iPad Air 3 With iOS 10 & Expanded Stylus Coming To Retailers As Air 2 Stocks Disappear From Shelves

An official release date for the iPad Air 3 hasn't been announced by Apple yet. There are some signs, however, that the tablet entering the market is imminent.

iPad Air 2 stocks are dwindling at popular retailers such as MacMall and B&H, AppleInsider reported. At the moment, the silver and space gray 32 GB iPad Air 2 models (Wi-Fi-only) at MacMall are out of stock. B&H, meanwhile, has listed 128 GB LTE models of the tablet as "no longer available."

The same can be said at Amazon, Best Buy and Staples, which all declared that they have sold out all of the iPad Air 2 they have in stock. Meanwhile, those who are ordering the tablet at Apple's online store have to wait until late February to get their hands on the device. The 32 GB model of the tablet will be delivered on buyers' doorsteps on Feb. 20.

These all signal that a new and much better iPad is coming along the way. That's how Apple behaved in the past when they are releasing new products.

Speculations claimed that the iPad Air 3 will have a better processor than its predecessor. The tablet will reportedly be equipped with the A9 processor that's already present in the iPhone 6S.

Apple is developing new iPad features that will meet professional users' expectations, Bloomberg reported in August 2016. Upcoming iPads will have a stronger hardware and an expanded operating-system support for the Apple Pencil 2.

It's possible that the stylus update would allow users to jot down notes or comments on various apps such as Mail, Safari and iMessage. The Apple Pencil 2 may have a magnet so it can be attached to the iPad's side, encouraging easy accessibility and lowered chances of losing the stylus, The Mac Observer reported via the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. The new iPad will also showcase faster display technology, meaning users will enjoy smoother zooming, scrolling and panning.

According to the news outlet, these revamped iPads will be launched this year. There are expectations that the tablet will be announced alongside the iOS 10 in "the first half of 2017," specifically next month.

Earlier reports claimed that the iPad Air 3 will have a budget-friendly 9.7-inch model and another variant with a 10.5-inch screen. The base model is expected to start selling at $499.

Will you buy the iPad Air 3? Do you believe that it will be announced next month alongside the iOS 10? Tell us what you think below!