The Apple logo is pictured at a retail store in the Marina neighborhood in San Francisco, California April 23, 2014.
The Apple logo is pictured at a retail store in the Marina neighborhood in San Francisco, California April 23, 2014. REUTERS

Still have not bagged an iPad Pro? Wait for few more months. The next offering from Apple might have something in store for you. The iPad Air 3 is slated to be launched in March 2016; it will be a slimmer and lighter device with more powerful features.

Price

The grapevine claims that the base model of the iPad Air 3 will come with a price tag of US$610 (AU$831), much less than the coveted iPad Pro. Apple sells the big screen 32GB Wi-Fi iPad Pro at US$799 (AU$1108).

Apple iPad Air 3 will have better display resolution

Apple iPad Pro is considered to be the best Apple tablet ever released. It sports a gigantic 12.9-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 2732 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. With its Touch ID-equipped Home button , positioning of the Lightning and headphone ports, the general layout and design of the iPad pro resemble the iPad Air 2.

With a 9.7-inch display, the iPad Air 3 is expected to be thinner than its predecessor. It is speculated to tout a 4K resolution of 2334 x 3112 that results in a pixel density of 401 pixels per inch. Just like the latest iPhone 6s, the iPad Air 3 will also sport a 7000 series aluminium body.

New colour added to the iPad Air lineup

Apple iPad Pro is available in Silver, Gold and Space Gray. According to a report in the Tampa Bay Review, the device will also be available in Rose Gold.

Performance

Apple iPad Pro packs a massive 10,307 mAh battery which keeps the tablet alive for 10 hours of multimedia usage. One can only hope that the iPad Air 3 gets a better battery as compared to the 8820 mAh battery of its predecessor.

Same processor and memory

The new iPad Air 3 will see a major upgrade in processing power and memory. The iPad Air 2, which is rated as the overall best tablet of 2015 by Laptop Mag, is run by A8X processor with M8 motion co-processor and houses 2GB of RAM. The successor will get an overhaul and will be powered by Apple A9X processor and will carry 4GB of RAM , like the Apple iPad Pro.

The iPad Pro is available in 32GB and 128GB storage options. As of memory, there is no information on the available native storage options of iPad Air 3. However, the company ships the predecessor in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB internal storage options. Only time will tell, if Apple would kill its 16GB variant and make the 32GB the minimum offering.

Apple’s giant screen iPad Pro with its smart and elegant accessories like Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard boasts of more attractive specs. The high-end device is targeted more for creative people belonging to video production, still photography, design, illustration and animation and may not be suitable for all, reports The New Daily. However, the new generation of iPad Air might be a device to look forward to by all users.

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