A line drawing of what could be the iPad Air 3 has been posted to Twitter – and suggests a number of small but appreciable enhancements upon its 2014 predecessor, including a set of four speakers.
The experienced tech leaker and Nowhereelse.fr editor Steve Hemmerstoffer, who has previously leaked renders of the iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro ahead of their public unveilings, has brought this new image to light – but warned that he is uncertain about the source’s reliability.
I can't ensure the reliability of my source on this one but I share it with you anyway… #Apple #iPadAir3 #iPad7 pic.twitter.com/d4Knx8nqGw
— Steve Hemmerstoffer (@stagueve) January 23, 2016
If the image is legit, it suggests that the upcoming mid-size slab will come with two speakers along each of its widths. This should result in more immersive sound, and is already a feature of the iPad Pro.
The image also suggests a flash for the back camera and, especially curiously, a return for the mute switch which Apple previously dropped with the iPad Air 2. Bringing back this little switch would certainly attract comment, as it has also been omitted even from the much larger iPad Pro.
Of course, this image gives no indication of what technical improvements the iPad Air 3 could come with. Judging from previous reports and rumor, we can realistically expect a 4K screen resolution of 2334 x 3112, but – according to an analyst with a history of accurate predictions about Apple – no 3D Touch.