A new Apple iPad is seen in the demonstration room during a launch event at their headquarters in Cupertino
Ming-Chi Kuo earlier claimed that Apple is working on a 10.8-inch iPad. (Photo: REUTERS/Stephen Lam)

Contrasting earlier rumors, the much-awaited arrival of Apple's iPad Air 4 might not happen this year, according to an industry insider. The fourth-generation premium tablet from the Cupertino-based tech giant would reportedly arrive sometime in the first quarter of 2021. While the latest information could be a bit disappointing, Apple might be preparing more improvements and features to the upcoming tablet.

iPad Air 4 Release Date

Reliable industry insider Komiya responded to a follower on Twitter who was inquiring about the release date of the new iPad Air 4. According to him, the premium tablet would arrive sometime in March 2021. Unfortunately, the insider did not reveal other details about the device's release date.

Unlike its other products, Apple does not usually depend on an annual release pattern for its tablets. It can be recalled that the company launched the iPad Air 3 in March 2019, but it was not repeated this year. The leaked March 2021 iPad Air 4 release date seemingly aligns with the release month of the Cupertino tech giant for its tablets.

Other iPad Air 4 Rumors

Earlier, Komiya shared interesting information about the rumored new iPad Air 4. He said that the upcoming tablet from Apple would follow the same design language as the iPad Pro series. Komiya believed that with a new design, the company would drop the Touch ID and replace it with the Face ID for the device's biometric authentication.

Komiya also mentioned in his previous tweets that the next-generation of iPad Air would get its own Magic Keyboard accessory similar to the 2020 iPad Pro. Through this, it is safe to assume that the upcoming tablet would make a switch to USB-C. This aligns with a previous report that the iPad Air 4 would be transformed into a second tablet family to introduce a new port.

iPad Air 4 Price

Rumors have it that the iPad Air 4 would retail at $649 for a standard version housing a 128 GB storage. The price would change for the 256 GB and the 512 GB models, according to leaks. The current-generation iPad Air retails at a starting price of $499, which means Apple might increase the upcoming tablet's price.

Interestingly, Apple does not always change the price of its tablets, even if they are new iterations. The company usually offers discounts to older models to differentiate them from the new ones. It is worth noting that while these details are interesting, it is not official.