Here’s your first look at the larger 12.9-inch iPad Air

A 12.9-inch iPad Air has surfaced in CAD-based renders. It gives us a look at Apple’s upcoming and the biggest Air model to date from all angles. The latest development solidifies past reports of the Cupertino-based tech giant working on a larger iPad Air variant. The next-generation Air model is set to arrive as the successor to the current 5th-generation iPad Air that will turn two years old in the coming months.

12.9-inch iPad Air leaked renders reveal design from all angles

The schematics reveal the 12.9-inch iPad Air with symmetrical and thick bezels surrounding all sides of the display. It seems to be slightly bigger to accommodate the larger display compared to the past 10.9-inch models. Another notable change on the sixth-generation iPad Air is the presence of a slightly protruding pill-shaped module housing a camera sensor and an LED flash unit. It takes us back to the iPhone X and XS era.

The 12.9-inch iPad Air features a flat frame design. There is a Touch ID button at the top, volume rocker keys on the side frame, speaker grille at the top as well as bottom, and a USB-C port.

As per the report, the renders have been procured through industry sources. Hence the final design of the 12.9-inch iPad Air could still change before it debuts officially. The upcoming tablet is also tipped to be powered by an M2 processor. However, speculations also indicate that Apple may skip the M2 in favor of the latest M3 chipset on the next-generation iPad Air.

The upcoming iPad Air will still be available in 10.9-inch

The entry of the larger iPad Air won’t kill the base 10.9-inch variant. In fact, Apple already has two iPad Air models codenamed J507 and J537 in the pipeline. The 12.9-inch model would put it on par with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This is ideal for those wanting a larger screen without paying for the price of the flagship pro tablet.

2023 marked the first time Apple did not launch a new iPad. The Cupertino-based tech giant is aiming to overcome the declining sales with new iPad and MacBook devices in the next few months.