We’ve been reporting plenty about the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but so far there’s been next to nothing about the next-generation iPad Air, which most people are expecting this fall alongside a new iPad mini.
According to a new report, there’s a very good reason for that: The iPad Air 3 has been delayed until next year so that Apple’s manufacturers can instead focus on preparing the iPad Pro instead.
Liaoxian Li, an investment advisor at Fubon Hardware, says that the iPad Air 3 will arrive in 2016, and that Apple will unveil the iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro at its now-traditional iPad event in the fall. In addition, it is suggested that this will be the last iPad mini Apple releases, so that it can focus on the two larger-size iPads in future.
It’s an interesting idea, but it’s worth noting that Economic Daily News doesn’t always have the best record for Apple news. Certainly last year’s iPad mini appeared as a bit of an afterthought, simply adding Touch ID and nothing else of note, although possible leaks of the iPad mini 4 have shown a more comprehensive redesign.
With Apple having enormous success with the larger-size iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it makes sense that the 7.9-inch iPad mini would be squeezed more than most due to a lack of differentiation.
If Apple does indeed release a larger-size iPad as many are anticipating, do you think Apple should scrap the mini altogether? Leave your thoughts below.
Via: Macotakara
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
12 responses to “Apple may drop iPad Air 3 to focus on iPad Pro in 2015”
Interesting. I use an iPad Air 2 as my primary computing device along with a Zagg keyboard case. I would be interested in possibly selling my Air 2 in favor of a larger iPad Pro.
They already abandoned the iPad Mini by not updating it. If they abandon the Air they will be stuck in a very niche market with a product that is rapidly losing market share. I for one do not want a giant iPad. If I am going to sacrifice portability I’ll use my MacBook instead.
Apple hasn’t abandoned the Mini. Nothing in this “report” is remotely true. Stop being so gullible.
As much as I use my iPad Air, I hope this isn’t true. A bigger “pro” model doesn’t appeal to me at all.
It’s not true. Apple isn’t abandoning anything.
I hope they get rid of the mini, way too much stuff right now in all the product lines. Steve is cringing.
You must be talking about Samsung cause that isn’t remotely true of Apple.
The author states that dumping the mini makes sense because of the 6+. I find that most of the people whom this “makes sense” to do not own both a mini and a 6+. The user experience is vastly different between the two devices – a mini is still an ultra-portable iPad, the 6+, while great in it’s own right, does not replace the mini experience.
Having said that, I’m not worried about Apple canceling the mini. This “report” was called ‘sketchy’ by Macrumors – if they called it sketchy, you can bet there’s NO basis behind it.
I also find it amazing in how much stock people are putting into the “iPad Pro” – so much chatter with so very little substance to actually back it.
I think the iPad Pro could be seriously useful if apps like Adobe Comp CC (I might have the name wrong) start becoming more pro-user friendly. Plus, it’d be a nice tool to whip out in front of my clients when I’m visiting them – I know they always like to see that we’re keeping up with technology on our end, and the only other tool I can whip out in a meeting usually gets me arrested.
“Apple’s manufacturers can instead focus on preparing the iPad Pro instead.” Maybe instead you should instead have someone instead check your grammar instead.
No they should not scrap the mini, at least not until/unless iphones begin to be able to run ipad apps. Mini is perfect because of size but also its ability to run the full spectrum of apps
Thanks for the article. Netflix app and Hulu, or BBC is great on iPhone. If live outside USA, you can use tools like UnoTelly to get Netflix app and Hulu, or BBC on your iPad.