Apple will reportedly be coming out with the iPad Air 3 early next year. Rumors suggest that the new iteration will be the lineup's final version as the iPad Air series will reportedly be discontinued.

It is uncertain if Apple will come out with the iPad Air 3 in early 2017 since it is expected that a 9.7-inch slate division will already be occupied by the upcoming iPad Pro 2. However, recent reports suggest that the iPad Air 3 will serve as the entry-level tablet for the 2017 Apple slate lineups. The iPad Pro 2, on the other hand, will position its 9.7-inch variant as a mid-range iteration — powered by an A9X chipset — while the new 10.5-inch and original 12.9-inch variants will be the top-tier Pro slates.

However, this reorganization of the iPad Pro 2 lineup may also hint at the upcoming iPad Air lineup's demise. Introducing a 10.5-inch variant for the new iPad Pro means that Apple will be expanding the lineup, ostensibly to be the all-encompassing tablet series for the company. It is likely that in next release cycle, the Cupertino-based tech giant will focus on the iPad Pro as the only tablet series for the company. This means that the iPad Air — as well as the iPad Mini — will be discontinued.

As to why Apple is still releasing the iPad Air 3, it is possible that the tablet has been in the pipeline for some time now. Previously, it is expected that the next iPad Air tablet will debut in late 2015 as a yearly cycle for Apple (the iPad Air 2 was launched in 2014). However, it is said that Apple picked the original iPad Pro to be released last year, and relegated the iPad Air 3 for a 2016 release.

Although, the iPad Air 3 has been a no-show in at least three Apple press events this year.