For months now, iPad Air 3's release has been the subject of rumors. Apple fans are looking forward to the release of a new Air tablet, but the company hasn't announced anything official yet.

A new iPad Air 3 had been anticipated in October last year, but somehow iPad Air 2's successor was a no-show. Instead, a new tablet in the form of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro was given focus and was released in March this year. This then led to speculations that Apple has forgotten about the iPad Air 3 and ditched any plans of ever introducing it.

However, more recent reports suggest that the iPad Air 3's release will push through for this year, probably in September or October. As for what the device will look like, it is expected that there will be no significant modifications to the new tablet. It is, however, believed to be slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessors.

Meanwhile, a report from ITPro mentioned that the iPad Air 3 may adopt a feature unique to the Apple Watch. Rumor has it that the tablet will have the "digital crown" feature found in the smart watch. This speculation came to light due to the release of a patent filing applied in 2014 but made public last month.

The patent reveals that a mechanical rotary input can be attached to the side of a device, which translates to the rotating wheel found on the side of the Apple Watch. However, the file also indicated that this feature can be applied to other Apple devices, including the iPad series. While this patent led fans to believe that such feature will exist for a tablet, ITPro believes it is unlikely because it is unnecessary. Tablets already have wide screens for better interaction, unlike smart watches.

At the moment, no one knows what Apple plans for the iPad Air series. Fans should take reports about the device with a pinch of salt until Apple makes it official.