Another iPad Air 3 Design Drawing Points to Smart Connector, Similar Dimensions as iPad Air 2

A new drawing of the unannounced iPad Air 3 highlights the dimensions of the device, with the potential for the third generation iPad Air to have similar dimensions as the iPad Air 2 (via Engadget). According to the image, the iPad Air 3 will be 6.15 mm thick and 169.6 mm wide, meaning the new tablet would end up about 0.05 mm thicker and 0.1 mm wider than the iPad Air 2.

Since the dimensions are so close to one another, and factoring in the possibility for rounding and measurement errors, it's a good possibility that the iPad Air 3 will be around the same size as the second generation iPad Air tablet.

ipad air 3 dimensions

Image via Engadget

Today's drawing also supports previous rumors surrounding the iPad Air 3's potential features, including a four-speaker design to boost audio quality in the same vein as the iPad Pro. A Smart Connector port can be seen on the side of the device, which would give the new iPad support for accessories like a Smart Keyboard. Previous case leaks and rumors for the iPad Air 3 have been less consistent on the inclusion of a Smart Connector, with some showing a cutout for the accessory port and some not.

The sketch also supports the rumored addition of a rear-facing LED flash onto the iPad line, which would make the iPad Air 3 the first of Apple's tablets to get the feature.

At the company's September event last year, only the iPad mini received a refresh, along with the debut of the iPad Pro. Due to its elongated lifespan, the iPad Air has been rumored to get its own update during the first half of 2016, potentially at a March media event.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

Monday December 15, 2025 9:09 am PST by
The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station. According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display....
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...

Top Rated Comments

RamGuy Avatar
129 months ago
Seems like Apple is responding to the downward spiral of the iPad sales by going all out on this new iPad Air model.
They are adding about everything they possibly can, if it comes with support for Apple Pencil and fully featured A9X it will be a beast.

But will that change anything? I guess the Pencil part will make Apple sell more units, but the big problem with iPad sales is that each model is simply too good. I know a lot of people with iPad 2 and they still find them to more than good enough for what they use it for. They will all grab themselves a new iPad down the road, but not until the one they already have is falling in some way or another.


Compared to the iPhone, the iPad is considered a secondary devices or a "luxury" device they can't afford to replace as often as their primary and most personal device being their phone. Combine that with the fact that iPad has been so great for so many generations whereas most people do not feel any real need for upgrading even their old iPad 2's, Apple will have a really hard time making people upgrading these as often as Apple would like them to.



Apple is also to blame in terms of the software. The home screen and the utilisation of the screen real estate is getting really long in the tooth. I do understand that Apple do not put much attention to the home screen and the whole "springboard" as users spend 99,99% of their time within actual apps so what's the real point in wasting time on changing the home screen / springboard when users are only seeing it for a split second while their launch one of their apps.

But looking at the iPad Air, and especially iPad Pro those huge icons with tons of wasted space between them is getting rather ridiculous.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yelmurc Avatar
129 months ago
I just want it to be able to use the Apple Pencil. The rest is just gravy.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
puma1552 Avatar
129 months ago
Based on those pics, it's going to be ANOTHER year of the super boring 2012 iPhone 5 chamfered edges?

Please Apple, leave the chamfered edge design in the past, time to get with the program and update the design language. This should look like an iPhone 6/6S with curved glass. Spare me the spiel about curved glass for swiping on your phone, you can do that on the iPad too.

I refuse to update my Air 2 until there's actually a fresh design from a cosmetic standpoint. Adding speakers and a flash to the existing design doesn't count - I want something entirely new to look at.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
129 months ago
Just give me pencil support
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smizzle Avatar
129 months ago
Interesting that there is still a headphone jack on this. Why would they keep it on the iPad but drop it from the phone?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33man Avatar
129 months ago
Soon they will sell the I-weight to give some weight to their products to avoid them flying away upon a breeze...

Owning an ipad 3 and a mini 2, this version with 4speakers sounds interesting but will it be overpriced?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)