Apple is set to reveal a smaller iPad Pro at a keynote event next month, according to latest rumours.

It was originally expected the company would reveal a new iPad Air, but according to 9 to 5 Mac, it now has plans for its next 9.7ins tablet to join the newly introduced iPad Pro line.

"Much like the MacBook Pro comes in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the iPad Pro will soon come in 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch variations," the website says. The trend also follows Apple not giving its latest 12ins MacBook an "Air" designation despite being an obvious successor. 

Set to be revealed on 15 March, the tablet could go on sale three days later. It's expected to pack all the power and features of the bigger Pro into a smaller package, so there's more to it than just a name change.

As well as the A9X and RAM upgrades seen on the 12.9ins Pro, the tablet should get an updated display compatible with the Apple Pencil, a smaller, specially made smart keyboard, quad stereo speakers and same storage capacities and colour options as the larger model. The iPad Mini 2 and first-gen iPad Air will probably be discontinued when the iPad Pro Mini launches.

Prices are uncertain. 9 to 5 Mac believes it will cost largely the same as the outgoing Air models, but [2] TechRadar is unsure, saying there's "no news on whether the new tablet will be more affordable than its larger sibling".

It's expected that the March event will also see some new updates for the Apple Watch, as well as a new, entry level four-inch iPhone handset called the iPhone 5SE.

iPad Air 3 to get iPad Pro features

01 February

A fresh leak hinting at several rumoured features set to come on the iPad Air 3 has been reported on Japanese Apple website Macoatakara and picked up by 9 to 5 Mac.

Images said to be of the new case for the device feature cut-outs pointing to several changes.

If true, the design suggests the iPad Air 3 could have an LED flash-equipped camera – a rumour picked up previously by MacRumors, complete with a supposed leaked drawing of the device showing an LED flash placed underneath the camera aperture.

The new image details a hole shaped like a teardrop to accommodate the new LED bulb sitting underneath the camera.

Elsewhere, the case design appears to show a cut-out for a Smart Connector, as on the iPad Pro. This can be used to mate keyboards to the tablet and, through its conductive material, provides a stronger and more reliable connection.

Finally, the images also point to another iPad Pro-inspired addition - speaker holes suggest the 9.7ins iPad Air 3 will have four speakers for improved audio, a system that will allow the sound to adjust to whichever way the device is being held.

The iPad Air 3 is expected to be revealed at an Apple event heavily rumoured to be taking place in March, at which the company will likely unveil a new four-inch iPhone, too.

The latest leak alludes to previous rumours regarding the tablet being true, but 9 to 5 Mac is not fully convinced.

"Case leaks are something that should also be taken with a hint of skepticism, as sometimes case makers build designs off of rumored features without any confirmation from Apple itself," the site says.

iPad Air 3 coming in March: what we know

29 January

The latest round of leaks and rumours surrounding the Apple iPad Air 3 have pointed to a reveal in March – alongside an updated version of the Apple Watch and possibly a new four-inch iPhone.

9 to 5 Mac reports that Apple is planning to hold a keynote event on 14 March, in which it will introduce the new hardware, "but the final date is still in flux," they add.

The tech giant has recently focussed on its Mini and Pro iPads, so the introduction of a new and refreshed mid-range Air tablet would be the first since October 2014. Some have speculated in the past that the new Air has been postponed due to a decline in the market, but new rumours suggest it is indeed coming.

What could the next iPad Air be like, though?

Design

It's rumoured that the next iPad Air will be thinner than the iPad Air 2. Hardly surprising, considering Apple tend to aim for slimmer devices with every new product they launch.

Cult Of Mac comments on rumours regarding the Air 3's size by saying the company may introduce a slimmer battery in the next model, allowing it to slim down to just 5mm thick – quite a diet considering the current iPad measures 6.1mm.

If the iPad 3 does go that slim, it could mean the chassis will be made from 7000 series aluminium, just like the iPhone 6. The recently introduced iPad Pro did not get an upgrade to the material, though, so it's not certain. It's likely the same colour options will remain.

Camera

Macworld says that some rumours have indicated the Air 3 will have an eight megapixel rear-facing camera mated to a 2.1 megapixel front facing set-up. They're unsure, though, saying: "That's a slightly odd pair of specs" considering the costlier iPad Pro only has a 1.2 megapixel FaceTime camera. They do add that iPad's front-facing camera is the more important one, as the rear-facing camera is bettered by most smartphones and the large screen makes the iPad good for video calling, so any camera upgrades could reflect this.

Apple may not want to spend time improving the actual quality of the rear aperture and instead is rumoured to be adding LED flash to prop it up rather than overhaul it completely.

Display

According to "unspecified sources within the China supply chain", the International Business Times claims the iPad Air 3 could come with a 4K resolution display. Other rumours – such as those on Chinese website MyDrivers – say the iPad Air 3 will get a screen with 401 pixels per inch.

There are problems here, though, and like most rumours regarding upgraded specs, it's to do with the larger iPad Pro. It only has a 264 PPI display and introducing a better screen on a cheaper product may not be desirable to Apple.

No 3D touch?

Apple introduced 3D touch onto its iPhone range quite recently, yet the shortcut feature seems unlikely to translate onto any tablets just yet. Early rumours have ruled out the possibility of it coming to the iPad, possibly because of supply chain issues and the difficulties in manufacturing larger displays laden with the sensors which make it possible on the iPhone.

A note leaked in December from a trusted analyst to Macrumours more or less ruled out 3D touch on the Air 3.

A stylus?

The most recent rumours suggest Apple may be interested in offering the option of a stylus with the next iPad Air model. The larger iPad Pro came with a pencil-like implement for drawing neatly on its large screen, but trying to use the same stylus to draw on the iPad Air 2 proves difficult.

A stylus-friendly iPad Air may be wishful thinking, though, and Apple doesn't want too much competition between its own devices.

Release and price

If the March rumours are true, the device will go on sale not long after. There was strong talk that Apple would reveal the product late last year, but that never translated into reality so some critics are still treating its release with a pinch of salt.

Price-wise, there seems to be consensus. Starting from £399, it will likely cost the same as the current iPad Air 2.