Credible Rumor Claims Apple to Launch iPad Air 3 in March 2016, iPhone 7 in September

Well it looks like 2016 is already shaping up to be a big year for Apple. That is, of course, if KGI Securities’ analyst Ming Chi Kuo is to be believed.

In a recent research note, Kuo — the historically accurate predictor of Apple’s imminent product launch plans — reported that the company is expected to release the ‘iPad Air 3’ sometime during the month of March of next year. Additionally, he also notes that, due to supply chain constraints, the 3rd iteration of Apple’s slim and slender iPad will launch sans a 3D Touch enabled display panel.

This report, perhaps, comes as a bit of a shocker, especially in light of Apple’s tendency to refresh its iPad lineup during the fall quarter of any given year. However the company has, in the past, refreshed the iPad during the spring quarter. The first iPad to market, for example, was released in April of 2010 — and, similarly, the 3rd generation iPad featuring a Retina display was released in March of 2012.

For whatever reason Apple decided, in lieu of a refreshed iPad Air, to release the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2015, so it’s very possible that the company is looking to refresh the smaller iPad in a timely manner. However, as Kuo notes, there’s no telling at this point what kind of internals the iPad Air 3 will feature, especially considering its supposed lack of 3D Touch functionality.

iPhone 7 Concept

Also mentioned in Kuo’s report is that Apple plans to released the “iPhone 7,” as per usual, in September of next year.

Kuo goes on to confirm that the next generation iPhone will feature a 3D Touch display technology similar to what’s currently available on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets; however, at this stage in the game, it’s unknown what internal specifications will be inclusive of the impending device.

Although it should be a considerable upgrade, taking into consideration Apple’s track record of dramatically refreshing its iPhone every other year, while the ’s’ models typically feature more marginal upgrades and UI enhancements.

As usual, we should expect more information pertaining to these two devices to start trickling in as we progress into the new year. However, given Kuo’s consistently accurate analysis, we can almost rest assured that a new iPad and iPhone are looming somewhere on the imminent horizon.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]