Since I’m the author of the best-selling book on the iPad, I get asked about any rumors concerning new iPads. We’ve got a strong rumor right now that Apple will announce the iPad Air 3 on March 15, with availability on March 18.
The iPad Air is the “main” iPad with a 9.7-inch screen. The iPad mini, which was updated last year, is the smaller screen cheaper version. The iPad Pro is the larger screen, more expensive version.
No one doubts that a new iPad Air would include a faster processor and an upgraded camera. But what else is in store?
I’d like to think that it will match the iPad Pro with the ability to use the Apple Pencil and a similar detachable keyboard. I think the main reason why Apple didn’t release an iPad Air 3 last year was that these are the obvious new features and including them with a new iPad Air 3 would have seriously hurt iPad Pro sales. A lot of people would have bought the iPad Air 3 instead of the iPad Pro.
I personally don’t have much interest in the Apple Pencil since I can’t draw. But I would probably get one if it worked with the iPad Air 3, just to try it out and see how it could make other tasks easier.
Do you have an iPad Pro with a Pencil? If so, what do you use the Pencil for besides drawing? Whether you currently have a Pencil or not, do you prefer a $799 iPad Pro or a $499 iPad Air?
I use the pencil for everything I do on the iPad Pro. I love how smooth it moves across the screen. It greatly increases my efficiency while using the iPad pro. I prefer the iPad Pro to the iPad Air; mainly because of its size. I have some vision problems and the larger screen size is very helpful.
My colleague is working really hard on going paperless this year and the iPad Pro with Pencil is serving him very well. I'm tempted to do the same but they're frightfully expensive here in Australia, maybe the new iPad Air 3 would do the trick.
I bought the iPad and tried to use several stylus's for note taking, without success. I am not an artist but am hopeful that the new iPad will have pencil support as I would love to go paperless at last! The iPad Pro is simply too big for my needs. Have felt for a long time now that the iPad Air is the perfect size for portability and constant use.