The iPad Air (2019) has an arguably old-fashioned look, being lumbered with a large chin and forehead so as to accommodate a classic Apple home button. However, this feature does confer the advantage of supporting the OEM’s form of fingerprint authentication, Touch ID, whereas the more expensive Pro variants have sacrified it in the name of thin bezels.
Recent leaks have suggested that its successor, which could be called the iPad Air 4, (or, according to additional rumors, the iPad Air (2021)) may also adopt this slim-border design. It may make sense, especially if the new iPhones also turn out with the same general language. SvetApple has prepared renders that show how such a budget iPad might look.
The results do look a lot like a Pro (albeit more like a 2018 variant than a newer model). It creates a nice effect in the gold, silver and gray colorways imagined for this “Air”. SvetApple projects that the new slim-border display, which has a modern aspect ratio, may be 10.8 to 11 inches in diagonal length.
However, one thing this updated screen does not have is the rumored in-display form of Touch ID. Instead, this security feature is integrated into the power button. SvetApple asserts that this hardware feature will be called the Top Button.
It is located next to one of multiple speakers that is mirrored on the opposite side of the purported device’s flat edge. The “new iPad Air” is also depicted as supporting USB type C charging and syncing and as having connectors for a Magic Keyboard.
Otherwise, the iPad Air 4 is thought to be graced with the A14 Bionic chipset when it comes out, rather than an older Apple SoC. However, it may have just 4GB of RAM with a 128GB internal storage option. This complete package may start at US$499 and range upwards to $649. SvetApple speculates that it will launch on September 8, 2020.