New iPad Air Rumored to Launch This Spring With A15 Chip, 5G, Center Stage Camera, and More

Apple is planning to release a fifth-generation iPad Air with similar features as the sixth-generation iPad mini, including an A15 Bionic chip, 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage support, 5G for cellular models, and Quad-LED True Tone flash, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara.

ipad air 4 video
Citing reliables sources in China, the report claims that the new iPad Air could be announced alongside the third-generation iPhone SE in spring 2022.

The new iPad Air will have the same overall design as the current model, including a single-lens rear camera, the report adds. Released in October 2020, the current iPad Air features a 10.9-inch display with slim bezels, a Touch ID power button, and a USB-C port, with color options including Space Gray, Silver, Green, Rose Gold, and Sky Blue.

Apple's first product event of the year will likely take place in March or April as usual, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, so it's possible that the new iPad Air and iPhone SE models could be announced at that event.

Mac Otakara accurately reported that the fourth-generation iPad Air would be equipped with a USB-C port, and that the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro would be 0.5mm thicker to accommodate for a mini-LED display. On the other hand, the website has made some inaccurate claims, including that new AirPods Pro would launch in April 2021.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is finally here, and as always this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...

Top Rated Comments

Mr. Dee Avatar
51 months ago
Are you all noticing the trend here? Apple includes features exclusive to the Pro models a year later on the cheaper models. The best way to play this game is to always wait. There is just too much diminishing value on the Pro models of many Apple products. My friend bought a iPhone 12 (non-Pro) 6.1 and he is more than happy with it. I am even thinking of upgrading to the 12 later this year from my X. I guess you could say its a great time to be alive.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
51 months ago
This makes sense. It will bring the iPad Air more in line with what was added to the Mini last year. At this point the Mini feels more like an iPad Air Mini instead of just an iPad Mini.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rui no onna Avatar
51 months ago

If Apple adds these features, they will surely increase the price by $100+. Tired of non ground breaking features being added purely for the sake of skyrocketing the price to capture more of consumers hard earned revenue. I’d rather have the cheaper iPad Air but they will likely no longer sell it to force people to hand over even more money.
I doubt it’ll increase by $100+. Maybe $50 at most.

The Air already got a $100 price bump in 2020 when Apple changed the chassis. The new rumored changes are fairly minor and pretty much just catching up with the mini 6. Heck, even the $329 iPad got Center Stage.

$399 mini 5 A12, 3GB
$499 Air 3 A12, 3GB

$599 Air 4 A14, 4GB

$499 mini 6 A15, 4GB
$599-649? Air 5

Heck, even at $649, the Air 5 doesn’t make much sense when compared to the $799 iPad Pro 11 (frequently on sale for $699-749). Until Apple releases a Mini-LED iPP 11 for $899, I reckon it’s more likely they will keep the $200 price gap between Air and Pro 11.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rui no onna Avatar
51 months ago

Are you all noticing the trend here? Apple includes features exclusive to the Pro models a year later on the cheaper models. The best way to play this game is to always wait. There is just too much diminishing value on the Pro models of many Apple products. My friend bought a iPhone 12 (non-Pro) 6.1 and he is more than happy with it. I am even thinking of upgrading to the 12 later this year from my X. I guess you could say its a great time to be alive.
It’s not always a year. Some of the features being added to the Air now have been available since the 1st gen Pro (2015/16). Even then, there are still features like quad speakers and ProMotion that still haven’t made their way downmarket. 512GB+ storage options are still strictly the domain of iPad Pros despite 512GB making its way to mid-range iPhones.

I’m quite happy sticking with my iPhone SE. I don’t use my phone much to justify the high cost plus OLED iPhones give me migraines. On the iPad though, I’m willing to (grudgingly) spend more to get the features I want (mainly high storage and RAM).
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bandaman Avatar
51 months ago

If Apple adds these features, they will surely increase the price by $100+. Tired of non ground breaking features being added purely for the sake of skyrocketing the price to capture more of consumers hard earned revenue. I’d rather have the cheaper iPad Air but they will likely no longer sell it to force people to hand over even more money.
That would be unfortunate. Don't like price hikes. Hopefully it doesn't happen.



Oh boy! Mini bumped to 499 was already a hard pill to swallow. Wonder how much Air would be hiked.
The Mini did have quite an overhaul though.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
51 months ago

If Apple adds these features, they will surely increase the price by $100+. Tired of non ground breaking features being added purely for the sake of skyrocketing the price to capture more of consumers hard earned revenue. I’d rather have the cheaper iPad Air but they will likely no longer sell it to force people to hand over even more money.
wanna bet? ipad air was already increase by $100 with the redesign
So, no, no price increase, stop miss-leading users
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)