Rumors surrounding Apple’s impending iPad lineup upgrade have been swirling, with much speculation about the introduction of an OLED iPad Pro and a revamped iPad Air. The latest rumor, originating from trusted Weibo tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), suggests that both the upcoming iPad Air and iPad Pro models will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera.
Currently, both the iPad Air and iPad Pro sport front-facing cameras positioned at the top of the device, resulting in an off-center view during landscape-mode FaceTime calls. To address this issue, Apple made some adjustments with the 10th-generation iPad, but subsequent releases haven’t seen any significant changes until now.
Code uncovered within iOS 17.4 further hinted at a shift to a landscape camera orientation for the upcoming iPad Pro. According to the latest leak, the redesigned iPad Air, rumored to be available in 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, will also adopt this landscape camera placement.
The logistics of implementing this change remain somewhat unclear, particularly given the current design where the Apple Pencil connects magnetically to the side of the iPad Pro and iPad Air for charging. This could potentially conflict with a side-mounted camera. However, rumors also suggest that a new Apple Pencil release might accompany the updated iPads, hinting at a possible solution Apple has devised.
Anticipation is mounting for the launch of the redesigned iPad Air and the new OLED iPad Pro models, expected to happen soon, possibly within this month. If these rumors hold true, it would signify a significant design shift in Apple’s tablet lineup, aimed at enhancing usability, particularly during landscape-mode interactions like FaceTime calls.