The last time Apple update the standard iPad , way back in fall 2022 , one of the more interesting innovations was a change in pattern which make a motion the front - look camera from the short edge ( the ‘ top ’ when the iPad is held in the traditional or portrayal orientation ) to one of the tenacious edges . This makes far more sense if , as enforce to most tablet owners , the chief matter you apply your front camera for is television chats .
But the unknown thing about this slap-up bit of lateral thought was that it implement only to the standard10th - gen iPad , and not to the far more expensive iPad Pro models which were launch at the same time . This decision was never excuse : does Apple imagine that Pro owners are too busy working to have FaceTime conversations ?
In the long and at this point in time ongoing break while we hold off for the next iPad , opinions have dissent on whether the long - border television camera has proven a succeeder , and whether Apple intends to give the same design to other models . before this week , indeed , we report on someleaked CAD renderswhich seem to indicate that the companionship ’s upcoming12.9 - inch iPad Airwill have the front camera on the short sharpness . Bigger - spend customers seem potential to continue to omit out on the sensible new design .
But perhaps not . Posting on Twitter / X Thursday , MacRumors author Steve Moser describe that he has spot a snippet of code in the first beta ofiOS 17.4which hints at the arrival of fresh iPads with horizontal photographic camera setups . The central line says : “ During Face ID frame-up , iPad call for to be in landscape painting with the camera at the top of the covert . ”
It ’s deserving take note that there are plenty of other interesting choice morsel in Moser ’s analysis of the genus Beta , which you may read on Twitter :
iOS 17.4 Beta 1 ( 21E5184i ) changes:1 ) text edition hints at new iPads with horizontal Face ID Layout Even though it says ' iPad ' this is most likely for the new iPad Pro due this March . “During Face ID apparatus , iPad require to be in landscape with the camera at the top of the screen door . “2) … pic.twitter.com / NcmsH4J2NE
Moser thinks that while the code allege just “ iPad , ” this is more probable to be a reference to anew iPad Procoming in March . Which in turn think of that Apple could still be planning to set up an iPad Air with a perpendicular camera , while port the horizontal designing to the Pro blood . That would n’t make a whole heap of sense , but it is technically possible .
One possible cause why Apple has been reluctant to move the photographic camera on non - standard iPads up to now has been the complicate agent of the Apple Pencil , which attaches magnetically to the upper - mart models along the same farseeing edge and produce a probable clash with the placement of the factor for the charging scroll and the camera . Whether Apple ’s intentions regarding the camera indicate a parallel change in the elbow room the Apple Pencil is charged is uncertain , but it would be deep vexatious if the company launched yet another Pencil andconfused mattersstill further .