iPad Air 3 Will Not Feature 3D Touch?: 2016 Release Date, Rumors & Specs

The iPad Air 3 will reportedly be released in March 2016. The follow up to the iPad Air 2 was noticably absent in September of this year when Apple announced its roster of new Apple products. The latest rumors have surfaced that the iPad Air 3 will be lacking one major feature.

When the iPad Air 3 was absent in September, people had already given up hope that the tablet would be released. However, rumors refuse to die down and it looks like they are here to stay. 

9 To 5 Mac reports that incorporating the 3D Touch feature will be highly unlikely because of production issues. KGI's renowned tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that although the 3D Touch supply chain produced more to avoid shortages during the early stages, slower end-product demand might have resulted in the current high inventory.

The first quarter of 2016 wants to slow down on seasonality and competition from other brands' new models. Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the 3D Touch supply chain capacity utilization is currently lower than the peak level of 30%.

Despite this, the iPad Air 3 should become one of the most highly anticipated tablets of 2016. It is most likely to be Apple's "thinnest tablet" to date. The iPad Air models are known for their slim build and lightweight appearance, making them seem "lighter than air." The previous iPad Air models also ran on relatively faster chipsets compared to the lower-end iPad Mini models.

The iPad Air 2 was one of the hottest selling tablets when it was initially released. It will be interesting to see how Apple will be able to follow up on the success of the iPad Air 2. Like the iPad Air 2, the iPad Air 3 will also have the Touch ID technology. It will most likely be offered in space grey, gold and silver variants. It is uncertain for now if the iPad Air 3 will also be available in rose gold, much like the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. 

The iPad Air 2 is already relatively slim, but thanks to a smaller battery in the iPad Air 3, which allows it to shrink down to just 5mm thick, the iPad Air 3 will be slimmer. The iPad Air 3 will also include waterproofing or dust-resistant features.

The Apple Insider also said that Apple still plans to release the 9.7-inch iPad line next spring, which will most likely be on March 2016. The iPad Air 3 is also expected to be powered by the powerful Apple A9X chipset that is also present in the "laptop killer" iPad Pro. This processor will most likely be supported by 3 to 4GB RAM.

The iPad Air 3 is also expected to boast a rear shooter of 8-megapixels. The iPad Air 3 will most likely come at a price tag of $610.