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Apple rumored to bestow the iPad Air 3 with a 4K-resolution screen

posted by Luis D. / Jan 28, 2016, 7:07 AM

Apple rumored to bestow the iPad Air 3 with a 4K-resolution screen

Pouring fuel into fiery rumors of an Apple event that's in the works for March, a new supply chain report claims that the iPhone maker is about to reveal new iPad Air models in March, with full-scale production scheduled for the second quarter of 2016. Reportedly, one of the models will ship with a 4K-resolution screen and up to 4GB of RAM. Given the iPad screen's long-standing 4:3 aspect ratio, we expect the exact resolution to be something along the lines of 4096 x 3072 pixels (DCI standard), or 3840 x 2880p (UHD-1 standard). Number-crunching aside, it's clear that a 9.7-inch display at this resolution will be extremely sharp.

However, the advent of a 4K iPad Air would be equal parts curious and exciting. Last year, Apple eschewed 4K support for its flagship home entertainment product, the Apple TV box. It also graced the 12.1-inch iPad Pro with a 2732 x 2048 resolution, missing a pretty obvious opportunity to pioneer 4K resolution on its most high-profile tablet. In addition, an ultra high-res display will place considerable performance and battery life demands on the tablet, so it would be interesting to see how Apple will ride out these challenges.

In another interesting tidbit, both suppliers have delegated to the source that they expect Apple will increase demand for 3D Touch panels in the first half of 2016, due to orders for products carrying the technology. Although the new iPad Air won't have this functionality, it seems Apple has something else that's also pressure-sensitive in store for later this year. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would make for pretty obvious guesses here, but we know Apple must have another idea or two for attractive 3D Touch implementations. Let's wait and see, then!

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42 Comments

1. Martineverest

Posts: 521; Member since: Oct 27, 2015

Not necessary... Waste of specs

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:12 AM 1

7. TyrionLannister unregistered

Not really. On a 10" screen, 4K will look amazing. It has the same PPI has a 5" 1080p panel.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:31 AM 9

11. letosaw

Posts: 135; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Buy there is almost zero chanse that Apple will put better display ( resolution wise ) on the air 3 compared to the ipad pro.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:52 AM 9

12. letosaw

Posts: 135; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Chance*

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:54 AM 0

19. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

That's not really saying much! 4K is good on whatever it ends up being on no matter the size of the display. The problem is, there isn't any justified content. The apps presently available will look a bit sharper and more vibrant in color, but still won't be higher than 1080p at most. Will also mean devs will have to fix apps yet again, because they aren't going to scale properly (yet again). The games I typically play on iOs arent goign to look any different on a 4K display. But gonna grab my popcorn and watch how all the fans welcome apple to 4K, when they told the rest of us its a waste of time and money and blah blah blah.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:12 AM 1

25. Canaan

Posts: 351; Member since: May 25, 2014

It's Apple though, devs usually don't do anything big with apps until Apple joins the party, so the fact they're adding 4K (if it ends up happening) is a good thing for the industry.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:24 AM 2

31. TyrionLannister unregistered

How about text, web browsing etc. Also high-res pics and the whole interface. Not to mention Youtube, netflix and other streaming options. Sure, apps will take their sweet time to get full use of resolution, but vector quantities like text and simple shapes don't depend on resolution and scale automatically. I'm against 4k on phones(more so on fake 4K like Sony) but on a tablet it will look absolutely super. Web browsing and 4K YT videos are more than enough for me. And despite how much I hate iOS, development happens much faster than android. It won't take more than a few months to get all popular apps to take use of resolution(see 3D touch for example).

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 10:41 AM 5

34. Furbal unregistered

Good ole SVG

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 12:54 PM 0

39. BradyCrack

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 29, 2015

I'm against it on smartphones, no tablets.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 5:07 PM 0

9. Dee79

Posts: 307; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

How is it to much, move on with the times jeeze... 4k will look stunning on a screen that size. My S6 edge plus has a 2k screen and it's beautiful compared to a 1080p screen of the same size....

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:34 AM 1

40. medicci37

Posts: 1361; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

4K led with wireless charging would definitely get my money...But that's gonna be a few years

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 8:04 PM 0

2. Saioofi

Posts: 347; Member since: May 23, 2014

4K screen and led flash? That's too much from Apple

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:14 AM 8

29. Unordinary unregistered

There are 5k screens from Apple.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 10:14 AM 5

41. Saioofi

Posts: 347; Member since: May 23, 2014

With led flash?

posted on Jan 29, 2016, 12:15 AM 1

3. Martineverest

Posts: 521; Member since: Oct 27, 2015

It's the downfall of an era..... IPad is dying, noting can stop it

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:16 AM 5

20. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 2013

So, the darling of the Internet, the Surface line, was stillborn? It's never moved in anywhere near the iPad, so if the iPad is dead, then the Surface is a colossal flop?

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:13 AM 0

21. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

BS! It's more like people just aren't upgrading as frequently. Look at its sale cycle like a computer, not a smartphone.Also, the black market for used tablets are hot for these things.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:14 AM 0

32. nepalisherpa

Posts: 338; Member since: Jul 17, 2015

iPad or any other tablets fall under the same upgrade cycle as PCs used to be. Most people don't replace them every year.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 11:25 AM 1

4. Martineverest

Posts: 521; Member since: Oct 27, 2015

Expect the priced to be 1k... Otherwise, it too generous of Apple

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:17 AM 4

5. Zomer

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2013

Bulls**t for sure.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:23 AM 3

6. Macready

Posts: 1830; Member since: Dec 08, 2014

No mention of "Retina" marketing terms in this article? Surely, we can't see those extra pixels, according to the same Apple... ;-)

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:28 AM 5

14. WPX00

Posts: 511; Member since: Aug 15, 2015

It will surely be called Retina 4K for iPad or something ridiculous.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 8:23 AM 3

8. GreenMan

Posts: 2698; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

Ha! It's funny that people are now calling it Bull Droppings... And yet, when Sony was rumored to feature a 4K Resolution in a 5" Phone (or was it a 5.5" Phone? Sorry, I just don't care much about Sony. No offense meant, it's the truth in plain black & white) there were praises to be heard everywhere on P.A...!!! Trust me, 4K Resolution makes a TON of sense in a big arsed tablet as compared to a Phablet... G'Day!

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:33 AM 0

10. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Uhh . . I see hate comments wherever 4k screen mentioned on a smartphones . . . "Trust me, 4K Resolution makes a TON of sense in a big arsed tablet ascompared to a Phablet..." I trust you . . It does make more sense . . .

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 7:51 AM 2

13. Punchy506

Posts: 129; Member since: Jan 10, 2016

Finally a 4k display at a noticeable size. Hope its real.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 8:18 AM 2

22. TheGranter

Posts: 63; Member since: Jan 28, 2016

human eye can see up to 800pp the trained eye over 1000pp

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:15 AM 0

24. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

What? There have already been computers and tablets with 4K displays, which means they are a noticeable size. The Mac has a 5K display. The Surface has a near 4K display. Once content providers beef up videos to 4K, or record them natively in 4K, it will be worth watch no matter what size display. Yes bigger could be better, but maybe I want to just view it on my phone. A 5.7" phone with a 4K display would be amazing! Whether anyone likes it or not is irrelevant. Just like 1080p and 1440p also look very good on a larger screen, it doesn't look any worse on a smaller one.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:18 AM 0

15. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

I'm having a hard time seeing them give the regular iPad 4K and not the Pro.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 8:59 AM 0

16. Podrick

Posts: 1285; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

I would rather they make a tablet with Mac OS. I probably won't buy it though but it would stir the competition. Also, if they don't do this soon, surface pro and other Windows tablets will steal a lot of their market.

posted on Jan 28, 2016, 9:04 AM 0

36. BradyCrack

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 29, 2015

Tim Cook already said they weren't going to do that (to keep the Mac sales up). As long as Apple can add more productivity and educational apps (maybe touchscreen version of PC applications?) with better multitasking to the iPad, I'd say that good enough.