A new iPad Air might come out alongside the iPhone 12, in accordance to a couple leaks now, and it is starting to appear doubtless that the iPad Air 4 would be the subsequent Apple tablet we see.
The iPad Air line is Apple’s second most top-end collection of tablets, sitting below the iPad Pros however above the entry-level and iPad Mini ranges. We last saw this kind of tablet in the iPad Air 3 in 2019, so this new tablet could be the iPad Air 4, though it might not be marketed as that.
We’ve heard quite a few leaks concerning the iPad Air 4, many of which recommend it is coming tremendous quickly, and we’re starting to get a pretty good picture of what the upcoming tablet might be like, from its design to some features.
We’ve listed everything we all know concerning the iPad Air Four beneath, in addition to what we wish to see within the new tablet, based mostly on what the iPad Air Three was like together with the most effective factors of Apple’s other tablets, and what the corporate’s rivals are doing within the tablet market.
Hopefully, we’ll get affirmation of the brand new iPad tablet quickly, to see how lots of the leaks and hopes come true.
Latest update: A report suggests the iPad Air 4 could come out alongside the iPhone 12 series, and get proven at that system’s launch occasion too. That mentioned, different sources are claiming it will be unveiling by way of a press launch on September 8.
Reduce to the chase
- What is it? Apple’s subsequent mid-range tablet
- When is it out? Maybe towards the tip of 2020, possibly later
- How much will it cost? Probably around $499 / £479 / AU$779
New iPad Air 4 release date and price
Apple doesn’t typically rely on yearly release patterns for its tablets, in contrast to its phones, which is why the iPad Air 3’s March 18, 2019 release date wasn’t repeated a year later for the brand new tablet.
We have been hoping for a late 2020 release date, and that is nonetheless doable, particularly as in late August an unknown Apple slate was listed on a Eurasian Financial Fee (EEC) database – one thing that tends to occur around two months earlier than launch.
One report says the new iPad Air might debut alongside the iPhone 12 on the smartphone’s launch in September or October 2020, with the Apple Watch 6 in tow too. If true, which means we’ll see it fairly quickly.
That backs up a leak which said {that a} new iPad shall be introduced on the week commencing September 7, although that precise date appears not possible. Another sources have mentioned a press launch is about for September 8 and it will embrace particulars on the iPad Air 4.
Nonetheless, one other rumor we have heard particularly about that slate says it would land later than that, in March 2021.
That rumor additionally says the iPad Air worth will begin at $649 (roughly £500, AU$900), for a model with 128GB storage, and that’ll only go up for the 256GB and 512GB variations the leak says are coming.
Given the previous iPad Air started for $499 / £479 / AU$779, that will be a big worth enhance in some areas.
Apple doesn’t always change the price of its tablets for brand spanking new iterations although, and as a substitute usually reductions the older models to differentiate them. So we’re holding out that the brand new iPad Air won’t be too much pricier than its predecessor.
New iPad Air 4 leaks and news
The first leak we heard gave us some key possible details about the new iPad Air – it details two huge changes the tablet could have over its predecessor.
For one, the iPad Air 2020 might have USB-C connectivity, as a substitute of a Lighting port, whereas the other elements mentioned is an 11-inch size, over the 10.5-inch iPad Air 3.
These changes would make the brand new iPad Air Four appear extra just like the iPad Pro 2020 than earlier models. That could assist further differentiate it from the basic iPad vary, however, dangers making it overly similar to the Pro vary.
We’ve since seen a leaked manual and a few schematics that recommend that it will certainly be the year that the iPad Air takes on the iPad Pro stylings. Nonetheless, we’re not yet clear on a number of the details, such as whether or not Touch ID will go away entirely.
One other smaller leak suggested the iPad Air will get an in-screen fingerprint scanner, a know-how Apple hasn’t embraced despite most top-end Android phones utilizing it. We’re not completely satisfied that Apple would add this tech to an iPad Air earlier than an iPad Pro although.
We have had one large leak though, which concurred with the USB-C and 11-inch assertations, and added a lot more.
Apparently the tablet will have a design much like the iPad Pro, Face ID log-in (no point out of the in-screen Contact ID although), four stereo speakers, one rear camera, a Liquid Retina show and the A14 or A14X Bionic chipset (anticipated in the iPhone 12).
That leak makes the iPad Air Four appear rather a lot like an ‘iPad Pro Lite’, as if true the brand new tablet could have a lot of features of the top-end slates. We’ll should see when it is launched although.
The design remark is intriguing too – does this imply the iPad Air might have flat edges, or no dwelling button?
New iPad Air 4: what we want to see
That is what we want to see changed, or new, within the iPad Air 4.
1. Apple Pencil 2 connectivity
The iPad Air 3 solely labored with the unique Apple Pencil, which actually had its drawbacks (it was an actual ache to cost, for example). Current iPad Pro fashions use the second-generation Apple Pencil, which solves all the unique’s points and extra.
2. Drop the Touch ID and physical button
One other indicator of the iPad Air’s budget DNA is its use of Touch ID, with a physical button and an enormous bezel to house it – the entry-level iPad makes use of this design, whereas the current iPad Pro models use Face ID and have a lot thinner bezels.
Whether or not or not Apple desires the iPad Air to appear extra just like the Pro items, it must cease utilizing this antiquated design for its mid-range tablets, and go away such a construct for the entry-level tablets or iPad Minis.
As a substitute, we’d wish to see Apple roll Face ID out to the iPad Air items or, as one leak states, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, so the bezel might be drastically lowered.
3. A newer chipset
One thing that’s prone to occur, however which we’d actually wish to see anyway, is the brand new iPad Air models utilizing a newer chipset, probably the A13 Bionic we noticed within the iPhone 11 vary.
4. A USB-C port
One rumor suggests the new iPad Air 2020 could have a USB-C port, as a substitute of the Lightning port Apple’s gadgets have a tendency to make use of, and this is a change we’d actually wish to see.
USB-C ports allow for faster charging, and also faster data switch, so each for productiveness and common use it’s much more helpful than Lightning.
The iPad Pro 2020 units have USB-C, so there’s actually a precedent for Apple utilizing this tech, and actually it’s been rumored for a couple of years that iPhones will begin using it too, though that’s not truly occurred up to now.
5. The same (relatively) low price
We’ve been calling the iPad Air line ‘mid-range’, however in the grand scheme of Apple’s tablet line-up it’s a lot nearer to the entry-level iPads and iPad Minis than the expensive iPad Pro fashions. We’d like this to remain identical for the iPad Air 4.