Next-Gen iPad Air With 12.9-Inch Display and Redesigned Camera Unit Revealed in CAD Renders

[MacRumors]

The design of Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air model has today allegedly been revealed in new CAD renders shared by 91Mobiles.

As expected, the renders show an overall appearance that is very similar to the iPad Air design used for the fourth- and fifth-generation models, but simply scaled up to accommodate a larger display.

The most striking difference on the device is a redesigned rear camera unit, which now protrudes from the rear in a longer pill-shape, unlike the single, round protruding cutout on the current iPad Air. This new design seems to be somewhat reminiscent of the rear camera unit of the iPhone X and iPhone XS.

On the front of the tablet, the iPad Air looks very similar to the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but with noticeably thicker bezels, just like how the 10.9-inch iPad Air has thicker borders around the display compared to the 11-inch iPad Pro.

The device is expected to be targeted at those who want a bigger tablet than the current, 10.9-inch iPad Air, but have no need for the high-end features of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro such as ProMotion or a LiDAR scanner. This is similar to Apple's approach with the 13.6- and 15.3-inch MacBook Air, as well as the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus.

91Mobiles also reiterated reports that the next-generation iPad Air will feature the M2 chip. The device is rumored to enter production in the first quarter of 2024, so it could already be underway. It is expected to launch "early" this year, likely in March.

Article Link: Next-Gen iPad Air With 12.9-Inch Display and Redesigned Camera Unit Revealed in CAD Renders

 

[abatabia]

Might pick one up. I do miss my 2017 large pro.

 

[jlc1978]

A 12.9 Air would be a good addition. I have a 12.9 Pro only for the large screen that I use as a second monitor for my Mac. I don't need a Pro for any other reason and a less expensive alternative if and when I replace mine would be my choice.

 

[AppleTO]

So I’m guessing the air will cost what the pro does now, and the OLED pro will cost way more.

 

[OrenLindsey]

Basically guarantees the pill-shaped camera rumors on the iPhone 16 series.

Also, those bezels are awful 😭

 

[DHagan4755]

That front facing camera is still in the portrait orientation. Are these drawings accurate?

 

[newyorksole]

very nice very nice.

now please show me the 13” OLED iPad Pro. 😍

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

So I’m guessing the air will cost what the pro does now, and the OLED pro will cost way more.

My assumption would be that the 11 inch air stays at $599 where it’s at now, the 12.9 starts at $799, and the new pros start at $999 and $1199 respectively.

I don’t believe that the entry-level 11 inch iPad Pro is going to go from $799- to $1600 with one update, but I could see it going up by 200.

Apple pricing rumors always seem to shoot way higher than the prices end up actually being, except for the Vision Pro oddly.
The base pro iPhone has been supposed to go way past $999 over the past six years, and that just has not happened no matter how much the rumors have insisted it would.

 

[tomtad]

Basically guarantees the pill-shaped camera rumors on the iPhone 16 series.

Also, those bezels are awful 😭

That's what you hold

 

[TracerAnalog]

Noooo, the front facing camera is in the wrong place. For me at least…😢. Who uses such a big iPad in portrait mode??

 

[contacos]

And they will charge „Pro“ prices for it and increase the price of the actual „Pro“.

 

[scrapesleon]

still has Touch ID useless

 

[Oestreich Dieter]

Only reason I have yet to buy an iPad is because I want a 128GB AIR.

 

[MrMojo1]

Who uses such a big iPad in portrait mode??

People who read eBooks, documents, media articles or manga?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

These things have changed so little you could probably score a IPP 12.9” certified refurbished ones from Apple cheaper or the same as what this will cost.

Apple keeps muddying the iPad lineup yet again.

 

[Crosscreek]

A 12.9 Air would be a good addition. I have a 12.9 Pro only for the large screen that I use as a second monitor for my Mac. I don't need a Pro for any other reason and a less expensive alternative if and when I replace mine would be my choice.

Same

 

[GeoStructural]

That front facing camera is still in the portrait orientation. Are these drawings accurate?

Yep, still in the wrong place. An iPad this large is not exclusively a handheld device.

I can't believe Apple continues with this rather annoying position. In an online meeting it always looks like you are looking sideways, also when I teach online I write with my pencil on the screen and I keep blocking the camera with my hand.

 

[CarAnalogy]

A 12.9 Air would be a good addition. I have a 12.9 Pro only for the large screen that I use as a second monitor for my Mac. I don't need a Pro for any other reason and a less expensive alternative if and when I replace mine would be my choice.

Same here except I really like the proper refresh rate. Going from the Pro to the Air, I am going to see every single frame slowly creep its way across the screen.

 

[gpat]

Yup, looks legit.

 

[darngooddesign]

This is a shame because it means that the new iPad Pros will not have a landscape camera.

 

[TracerAnalog]

People who read eBooks, documents, media articles or manga?

Who reads (ebooks) on a big iPad in portrait mode? The size is perfect for double page reading in… landscape. But that’s just me😉
Seriously though, I do use it in portrait mode to fill in forms, or edit some PDFs, but this is maybe 5% of my use. The number of times I get the ‘your camera is blocked’ warning is significant… Also: Magic Keyboard uses iPad in landscape mode 😊

 

[Abazigal]

This is a shame because it means that the new iPad Pros will not have a landscape camera.

which means it’s still supports the Apple Pencil wireless charging. Considering I use that every day, while I can count the number of times I have actually used the front camera on one hand, it’s a no brainier.

 

[tomtad]

The design of Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air model has today allegedly been revealed in new CAD renders shared by 91Mobiles.

As expected, the renders show an overall appearance that is very similar to the iPad Air design used for the fourth- and fifth-generation models, but simply scaled up to accommodate a larger display.

The most striking difference on the device is a redesigned rear camera unit, which now protrudes from the rear in a longer pill-shape, unlike the single, round protruding cutout on the current iPad Air. This new design seems to be somewhat reminiscent of the rear camera unit of the iPhone X and iPhone XS.

On the front of the tablet, the iPad Air looks very similar to the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but with noticeably thicker bezels, just like how the 10.9-inch iPad Air has thicker borders around the display compared to the 11-inch iPad Pro.

The device is expected to be targeted at those who want a bigger tablet than the current, 10.9-inch iPad Air, but have no need for the high-end features of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro such as ProMotion or a LiDAR scanner. This is similar to Apple's approach with the 13.6- and 15.3-inch MacBook Air, as well as the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus.

91Mobiles also reiterated reports that the next-generation iPad Air will feature the M2 chip. The device is rumored to enter production in the first quarter of 2024, so it could already be underway. It is expected to launch "early" this year, likely in March.

Article Link: Next-Gen iPad Air With 12.9-Inch Display and Redesigned Camera Unit Revealed in CAD Renders

Ok so this is nonsense. The new iPads will clearly have a landscape webcam to match one introduced with the iPad 10th gen

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

you could probably score a IPP 12.9” certified refurbished ones from Apple cheaper or the same as what this will cost.

yes, but most customers aren’t paying attention to that.
They just want “the big iPad”, and now they won’t have to shoot for the top-of-the-line pro.

This is the same case with the Mac, sure it’s easier and probably cheaper to go for an older refurbished, but the majority aren’t going to do that and Apple knows it.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

This is a shame because it means that the new iPad Pros will not have a landscape camera.

Not necessarily.
The iPad Air is rumored to use the current pencil and current Magic Keyboard, while the pro is rumored to get an entirely new pencil and keyboard.
So they probably just left the camera in the same place on the air, because it’s cheaper and they don’t have to redesign anything.
Meanwhile, it’s very likely the pro will have an entirely different Apple Pencil charging mechanism, maybe in a different spot on the iPad?
Either way, I don’t think this signifies anything about the direction that the pro will take with the front camera.