Apple Stores will not be repairing defective iPad 4 units anymore, instead customers will be provided with a replacement, likely an iPad Air 2, reports said. But the supposed policy will not always apply.

Apple Stores were reportedly instructed to simply issue the iPad Air 2 to customers seeking to have their iPad 4 repaired, 9to5Mac reported. "Starting March 30th, iPad 4th generation whole unit repairs may be substituted to iPad Air 2," the report quoted a purported internal memo from Apple.

But according to Apple Insider, the more accurate directive does not limit the replacement to only the iPad Air 2, which the tech giant has recently discontinued in favor of the 2017 iPad release. The truth is Apple Store were instructed to replace the iPad 4 with units that are in stock, starting of course with the same model and when possible similar configurations.

"Store managers are at their discretion to replace an iPad 4 with in-stock iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, and in particularly rare cases, the 2017 iPad," the report said.

So in reality, an iPad 4 submitted for repair will be replaced by the same unit if the inventory permits and it will likely be the case as Apple Insider added on its report that a quick check on a number of Apple Stores and retail outlets showed that the fourth-gen iPad remains in adequate supply.

But when stocks run out, Apple's guidance dictates customers will be provided with the iPad Air, the iPad Air 2 or even the latest model of the tablet line - the 2017 iPad. A customer though getting the 2017 iPad as replacement for the iPad seems the most remote scenario in the official policy issued by Apple.

"Apple for at least two decades has historically upgraded a customer's order or service replacement if a lack of stock would result in a long wait without a device," Apple Insider said, and that's like saying one will only get the 2017 iPad options have all been exhausted.