Newly released CAD renderings published by 91 Mobile reveal the design of Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air, with a look at the device's aesthetic components. As expected, these images show an overall look reminiscent of the Aero design of the fourth and fifth generation models, albeit scaled to a larger 12.9-inch screen.
A significant design change is seen in the redesigned rear camera area, which now features an elongated pill-shaped cutout, compared to the single circular cutout on the current iPad Air. This new design resembles the iPhone's rear camera
Turning our attention to the front of the tablet, the iPad Air looks similar to the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, except with significantly thicker bezels. This reflects the design choice of the 10.9-inch iPad Air, which has thicker bezels around the screen than the 11-inch iPad Pro.
The device is expected to appeal to users who want a larger tablet than the current 10.9-inch iPad Air, but don't need the advanced features of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, such as ProMotion technology or a LiDAR scanner. This approach is consistent with Apple's strategy for products such as the 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch MacBook Air, as well as the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus:
Speaking of the device's internals, 91Mobiles reiterates that the next-generation iPad Air will feature an M2 chip, which shows Apple's commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology. There are indications that the device is already in production, and it is rumored to start production in the first quarter of 2024. The expected release is expected "early" this year, with March as a candidate for the curtain raiser.
