Apple fanatics have had a lot to shout about this year, but there's more in the offing. If rumors running rampant online proved to be true, the Cupertino-based tech titan might launch the next iPhone in 2017. While that's not set in stone yet, Apple released a new iPad, simply dubbed as 'iPad,' last month without much fanfare.

The 9.7-inch Apple iPad ousts the iPad Air 2 as the company's standard tablet offering. It is placed above the iPad mini 4 and below the two iPad Pro models.

While Apple might have finally got rid of the deteriorated iPad Air 2, taking it out from their online store, the device is still up for grabs at other retailers. Let's check out how the new iPad is different in terms of design, availability, and specifications from the iPad Air model it replaces.

Apple 9.7-Inch iPad (2017) vs. Apple iPad Air 2

The dimensions of the now-defunct iPad Air 2 are 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm and it weighs in at 437g. The tablet comes in three colors i.e. gold, silver, and space gray, just like the iPad Air 2. The device is thinner, lighter than its predecessor.

The 9.7-Inch iPad (2017), on the other hand, weighs in at 469g for the Wi-Fi only version and 478g for the Wi-Fi+4G LTE model. The Wi-Fi only model is 7.5mm thick, making it almost same as the original iPad Air. Moreover, it is 32g heavier and 1.4mm thicker than the iPad Air 2, according to ArsTechnica.

Aside from having the same height and width, the new iPad and iPad Air 2 sport the same aluminum build with Touch ID sensor embedded into the home button. In terms of design, the new iPad bears a striking resemblance to the iPad Air 2 as well. The 9.7-inch iPad variants boast brighter Retina display, powerful processor, and performance, TheIndianExpress reported.

Unlike it is on the Air 2 and iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch iPad's front panel is not laminated to the display, forming an air gap between the display and glass panel. Furthermore, the anti-glare coating of previous generation models is removed from the new iPad.

Under the hood, Apple replaced the A8X processor from the iPad Air 2 with a more powerful A9 processor, MacWorld reported. It is nearly 1.6 times faster as compared to the ousted model; however, it's worth noting that it will be slower than the iPad Pro which packs the A9X processor inside.

On the photography front, the new iPad retains the Air 2's 8MP rear facing camera, but the report claims the new iPad will not have Live Photos and Retina Flash features that are included in the iPad Pro. The device will be available in two storage capacities -- 32GB and 128GB.

Apple 9.7-Inch iPad (2017) Availability

Orders from the new iPad kick off Friday, April 14. A 32GB Wi-Fi model is expected to carry a price tag of £339 (about $421), which is approximately £40 (about $50) cheaper compared to the iPad Air 2.

Apple 9.7-Inch iPad (2017) Review

Although the new iPad boasts a slightly thicker form factor than the iPad Air 2, it's still a considerably slim device and quite comfortable to hold as it weighs just under 470 grams. There's nothing to cheer about in terms of aesthetic; however, it sports a tried and tested design.

Regrettably, the new iPad doesn't come with the iPad Pro's smart connector. In other words, users will be unable to attach Apple's magnetic Pencil stylus or keyboard.

On the brighter side, the new iPad retains the standard Bluetooth accessories, allowing users to attach a physical keyboard. Thankfully, it has not dumped the Air 2's audio port for wired headphones and speakers.

Much to the chagrin of tech enthusiasts, Apple did not include the Force Touch display of its iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 smartphones. It would have been quite interesting to see what aces third-party app developers had in store for a larger touch-sensitive screen of the new iPad.