It is already expected that Apple will be refreshing its iPad Pro lineup with a follow-up. Speculations suggest that the iPad Pro 2 is slated for launch in early 2017, and it may be released simultaneously with the much-anticipated iPad Air 3.

MacWorld UK believes that the iPad Air 3 will finally come out in March 2017, alongside the expected launch of the iPad Pro 2. According to the industry follower, the iPad slate has been originally slated for release in 2015, as a yearly iPad Air cycle (the original iPad Air launched in 2013, the iPad Air 2 the following year). However, Apple reportedly delayed the release of the iPad Air 3 in favor of the original iPad Pro, while the rumored 2016 launch is highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, the iPad Pro 2 is expected to come out in the anticipated March launch event next year. Supposedly, the iPad Pro 2 will come out as a full series, with at least three iterations under the lineup. However, all the versions will pack top-tier specs and features, even the considered 9.7-inch base model.

This means that Apple is likely to place the iPad Air 3 as the entry-level slate for the 2017 iPad lineup. This is highly possible since the iPad Air lineup is geared towards entertainment and multimedia content, while the iPad Pro is for more task-intensive performance. The supposed specs of the iPad Air 3 also paints it as next year's budget-friendly iPad. Allegedly, the new iPad Air will feature an A9 chipset, as well as at least 2 GB of RAM, along with minor updates over its predecessor.

The iPad Pro 2, on the other hand, will be the step-up and premium variants, featuring at least an A9X chipset for the 9.7-inch version, and the A10X chipset for the new 10.5-inch and original 12.9-inch variants.