New iPad Air passes through FCC, pre-orders rumored to open tomorrow

Back during its first virtual event for the fall, Apple unveiled the updated iPad Air –the fourth generation of the tablet – bringing an updated design with smaller bezels and flat edges. The tablet boasts of many improvements such as the new A14 Bionic processor, an upgrade over the A12 Bionic offered in its predecessor. It also offers a power button-based Touch ID, a first for the Cupertino giant’s devices.

While the company did not mention a specific launch date for the device and only noted a vague “October” time frame, the device has now passed through FCC for certification. Spotted by 9to5Mac, the listing suggests that the device is now approved for sale in the U.S.

Rumors suggest that the new iPad Air will go up for pre-order tomorrow, October 16, with availability slated for October 23. Best Buy Canada has already posted a listing for the tablet, suggesting that the pre-orders are closer than ever in that country. It will be interesting to see if these rumors are accurate and if the device indeed hits the web for pre-orders as suggested by the reports.

The iPad Air starts at $599 and offers a design similar to the iPad Pro and also adds support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, bringing premium features to a more affordable price point. The eighth-gen iPad retails for $329 and is already on sale.