Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Alleged iPad Air 4 Manual Depicts All-Screen Display With Touch ID Built into Power Button
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Agreed on the Pencil 2 support. I don't think the new Air will have 4 speakers like the Pro's.
That was a concession by Apple as they were working on the iPad Pro 12.9” for release that next year and the iPad Pro 9.7” some 18 months later after the iPad Air 2’s release. The iPad Air 2 is an “odd” beast, but in the best ways possible. Thin, powerful and the beginning of the transition to the iPad Pro. The iPad Air 3 is more of an iPad Pro 10.5” Lite than a true successor to the iPad Air 2. The iPad 5th, 6th and 7th generations are all an outgrowth (or regression, if you must) of the iPad Air 1 and Air 2. The iPad Air might be considered the revolutionary model, but the Air 2 is really the locus/springboard of all current modern iPads, including the Pros.
A13, while the iPad inherits the A12 and then the transition to all Bionic CPUs is complete.
RIP to the beautiful leather Smart Cover 
you were one of my favorite parts of owning an iPad. You have been replaced with a cheap feeling, overpriced, grease magnet- “smart folio” .
you were one of my favorite parts of owning an iPad. You have been replaced with a cheap feeling, overpriced, grease magnet- “smart folio” .
Well if this is accurate then Face ID will continue to be a big one because this Touch ID implementation is the worst thing imaginable.
It would be ok if it existed on devices with Face ID as an alternative/backup/2-factor/choice/option. As a standalone option? Puke.
[automerge]1598545302[/automerge]
Why do you like terrible user experiences? Or are you that focused on the bezels that you don't realize how much this matters?
The only problem I have with a TouchID button on the edge of the unit is that it has far less optimal of an image to work with - instead of a roughly 3/8” circle, it’s going to have a strip that’s, what, 1/8” wide?
Other than that, in this new world of masks, I see substantial advantage to going to a design where we have both FaceID and TouchID available on the same device. Would like to see the iPhones do the same.
Other than that, in this new world of masks, I see substantial advantage to going to a design where we have both FaceID and TouchID available on the same device. Would like to see the iPhones do the same.
I’m not sure but can only afford one but the idea of being able to use the pencil is a big selling point for notes. But the even greater restriction of iPad OS doesn’t fill me with hope :-/
They need to retire the Air name. It should just be the "iPad". Same for MacBook. Keep it consistent with the iPhone branding and let the "Pro" features and hardware trickle down to the base models every generation. The "Air" moniker has outlived its usefulness.
With the current iPad Air (or any other touchID iOS device), it's just one action (regardless if the iPad is awake or not):
- Press the home button (unlock + go to home screen + wake up the iPad if the screen is off).
- Rest your finger on the "power" button (unlock).
- Swipe up to get to the home screen.
Apple lowering their own usability standards in the name of cost savings is not a good sign.
Last edited:
iPad Pro and iPhone 11 have faceID. This means that as soon as you pick them up, they unlock without requiring any user action. This means that on those devices, you only need 1 action to get to the home screen (swipe up).
With this new iPad Air, instead, even if you pick it up and the screen turns on, you still need to perform 2 distinct actions to get to the home screen:
- Rest your finger on the power button to unlock.
- Swipe up to go to the home screen.
The only way an iPad gets an A14 is if it is introduced after the new iPhones. If these models are introduced in September, they will likely feature the A13. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak this release is probably months late, and the A13 would have been the best. All will be redesigned to look like the Pro models. Except for the Mini, they will be the same physical height and width as the Pro models, may be thicker, with slightly larger bezels (hence a 10.8 inch display), and no pro motion. They will be compatible with all accessories including magic keyboard and Apple Pencil 2.
I can envision these models in September:
iPad WiFi A12 (new design)
iPad WiFi + Cellular A12
iPad Mini WiFi A13
iPad Mini WiFi + Cellular A13
iPad Air WiFi A13
iPad Air WiFi + Cellular A13
If a new iPad Pro is introduced this year, it will be later in the year after the iPhones. It will be a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with 5G and a 14X. It will not be cheap. It will likely have a new designation such as iPad Pro 5G.
I can envision these models in September:
iPad WiFi A12 (new design)
iPad WiFi + Cellular A12
iPad Mini WiFi A13
iPad Mini WiFi + Cellular A13
iPad Air WiFi A13
iPad Air WiFi + Cellular A13
If a new iPad Pro is introduced this year, it will be later in the year after the iPhones. It will be a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with 5G and a 14X. It will not be cheap. It will likely have a new designation such as iPad Pro 5G.
Last edited:
I just opened my magic keyboard and the iPad Pro turns on and Face ID unlocks instantly. Works flawlessly.
This will be awkward as hell. I cant even imagine doing that then reaching my finger to the button on the side to unlock then swipe up.
But we’ll see i guess.
This will be awkward as hell. I cant even imagine doing that then reaching my finger to the button on the side to unlock then swipe up.
But we’ll see i guess.
That’s why I think the iPad Pro 11” also needs to get updated at the same time or earlier. The other rumour is that the iPad Pro 11” will simply be discontinued, but I don’t buy that.
Yeah. This is very unlike Apple.
Especially on the iPad. Having to reach for the power button every time. Not happening.