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.