Alleged Leaked Image of Case for Redesigned iPad Pro Shows Mysterious Rear Cutout Above Lightning Connector

[Dave245]

So the Bezels wont be as thin as shown in the image right ?

Not if the leaks are true no, they will be a little thicker i believe. The one thing i don't know is how they have managed to put Face ID inside the iPad Pro without a notch, maybe it has something to do with the iPad Pro being a lot bigger than an iPhone X. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new design is like and how much of a difference it will be compared to last years iPad Pro (2017)

 

[CristianM]

Could it have something to do with wireless charging?

 

[lostngone]

Has anyone guessed it is for a lanyard? Maybe Apple is going to design an iPad with a hole through it... I was thinking if it was bigger it might have been for your thumb so you could hold it like a painters palette.

 

[HarryWild]

LTE antenna opening?
[doublepost=1535218811][/doublepost]I am warming up to buying the 11” as a replacement to my iPad Mini! Still hoping for a Mini upgrade in September however!

 

[PickUrPoison]

Not if the leaks are true no, they will be a little thicker i believe. The one thing i don't know is how they have managed to put Face ID inside the iPad Pro without a notch, maybe it has something to do with the iPad Pro being a lot bigger than an iPhone X. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new design is like and how much of a difference it will be compared to last years iPad Pro (2017)

Basically, they’re using the height of the notch as the bezel width and running it all the way around. Presumably TrueDepth/FaceID is on the longer edge. (Dimensions below are from the Mac Otakara leak.)

That will cause the smaller iPad Pro, the 11.0” model, to actually have bezels that increase on the sides, while shrinking down quite a bit on the top and bottom.

The overall physical size stays about the same, getting a few mm wider but the height decreases a few mm. (New dimensions are 247.5mm (H) x 178.7mm (W), compared to the current dimensions of 250.6mm x 174.1mm.)

Notably, due to the overall dimensions staying relatively close in both dimensions—and given how large the top and bottom bezels are right now—Apple is actually adding about 15mm of height to the screen size. The screen width stays the same. So the aspect ratio is changing slightly from 4:3 to 10:7. My guess is 2380x1666.

The 12.9 iPad Pro shrinks in both dimensions, from 305.7 (H) x 220.6 (W) to 280mm x 215mm. Height shrinks an inch, width about a quarter inch. Same size screen and aspect ratio.

Here’s Apple’s glyph as found by Guilherme Rambo and published on 9to5mac.com. Based on that, the bezels aren’t exactly what you’d probably call small but compared to the screen they are. Especially true with the 12.9”, it’ll be pretty much like Ive’s famous “sheet of glass”.

 

[Dave245]

Basically, they’re using the height of the notch as the bezel width and running it all the way around. Presumably TrueDepth/FaceID is on the longer edge.

That will cause the smaller iPad Pro, the 11.0” model, to actually have bezels that increase on the sides, while shrinking down quite a bit on the top and bottom.

The overall physical size stays about the same, getting a few mm wider but the height decreases a few mm. (New dimensions are 247.5mm (H) x 178.7mm (W), compared to the current dimensions of 250.6mm x 174.1mm.)

Notably, due to the overall dimensions staying relatively close in both dimensions—and given how large the top and bottom bezels are right now—Apple is actually adding about 15mm of height to the screen size. The screen width stays the same. So the aspect ratio is changing slightly from 4:3 to 10:7. My guess is 2380x1666.

The 12.9 iPad Pro shrinks in both dimensions, from 305.7 (H) x 220.6 (W) to 280mm x 215mm. Height shrinks an inch, width about a quarter inch. Same size screen and aspect ratio. (Dimensions are from the Mac Otakara leak.)

Here’s Apple’s glyph as found by Guilherme Rambo and published on 9to5mac.com. Based on that, the bezels aren’t exactly what you’d probably call small but compared to the screen they are. Especially true with the 12.9”, it’ll be pretty much like Ive’s famous “sheet of glass”.
View attachment 777824

Interesting, if Face ID works as well as it does on the iPhone X it will be great. It also seems like the smaller iPad is getting more and more screen size with every version that comes out, it started with 9.7” then it went to 10.4” and this year it’s runoured at 11” while the 12.9” version stays the same.

It will be interesting to see if the 12.9” becomes more portable, I can’t imagine the 11” getting much smaller as it already seems small now, and fitting in a new Apple keyboard would be cramped I imagine.

Talking of smart keyboards I wonder if Apple will have to make new ones to work with these new iPads? If they change in size I imagine they would,
I hope they update them at the same time maybe alongside a new Apple Pencil.

 

[ConfusedChris]

Basically, they’re using the height of the notch as the bezel width and running it all the way around. Presumably TrueDepth/FaceID is on the longer edge. (Dimensions below are from the Mac Otakara leak.)

That will cause the smaller iPad Pro, the 11.0” model, to actually have bezels that increase on the sides, while shrinking down quite a bit on the top and bottom.

The overall physical size stays about the same, getting a few mm wider but the height decreases a few mm. (New dimensions are 247.5mm (H) x 178.7mm (W), compared to the current dimensions of 250.6mm x 174.1mm.)

Notably, due to the overall dimensions staying relatively close in both dimensions—and given how large the top and bottom bezels are right now—Apple is actually adding about 15mm of height to the screen size. The screen width stays the same. So the aspect ratio is changing slightly from 4:3 to 10:7. My guess is 2380x1666.

The 12.9 iPad Pro shrinks in both dimensions, from 305.7 (H) x 220.6 (W) to 280mm x 215mm. Height shrinks an inch, width about a quarter inch. Same size screen and aspect ratio.

Here’s Apple’s glyph as found by Guilherme Rambo and published on 9to5mac.com. Based on that, the bezels aren’t exactly what you’d probably call small but compared to the screen they are. Especially true with the 12.9”, it’ll be pretty much like Ive’s famous “sheet of glass”.
View attachment 777824

On that glyph the bezels are just 2 pixels wide. I don’t think we can infer anything from the fact that they didn’t choose 1 pixel or 3 pixels. It’s likely just more pleasing to the eye at that scale.
Though I agree that a uniform bezel on all sides is likely.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Interesting, if Face ID works as well as it does on the iPhone X it will be great. It also seems like the smaller iPad is getting more and more screen size with every version that comes out, it started with 9.7” then it went to 10.4” and this year it’s runoured at 11” while the 12.9” version stays the same.

It will be interesting to see if the 12.9” becomes more portable, I can’t imagine the 11” getting much smaller as it already seems small now, and fitting in a new Apple keyboard would be cramped I imagine.

Talking of smart keyboards I wonder if Apple will have to make new ones to work with these new iPads? If they change in size I imagine they would,
I hope they update them at the same time maybe alongside a new Apple Pencil.

While the 11.0 is rumored to be 6.0mm thick compared to the 10.5’s 6.1mm, the 12.9 is supposed to be 6.4mm, compared to 6.9 currently.

That should result in a weight reduction of maybe 40 grams, about an ounce and a half. Combined with the smaller size I think it’ll be noticeably more portable.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see new accessories, since I think Apple will keep this form factor for quite awhile, I’d guess three model years.

Back to the bezels, from the Apple store here’s the current 12.9” Pro:

The new design will be removing about 3mm from the side bezels, they’re currently about 12mm. The bezel will be the same thickness all the way around, so the top and bottom bezels will be that small too. It’s going to look great.
[doublepost=1535228908][/doublepost]

On that glyph the bezels are just 2 pixels wide. I don’t think we can infer anything from the fact that they didn’t choose 1 pixel or 3 pixels. It’s likely just more pleasing to the eye at that scale.
Though I agree that a uniform bezel on all sides is likely.

You’re right, and the bezels as shown are larger than they’ll actually be. Both sides together (18mm total) should only be about 10% of the total width. Put another way, the screen should be 18 “bezel widths” wide, and as depicted in the glyph it’s not.

 

[doc james]

A second headphone jacket?

 

[Piggie]

An alternative option for Apple that would be great for users, would be the whole front facing Camera and touch ID module to be duplicated.
One on the top of the iPad and one of the side of the iPad.

The iPad would automatically detect which way round it was and use either module.

This would be a simple fix, and solve all issues in one go.

The only negative would be, how much does that whole module cost?
$20 ?

 

[iMcLovin]

Apple wants to follow up on the great Magic Mouse design and adopt it to all of their devices. So they have moved the lighting connection to the backside of the coming iPads and iphones. Its going to be great.

 

[Col4bin]

Holy cow, it’s the old-rumored iPhone 5 touch sensor!!! (Anyone remember this?–lol)

 

[benjo765]

Judging by looking at my Nintendo Switch (which uses a Tegra processor), I think that IF the new iPad Pro will get some drastic increase in performance, this thing might be related to cooling.

I doubt that theory, as the logic board for iPads has been fairly reliably not near that spot.
[doublepost=1535295539][/doublepost]

Personally, I think this case is just some BS leaked to throw us all off. Nothing makes sense... smart connector in portrait mode? Existing smart connector relocated to where the volume buttons are is clumsy. The potential microphone hole where the smart connector was. All totally bizarre

Agreed. The most plausible theory so far is that it is nothing at all, because Apple are fanatically rational about where things go, and it’s such a bizarre spot.

 

[eVolcre]

Basically, they’re using the height of the notch as the bezel width and running it all the way around. Presumably TrueDepth/FaceID is on the longer edge. (Dimensions below are from the Mac Otakara leak.)

That will cause the smaller iPad Pro, the 11.0” model, to actually have bezels that increase on the sides, while shrinking down quite a bit on the top and bottom.

The overall physical size stays about the same, getting a few mm wider but the height decreases a few mm. (New dimensions are 247.5mm (H) x 178.7mm (W), compared to the current dimensions of 250.6mm x 174.1mm.)

Notably, due to the overall dimensions staying relatively close in both dimensions—and given how large the top and bottom bezels are right now—Apple is actually adding about 15mm of height to the screen size. The screen width stays the same. So the aspect ratio is changing slightly from 4:3 to 10:7. My guess is 2380x1666.

The 12.9 iPad Pro shrinks in both dimensions, from 305.7 (H) x 220.6 (W) to 280mm x 215mm. Height shrinks an inch, width about a quarter inch. Same size screen and aspect ratio.

Here’s Apple’s glyph as found by Guilherme Rambo and published on 9to5mac.com. Based on that, the bezels aren’t exactly what you’d probably call small but compared to the screen they are. Especially true with the 12.9”, it’ll be pretty much like Ive’s famous “sheet of glass”.
View attachment 777824

Nice summary and breakdown.

 

[skinned66]

My iPad is getting long in the tooth and I'm looking at new options. I guess I can hang on a bit longer to see what these are all about.

 

[Nanotyrns]

take a look at the X Face ID and how large it is compared to the edges where it goes to the top of the phone. They won't put a notch on a iPad with such small an area for faceid. The bezels left over for how large faceid is will look very very small. Unless they want to go true edge to edge on an iPad which to me is dumb because you hold it differently than a phone.

Good call on the wifi. I hadn't really considered that even though I have an iPad Pro and didn't even notice there was no wifi cutout.

I believe they would keep a notch on the iPad. It's distinctive enough that many manufacturers are copying it even when it just houses a standard camera and it allows Apple to claim "edge to edge display". Keeping a bezel for handling might not be as crucial at this point because the software has been sophisticated enough to determine when you are holding it versus actual inputs for sometime now.

I'm super curious right now what might be coming for the Pencil 2. Does anyone think Jony Ive will let us have an 'eraser' at the top?

 

[philoscoffee]

I agree, having two smart connector options (landscape & portrait) for the smart keyboard makes sense. What doesn’t make sense however is moving the old smart connector to the right side next to the volume control buttons. How are you suppose to access those buttons if the ipad is attached to the smart keyboard in landscape now?!

Yes, that is odd, though iPad keyboards have dedicated volume keys, so the iPad controls are pretty much redundant when docked anyway. This also means that the smart connector isn’t located where the magnets for attaching a smart cover or keyboard would normally be. However, since the new iPad Pro is rumoured to be a different size to the existing model, I guess Apple will be releasing a new iPad keyboard as well.

Dual smart connectors still seems to be the most likely explanation, though perhaps Apple has other surprises in store…