12.9-inch iPad Air leaked ahead of expected Spring launch — CAD renders reveal no major design changes aside from size increase

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Big iPad incoming.

ipad Air 5 showing split screen
(Image credit: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)

The iPad Air 12.9-inch was rumored to arrive last year, but 2023 ended up being a whole year without a new iPad. Now, new renders show the larger iPad Air in all its glory — and it’s exactly what you expect.

In an exclusive sent to 91mobiles, CAD renders of the larger iPad Air, which is rumored to be released in March, have been revealed. While the design is what we’ve come to expect from an iPad, it’s exciting to see a slightly more affordable large iPad added to the lineup.

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The raw CAD renders shared to the outlet by “industry sources,” show a 12.9-inch iPad that looks almost identical to the current iPad Air 5th generation. To differentiate from the iPad Pro, the 12.9-inch Air looks set to keep the TouchID Lock button just like the Air lineup today.

One minor design change is in the rear camera, where you’ll now find a border around the lens and LED flash. Unfortunately, it remains unclear how this will look on the physical retail model.

iPad Air 12.9-inch CAD render

(Image credit: 91mobiles)

A bigger Air? Why?

At first, reports of a 12.9-inch iPad Air seemed a bit far-fetched, especially considering the already convoluted iPad lineup. Upon second thought, the larger iPad Air would slot perfectly into the iPad lineup, giving those who want a big iPad a slightly more affordable option without forking out for Apple’s latest and greatest.

It’ll be interesting to see how the iPad Air 12.9-inch is marketed, as I believe Apple will need to make a good pitch to turn potential customers towards the larger Air over a 12.9-inch iPad Pro on the secondary market. Nowadays, with multiple generations of the current iPad Pro design, there are plenty of good deals to be found online. Personally, I’d much rather opt for an older iPad Pro with ProMotion over a new iPad Air for a similar price.

With new reports suggesting that a new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and M3 MacBook Air could all arrive in Spring 2024, we should know more about the 12.9-inch Air sooner rather than later. Don’t expect the more affordable large iPad to launch with all the bells and whistles like the mini-LED on the bigger iPad Pro, however. 

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John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

He leads iMore's work on AI in the newsroom, testing where it genuinely improves editorial work and where it doesn't. Every story is written, edited, and signed off by a person.

Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.