In late 2022, Apple stunned everybody with an entry-level iPad that adopted the brand new design language of its extra premium iPad Air and iPad Professional whereas additionally shifting the FaceTime digital camera to the lengthy edge. Now, it appears to be like like the corporate might be set to do the identical with this yr’s new iPad Professional lineup.
That was a major change after 12 years of placing the digital camera on the brief edge — the “high” of the display screen when held in portrait. It was much more uncommon to see it come to Apple’s entry-level iPad first.
In any case, whereas the brand new MacBook-style digital camera place makes loads of sense for people who commonly have interaction in Zoom and FaceTime calls, it additionally felt like a change that may have been a significantly better match on the extra premium iPad Professional. With its Magic Keyboard and different related equipment, it’s lengthy been thought of extra of a laptop computer substitute, and, as anybody who has ever tried to take part in a video name on it would inform you, the digital camera place has at all times been a bit awkward.
Nonetheless, Apple’s choice to modify issues up on the entry-level iPad was considerably comprehensible. The corporate could have needed to trial the change earlier than bringing it to its costlier fashions, however extra considerably, it additionally needed to cope with the Apple Pencil charger that occupies the identical area.
That wasn’t an issue for the Tenth-generation iPad because it lacked the magnetic charger and help for the second-generation Apple Pencil. As an alternative, customers had been pressured to make use of the older, first-generation Apple Pencil with the Lightning connector and an ungainly adapter to cost from the brand new iPad’s USB-C port. Fortunately, Apple rectified that final fall with a brand new USB-C Apple Pencil.
Though it’s unclear how Apple plans to cope with magnetic charging for the Apple Pencil, code within the first betas of iPadOS 17.4 means that it’s making ready for an iPad Professional that may transfer the digital camera to the lengthy edge to be used in panorama mode.
The references had been uncovered by the code sleuths at 9to5Mac, who discovered particular system strings that say issues like “Face ID must be in panorama to discover ways to acknowledge you,” and “Throughout Face ID setup, iPad must be in panorama with the digital camera on the high of the display screen. As soon as setup is full, Face ID works in portrait and panorama.”
Since solely the iPad Professional helps Face ID, that’s a reasonably robust signal that this refers back to the next-generation OLED iPad Professional anticipated to be launched this spring.
Whether or not Apple may have room for the Apple Pencil on the aspect on this configuration is one other matter. Nonetheless, the corporate may simply as simply select to swap the positions of the magnetic charger and the TrueDepth digital camera, letting customers place the stylus on the brief edge to cost as a substitute. Some reviews have additionally urged that the iPad Professional may acquire MagSafe know-how, which may change the charging dynamic solely.
Apple can be anticipated to launch new iPad Air fashions across the similar time, including a brand new 12.9-inch model to the lineup. Purported CAD renders of the brand new iPad Air present the entrance digital camera in the identical place as the present iPad Air. Whereas it will be uncommon for Apple to maneuver the digital camera on the iPad Professional and depart the brand new iPad Air fashions because the odd geese within the lineup, it’s definitely not out of the query. Nevertheless, it’s additionally doable the iPad Air renders will not be solely correct.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]