Shortage of Apple iPad Air 2 may have only two plausible reasons

Reports of iPad Air 2 supply shortages started a week ago, in the wake of speculation that the iPad air product line may face a phasing out, and replacement by a new line of Apple tablets simple called “iPad”.

Sources cited by 9to5Mac indicate that Apple is indeed rationing supply of the aging tablet. And this could mean two things:

In one scenario, provided that KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is right on the money, Apple may be getting ready to release a brand new iPad product line, just as it did for the MacBook. In such case, the new iPad could become the go-to device for regular consumers, while the iPad Pro would establish itself as a device targeted to professionals, as Apple, most probably, intended.

This scenario would be consistent with the theory that Apple is working on getting back to a simpler way to structure its offerings, as a duality with a more specific intent to target consumers and professionals with different requirements.

This also means that professional customers could also get a rumored 10.5 inch “mid-sized” iPad Pro to their line-up.

The other theory involves a less likely scenario of a refreshed iPad Air 2, or an iPad Air 3, with updated specs, such as an A10 processor, more memory, and perhaps even 3D Touch and Apple Pencil support.

Why would the latter scenario be less likely? Reports of slumping iPad sales may be an indication that Apple may be more inclined to adopt a more surgical approach, in lieu of simple product refreshes, which is a trend that has begun affecting MacBook sales as well, and which explains Apple’s decision to introduce the 12 inch MacBook Retina, and possibly an entire new line of MacBooks set on picking up where the aging MacBook air has left off.

Is this good news or bad?

For consumers, there is no losing scenario, as owners of the iPad Air 2, if presented with a better product priced according to what they would expect to pay for an iPad Air 2, would be likely to either welcome an upgrade, or wait for it until their devices die of natural causes.

A refreshed iPad Air 2, or iPad air 3, as long as we entertain a theory as likely as a refreshed MacBook Air, would still be a product in demand by former owners of an iPad Air 2, even if at this point, the persistence of an “Air” model would not be much of an incentive for new customers who would rather have something truly new.

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