64gb Air 2 is still running you $449. The average re-sale price of Air 2s right now (per Swappa) is $434 and lowers every month as the device gets older, and tanks once the new one is announced.

I just think even with a BF deal its risking losing money; especially with the good chance the Air 3 will be ready in 3.5 months (the prior 2 Spring releases were mid-March). This is already the longest Apple has gone without updating one of it's iOS product line. So it may be very well that like the last long upgrade period that they are swapping back to spring for the iPad

Will it be a huge upgrade? Who knows- they could just stick the A9x in it and say Air 3 since 2gb of RAM is still plenty and it's thin enough. Maybe they'll upgrade the cameras, but that's not such a huge deal. Then it would suck to not get the Air 2 $150 off now if it's a small upgrade. It's a tough call
 
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asoksevil said:
Q1 2016, can´t really think of an iPad gong with no updates for a full 2 years.
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I doubt that there will be an update before September. The Black Friday deal at Best Buy today is a good one if you looking to get an air2.
 
bufffilm said:
I doubt that there will be an update before September. The Black Friday deal at Best Buy today is a good one if you looking to get an air2.
Click to expand...

Idk. Apple has never gone 2 years without updating one of its iOS devices. It would be unprecedented.

The longest so far is 12 months (and 2 iPads in 2012- the 3 and 4 when they switched from spring to fall release). The Air 2 will be 16-17 months about mid-March when the spring iPad releases used to be.

I honestly see apple putting the iPad back to a Spring release to space out their products instead of everything in fall; and possibly even doubling up the mini with a new mini too (like they did in 2012 with 2 new iPads in in 6 months to switch release cycles).

So Air 3 (with a9x/m9 and 2 or 3gb RAM) and Mini 5 (a9/m9 and same 2gb RAM- just a processor bump) in spring and iphone and iPad Pro in the fall cycle. It was weird they left the mini on the A8 from 2014 and released it same day as announced. Another breadcrumb they intend to upgrade it quickly too possibly.
 
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Aydy said:
I doubt the air 3 will have pencil support. Aside from a bigger screen, the pencil is the pro's only other usp and without it its just a bigger, faster ipad.

In keeping with its title (Pro) i think the pencil will be exclusive to pro models.
TBH i think apple realise that in reality the pro is just an ipad XL but the pencil kinda gives it it's pro wings
Click to expand...

Agreed, I think that Apple will keep the pencil as a Pro only feature.
 
stulaw11 said:
Im the same boat too. Would suck to buy an Air 2 now only for them to release the Air 3 at the spring event. Considering iPads used to be spring release, it's not out of the realm of possibility to go back to a Spring release since it will be 1.5 years old by then and leave the Pro and iPhone together in the fall

Even with Black Friday deals, say the best one getting $150 off, a 64gb Air 2 is still running you $449. The average re-sale price of Air 2s right now (per Swappa) is $434 and lowers every month as the device gets older, and tanks once the new one is announced.

I just think even with a BF deal its risking losing money; especially with the good chance the Air 3 will be ready in 3.5 months (the prior 2 Spring releases were mid-March). This is already the longest Apple has gone without updating one of it's iOS product line. So it may be very well that like the last long upgrade period that they are swapping back to spring for the iPad

Will it be a huge upgrade? Who knows- they could just stick the A9x in it and say Air 3 since 2gb of RAM is still plenty and it's thin enough. Maybe they'll upgrade the cameras, but that's not such a huge deal. Then it would suck to not get the Air 2 $150 off now if it's a small upgrade. It's a tough call
Click to expand...

I have to agree. The screen and chassis vibration issues turned me off to the Air 2 but I would like an upgrade nonetheless. But... Ehh.... I just can't pull the trigger on the Air 2. The deals aren't good enough yet and I'd be pissed if the Air 3 were to come it in spring. I'm going to keep using my perfectly good Air for now.
 
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