French tech news site Nowhereelse is reporting sources have sent its self-described “ Tech Leaks Expert & Serial Leaker ” an unreleased schematic of the iPad Air 3 that shows Apple’s intentions to incorporate the iPad Pro’s speaker system into the device.
Nowhereelse did preface the veracity of this leak with a disclaimer, saying it cannot guarantee the validity of the sketch, but in past the same source has been correct two out of three times.
If the sketch is true however, it would mean the iPad Air 3 could have the same speaker system as the iPad Pro. With its four speaker setup, similar to what’s shown in the alleged schematic of the iPad Air 3, the iPad Pro can sense how it is being held and dynamically adjust the treble and bass output in each speaker to compensate.
If Apple is willing to incorporate iPad Pro selling point features into the iPad Air 3, it begs the question whether Apple will include other iPad Pro only features, such as compatibility with the Apple Pencil or even a variant of the Smart Keyboard, with the iPad Air 3.
The other glimmer of information featured in the schematic is the addition of a flash to the backside of the iPad Air 3, which would allow the iPad Air 3 to take pictures at night. The iPad Air 2 currently doesn’t have this feature, nor does the iPad Pro .
Apple is rumored to announcing the release of the iPad Air 3 at its March 2016 event, possibly alongside what is being dubbed the iPhone 5se and some minor updates for the Apple Watch. Apple, which released the iPad Mini 4 September 2015, last updated its 9.7-inch tablet line in October 2014.
Apple did not respond to a request for a comment regarding the allegedly leaked iPad Air 3 schematic and its release during Apple's rumored March 2016 Event.
