The iPad Air series of Apple has been recognized as one of the company's most popular product lines - having sold more than 200 million units of its 9.7-inch variant. It has been more than a couple of years since the iPad Air 2 was launched, and consumers have reportedly been clamoring for the device's third model.

According to ITPro, the iPad Air 3's release was expected to be in September, alongside the iPhone 7 series. However, instead of unveiling the iPad Air 3, the Cupertino-based tech company launched the iPad Pro versions. The latter devices were introduced into the tablet industry in two different sizes; the 12.9-inch and the 9.7-inch variant.

The launch of the iPad Pro's 9.7-inch model led a lot of consumers to believe that it is the replacement tablet for the iPad Air 3. Multiple news sources have reported that it was highly possible for Apple to retire the iPad Air series in favor of smaller tablets, such as the iPad Pro. The American gadget maker still has not given any comment regarding the matter.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is being sold at a starting price of $599. That said, Apple needs to come up with a new tablet that they can sell for a much cheaper price range. This way, consumers who want to upgrade from the original iPad or the iPad Air 2 are also presented with a more affordable device.

According to PCAdvisor, the iPad Air 3 will be out sometime this year, the device's WiFi-only 32GB variant will be priced at $499 - which is the company's standard price tag for the full-size iPad. As mentioned, the lower cost will make the device more attractive to consumers who do not want to spend $599 on a tablet or do not want to opt for the smaller iPad Mini 4.