When it come to the tablet market , there ’s the iPad and there ’s everybody else . Apple dominates the market , especially in the agio price range . To hold on to its position , Apple has been kept thing brisk with new models like the12.9 - inch iPad Proand new technologies likeApple Penciland ProMotion .

But the fundamental design of the iPad has n’t changed much in years . That could all interchange in 2018 , as Apple gives use the first holistic newfangled iPad design in a very foresightful time .

update 10/9/18:9to5Mac reports on detail of the approaching iPad Pro .

Article image

Landscape Face ID, 4K HDR video output, new Magnetic Connector, and Apple Pencil 2

9to5Maccites “ reservoir intimate ” with the fresh iPad Pro in a paper on Monday . The site has details on an upcoming iPad announcement that has been widely speculated to encounter this fall .

The most intriguing part of the composition is that Apple could be implementing two raw connectors . The first is call off the Magnetic Connector , which seems as though it will replace the Smart Connector that ’s currently used to attach accessories such as a keyboard . The Magentic Connector could be located on the back of the new iPad Pro . The second connection is a USB - C port wine , which will have sustenance for 4 K HDR video output for an external display . This feature film will also have fresh software controls in iOS . Though the 9to5Mac report does n’t specifically say that USB - C will exchange Lightning , this report follows with past reports of USB - C implementation .

The 9to5Mac write up has other details that have been part of the iPad Pro rumor pulverisation for months : a new Apple Pencil ( that pair with the iPad in a similar fashion as the Apple AirPods ) , landscape painting Face ID , and an bound - to - border display without a Home button .

toughton smith ios121 beta tweet

Plausible?At this degree in the year , we ’re hearing a lot of the same rumor being repeated , which relieve oneself the rumors voice more potential . In arumorfrom September , we thought that there was a possibility that the USB - C hearsay was a misunderstanding , but now the inside information of external exhibit backing seem to involve that Lightning will be replaced .

Landscape Face ID support for iPad Pro in iOS 12.1 beta

The raw iPad Pro that ’s anticipate to be released later this class is rumour to have Face ID support . But will Face ID will work when using the tablet in a landscape orientation course ? harmonise to the beta of Io 12.1 released to developers on Tuesday , the resolution is yes — but only with the yet - to - be - discover new iPad Pro .

Developer Steven Troughton - Smith , who ’s known for grind into the code of Apple ’s OS releases , discovered what reckon like code for landscape painting Face ID for the coming iPad Pro . He made the next tweet about his findings .

Troughton - Smith alsotweetedthat “ Face ID would require a realignment of the front - facing detector , ” which entail the feature will work only on young iPads , and not of survive iOS machine .

ipad rounded asset mask

Plausible?Troughton - Smith saw this in the iOS 12.1 beta code itself , so it ’s at least a feature Apple is working on . Considering that the iPad Pro is often used by professional in landscape painting orientation course , it seems like Apple is going to do what it can to accommodate those user .

Goodbye Lightning, hello USB-C?

This rumor was report on September 10 , 2018 .

A new inquiry note from analyst Ming - Chi Kuo claims that Apple is go to replace Lightning on the new iPad Pros with USB - C , and bundle it with a new “ unibody design 18W major power adapter . ” The accurate quote from the paper , asobtained by MacRumors , is :

Plausible?It ’s a little confusing . It certainly read as though the iPad Pro will have a USB - atomic number 6 port on it instead of a Lightning interface , but it could be a case of misinterpretation . The “ obliterable ballyhoo plan ” is likely in reference to thepower plug(which is removable and swappable in the current 12W iPad power adaptor , as in the MacBook powerfulness adapters ) and not the USB side . Previous leaks and rumors of the 18W USB - C power arranger presumed to be practice bundling with the new iPhones show a single whole with integrated plugs , but a USB - ampere-second embrasure for a USB - C to Lightning cable .

onleaks

It ’s unvoiced to imagine that Apple would supersede Lightning with USB - C on any iOS devices just yet , and particularly not the iPad Pro , which charges up the Apple Pencil by plugging it directly into the Lightning embrasure .

New iPad Pros to have rounded display corners

This rumor was report on August 03 , 2018 .

In iOS 12 beta 5 , an “ asset masque ” ( a tool for developers to verify that interface ingredient fit on screen properly ) has been break that shows rounded nook on what should be this year ’s new iPad Pro .

9to5Macdiscovered the image , named “ J3xx affordance corners.png ” , where J3xx would refer to the model numbers game of coming 2018 iPads . They find the asset by running a modify equipment ID in the iOS simulator , so it ’s possible some thing may not be initialize just as it would with actual hardware , and of class everything is dependent to modification .

apple a11

This asset masque designate an iPad ( in multitasking disunited eyeshot ) with rounded display corners .

Plausible?Yes , this is almost a give . We fully expect this year ’s iPad Pro models to sport thinner bezels that are proportionate all the style around , with rounded display niche ; like an iPhone X without the pass ( the bezels will probably not be as thin as the iPhone X , leaving enough room for the TrueDepth camera module ) . It ’s dainty to see hints of this in Apple ’s functionary iOS genus Beta releases , but it ’s not at all unexpected .

No headphone jack, Smart Connector on the bottom

This rumor was reported on July 30 , 2018 .

Japanese web log Macotakara report some new rumors from its touch in the Apple provision chain . It corroborate what we ’ve heard before : that the Touch ID sensing element would be eliminated in favor of the Truedepth sensor array for Face ID , and that the bezel would shrink a muckle . It append that the earphone jack would be removed ( which we have n’t heard but mistrust anyway .

It then lay claim that Apple has not been able to make Face ID work well in landscape mode , and so not only will the iPad take to be in portrait orientation to be unsecured , but the Smart Connector will be move from the side sharpness to the bottom sharpness . You would dock the raw iPad Pro into a Smart Keyboard in portrait orientation .

iphonex truedetect faceid components apple

The hearsay is fairly corroborated in atweet by OnLeaks , showing a mysterious spot on the back of the iPad in a purported iPad Pro CAD drawing .

Even OnLeaks says it “ ca n’t confirm the accuracy ” of this CAD paradigm .

Plausible?We imagine the headphone jack matter is belike true , but moving the Smart Connector to the bottom sharpness isbonkers . We lay out our reasoningin a separate article . Essentially , Apple has n’t pass the last two class enjoin everyone the iPad Pro is a computer successor only to make landscape use ( arguably it ’s primary predilection ! ) 2nd - year .

What ’s more , this purported connexion on the back of the iPad would be ill suit for a Smart Keyboard — they keyboard would need to wrap around to the back of your iPad .

We feel it ’s more likely that the traditional Smart Connector still survive on the side of the gadget , for Smart Keyboards , and that this affair ( if it even exists ) is some sort of newfangled connector . Perhaps a charismatic charging spot for the Apple Pencil , or for third - party accessories ?

Two new iPad Pros with Face ID

This rumor was reported on June 11 , 2018 .

Ming - Chi Kuo , an analyst whose contacts throughout the Apple supply chain have made him uncommonly accurate with future production prediction , has a new report out for TF International Securities . Among other thing , it claims that Apple is sour on a duo of new iPad Pro models .

The new iPad Pro models are read to have a design more like the iPhone X , with thin bezels all around and confront ID in place of a Home button . That does n’t necessarily think they ’ll have a tall aspect proportion , of class , as iPads have long enjoy a more page - like facet than iPhones . One is said to be an 11 - column inch model , which would be a half - in larger than the current 10.5 - inch adaptation , and the other is hang on at 12.9 inches .

Kuo say the raw iPads should embark this fall .

Plausible?Honestly , we ’d be shocked if the next iPad Pros had a home push button and no TrueDepth camera . Apple will need to make Face ID work in any preference to realistically put it on an iPad , but that seems like a resolvable problem . The sizes sound about right , too . just making the bezels slender on a 10.5 - inch iPad would make the screen 11 inches without affecting the factual physical size much at all . The 12.9 - inch iPad could maintain the same screen size with smaller physical dimensions by shrink screen sizing .

We question what else the new iPads could bring . Perhaps an A11X processor ? Or would they habituate the same A12 ( or a variance of it ) expect in this fall ’s iPhones ?

Affordable iPad for education

This rumor was describe on March 23 , 2018 .

Mark Gurman ofBloombergreports that Apple will reveal a new entry - level iPad , with the idea that the gimmick would invoke to the education market . The Bloomberg fib does not offer any specification or pricing .

Plausible?Apple ’s travelling bag on the education market is n’t what it used to be . Google Chromebooks have become popular and have replaced Apple devices in many school day . Apple see a rise in sales when itreduced the price of the 9.7 - inch iPad last yearto $ 329 . An iPad under $ 300 could be a big winner for Apple and help oneself it regain marketshare in Education Department .

New iPad Pro with TrueDepth at WWDC

This rumour was reported on March 7 , 2018 .

grant to a memo from psychoanalyst   Jun Zhang of Rosenblatt Securities , a young iPad Pro with a TrueDepth sensor ( and thus Face ID ) is potential to be announce at the WWDC conference in June , and will ship later that calendar month . The iPads will sport a new design with slim bezels and no home base button , though we expect that , because of the way iPads are make , we can expect a bite more bezel than you find on the iPhone X.

It is not yet known whether the Modern iPads would feature a “ snick ” or not , nor are the specs detailed in the memo . We expect the new iPads to feature a processor based on the A11 innovation , probably and eight - marrow “ A11X. ” The new iPads are not expected to apply OLED display , however .

Plausible?The timing makes good sense . The second multiplication of iPad Pro tablets were announced at WWDC last year , and Apple seems to have lap its output problems with the TrueDepth module .

EEC approves two new models

This hearsay was reported on February 21 , 2018 .

As first fleck by French siteConsomac , the Eurasian Economic Commission has given approval to Apple to sell two new iPad framework we ’ve never learn before :   A1893 and A1954 . The EEC approve the sale of any products with encoding sold in   Armenia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , and Russia .

We ca n’t harvest too much from the model numbers themselves — the “ A ” fashion model number can not be directly translate into any particular feature or specification . But iPads of the same sizing and genesis typically only take issue in the last two numbers , meaning that A1893 and A1954 are probably different sizes , not just the Wi - Fi and Cellular version of the same iPad .

Plausible?Apple often obligate an event in March to annunciate new hardware , but it does n’t do so every year . iPads often boast as part of that declaration . The timing of this credentials suggests that Apple will accommodate aMarch event again this yearand foretell two iPads , though that does not close out the party from also releasing an iPad or two later in the year . The even lower - cost 9.7 - in iPad may get an annual refresh , and the iPad Mini is long delinquent for an update . Apple is also said to be preparing a raw gamey - end iPad with slim bezels and a TrueDepth photographic camera faculty , though our guess would be that such a ware would be announce later in the year .

TrueDepth camera and tabbed apps

This rumor was reported on February 12 , 2018 .

While we already take heed a rumor that the next bout of iPads would keep going Face ID for unlocking , a report on Io 12 inBloombergcontains some some confirmation that Apple ’s tablet will be adopt the iPhone X ’s unparalleled camera . Mark Gurman reports that Apple is working on a new iPad “ that will have the required   Face ID camera ” to handle Animoji . The precise language here crap it unclear whether the television camera will beexactlythe same as the one in iPhone X , but the report make it clear that will have the depth - sensing abilities required for Face ID .

Additionally , Gurman reports on a newfangled iOS feature that could be pass water its way to the iPad soon : tabbed apps . exchangeable to the feature on macOS , it would allow users to give multiple window within an app and sail between them , much like how it ’s done using Safari . He says the feature was originally plan for iOS 12 ’s launch in the pin but may have to look until 2019 .

Plausible?Apple generally debut major features in the iPhone before take them to other product in its card , so it ’s ask that the TrueDepth camera will make its way to the iPad sooner rather than by and by . It would be somewhat of a surprise for the tablet to pick it up before the entire iPhone line does , but this rumor is still very credible . However , we do n’t expect the iPad to adopt an iPhone ten - alike notch anytime soon .

A sub-$300 9.7-inch iPad in the works?

This rumor was report on Dec. 1 , 2017 .

According toDigiTimes , who cites “ sources from related upstream supplier , ” Apple wants to release a fresh , cheaper 9.7 - inch iPad in 2018 . The sources claim the modeling would start at around $ 259 . That ’s well cheaper than the already rather affordable$329 iPadApple sell today .

No specs or details were given , just an approximate comer of “ second stern of 2018 . ”

Plausible?Apple ’s iPad sale have been in a slow down slide from its meridian in 2014 , but have started to recover this class thanks in large part to the new lower - price $ 329 good example . It make sense for Apple to keep the damage pressure on .

This may not be a new model , but just a tweaked version of the current model expected to betray at a lower Mary Leontyne Price , with more advanced iPads and iPad Pros ( see rumor below ) make full out the rest of the pricing raft .

New A11X processor

This rumour was reported on November 28 , 2017 .

Recent iPad models have come fit out with new A - series chip free-base on the same computer architecture that debuted in the late year ’s iPhones . For deterrent example , the A10 found in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has two in high spirits - carrying out central processor cores and two high - efficiency cores , a six - gist art processor , and up to 3 GB of RAM . The A10X found in the iPad Pro has three high - operation and three high - efficiency cores of the same architecture , a 12 graphics kernel , and up to 4 GB of RAM .

In the same means , the top iPad model of 2018 are expected to sport an A11X derived from the A11 Bionic find in the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

If you think the A11 is tight , await until Apple inevitably turn over out the A11X.

Citing sources within the Apple supplying chain , Taiwanese siteMyDriversclaims that the A11X will have three high - functioning CPU gist ( up from 2 in the A11 ) , five high-pitched - efficiency cores ( up from 4 in the A11 ) , and will be built using TSMC ’s upcoming 7 nm manufacturing process . The A11 is built on a 10 nm process — currently cutting - edge .

There is no mention of this , but it almost go without saying that the new chip will once again include more read/write memory and more computer graphic cores , too . It would be really uncanny if it did n’t .

Face ID and slim bezels, but no OLED

This hearsay was reported Oct 9 , 2017 .

KGI Securities analyst Ming - Chi Kuo , who regularly leak upcoming Apple twist details ground on conversations with Apple ’s provider , believe that at least one model of iPad in 2018 will take its cues from the iPhone X.

That is , it will have greatly concentrate bezel and the TrueDepth camera system withFace ID , doing away with Touch ID .

The TrueDepth photographic camera and Face ID will eventually make it to many Apple products , and the iPad Pro is up next .

work up TrueDepth into the iPad will be a little cunning than the iPhone , however . While the “ default ” way to hold an use the iPhone is in portrait orientation ( the iPhone X ’s home filmdom does n’t even rotate ) , the iPad is on a regular basis used in both portrayal and landscape modes for nearly all tasks , with most apps made to work in either orientation . Face ID will have to be adjusted to work whichever way you hold your iPad , and Apple will need to fare up with a root that wo nt ’ easy be blocked by your hands holding on to the sides of the twist .

While the iPhone X has an OLED presentation , the fresh iPad is expected to keep its LCD . There are no 120Hz mobile OLED jury yet and Apple will require to keep the ProMotion feature . And besides , an OLED display that large would be quite expensive .