Amidst the advent of high-end devices, the demand for tablets has dwindled of late, posing a tough challenge for Apple over the last few years.

Apple has been spearheading the tablet segment by a considerable distance, with the iPad being an unparalleled example of consumer electronics technology. Thus, Apple is expected to come out with something awe-inspiring for its lauded iPad range this year.

The Cupertino-based tech firm is expected to have a slew of tablets including the iPad Pro 2, iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 5 in the offing in 2017. So, here's a roundup of details about these highly anticipated devices' release date, specs and features.

iPad Pro 2

When the iPad Pro hit the store shelves back in September 2015, it garnered a lot of positive feedbacks that should have been enough to encourage Apple to release several sequels of the tablet. Regrettably, that hasn't been the case so far.

But fret not. If rumors running rampant online are anything to go by, the iPad Pro 2 could arrive as early as March this year. If this comes to fruition, it would coincide with software releases from the company; however, there's word floating around that TSMC, the chip maker for the device, has suffered lower earning than usual. This could push the release date for the iPad Pro 2 back into the summer months.

As expected, Apple has kept the devices pricing and other details under wraps, but according to a report from Value Walk, the iPad Pro 2 could come bearing an identical pricing structure to its precursor. In other words, the base model for the iPad Pro 2 could cost $599, with the 12.9-inch variant costing $799.

The iPad Pro 2 is expected to undergo bevies of radical overhauls. Apple is likely to oust the headphone jack from the device, following trend it has started in the iPhone range. Furthermore, it could boast a True Tone display, which allows a tablet to change the screen's color temperature based on the degree of lighting in a specific location. Aside from that, a fingerprint scanner is also likely to be embedded into the screen.

iPad Air 3

Despite multiple sources indicating that Apple could have scrapped the Air range of iPads, iPad Air 3 remains one of the most anticipated devices for 2017.

Apple has neither confirmed nor denied speculations hinting that the iPad Air is comparable to any of the Pro models, meaning, a new tablet in the price range of $400 will be launched this year. In the wake of the tablet market holding back, Apple has decided not to rush with the device's launch.

Tech buffs who have been restlessly waiting for the arrival of the iPad Air 3 might be in for a huge disappointment. This is so as the device is unlikely to undergo radical cosmetic overhaul citing Apple's focus on slimming down its hardware releases.

In fact, the iPad Air 3 is expected to be Apple's slimmest tablet to date with under 6mm depth. It would be up for grabs in Gold, Silver, and Space Grey color choices. The company could also launch Rose Gold variant alongside.

According to acclaimed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple would take the wraps off three new iPads this year, with one having a 9.7in screen, another a 10.1-10.5in screen and a third sporting a 12.9in screen. While the latter is the iPad Pro 2, the former is a new budget-friendly iPad which could turn out to be the iPad Air 3. Interestingly, Kuo neither mentioned a fourth iPad nor one with a 7.9in screen, which means there won't be an iPad Mini 5.

However, rumors about the iPad Air 3 with Apple Pencil support, a four-speaker audio system, and an A9X chip are still rife on the internet. There's a possibility that Apple could make some changes to the device's camera.

Although Apple has not yet officially announced the new iPads' launch date, DigiTimes suggests the 2017 iPads are likely to arrive sometime during the second half of the year since the components are still at a planning stage.

Stay tuned in here for more updates!