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iPad Air and iPad Pro Could Both Feature Landscape FaceTime Camera

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Apple's upcoming redesigned iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models could include a front-facing camera positioned on the side of the device so that it is upright when in a landscape orientation, individual rumors suggest.

iPad-Pro-2024-Landscape-Camera-Feature.jpg

Currently, the iPad Air and both iPad Pro models in Apple's lineup feature a FaceTime camera on the top of the device, which puts the camera off-center when taking a FaceTime call in landscape mode.

Seemingly recognizing the issue, Apple on the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ relocated the front-facing camera to the side of the device so that it would be usable in landscape mode rather than portrait mode. Apple has not launched an iPad since, but it appears that Apple could be making this change on future iPads as well.

In January of this year, code discovered in iOS 17.4 suggested the next iPad Pro could adopt a similar design for the FaceTime camera. "During ‌Face ID‌ setup, iPad needs to be in landscape with the camera at the top of the screen," read the code.

Now, occasional leaker Instant Digital on the Chinese social platform Weibo has claimed that this change is also coming to the two rumored new versions of the iPad Air, in both 10.9 and 12.9-inch sizes.

How Apple has achieved this switch to a landscape FaceTime camera on the new iPad models is unclear, since the second-generation Apple Pencil connects to both the iPad Air and iPad Pro using an inductive magnetic charger along the same side.

But with Apple rumored to be launching a new Apple Pencil alongside the updated iPads, Apple may have come up with a solution to the issue. Either way, we should find out soon. Both the new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models are expected to launch as soon as this month.

Article Link: iPad Air and iPad Pro Could Both Feature Landscape FaceTime Camera
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/08/ipad-air-ipad-pro-landscape-facetime-camera/
Regarding the magnets for Pencil, couldn't they (upgrade the magnetic charging tech and) split the magnet in two with the space for the camera (in landscape) inbetween? I'm sure that's not an elegant solution technically, but I'm a layman anyway.

Hope it's true - I really like the landscape camera on our 10th gen iPad!
 
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I’ve been saying this for months. Even with the ‘leaked’ CAD designs showing a portrait camera there was no way they were going to release the new iPad Airs without the camera on top in landscape now that the base model has it. It is clearly a better solution and the direction of travel.

I also think the Air will either be compatible with the base model Magic Keyboard folio, or will work with the new Magic Keyboard. I can’t see them keeping the current, sans function key, Magic Keyboard around any longer just for the Air line.

I think when the announcement comes this should be a bit of a reset for the iPad with clearly defined product lines and a simpler accessory line up. It’s going to be a bigger announcement than many expect.
 
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Well, if it's on the right side it'll probably be fine. I always cover up the camera in landscape, since there's no place to hold the iPad anymore (no bezels). And I usually hold it with my left hand in portrait, which won't cover up the camera generally.

I guess they've been tracking those "camera cover" popups and decided to do something about it.
 
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Of course they’re getting landscape cameras. Given that the regular iPad has it, it’s a lock for the Air and Pro. I was just surprised the regular iPad got it first.

Along with that will be new keyboards and new Pencils.
 
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DogHouseDub said:
Apple's own magic keyboard restricts the iPad to landscape mode, and four generations later, the camera is still situated for portrait mode...one might think after 3 years of WFH, the team would be acutely aware of the issue. No?
Click to expand...
I think they have assigned a lot of iPad resources to the MacBook lineup for some time, this is why all iPads feel so 2020ish now.
 
Innovating by making the current Apple pencil incompatible with the new iPads...
 
must...not...post...Dune...meme...

Seriously, I welcome this as I'm always covering the camera while holding my iPads (held primarily in landscape mode). And no, not multiple iPads at the same time.
 
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Well, DUH! Even the base iPad Gen 10 has it. Why wouldn't the two higher-end iPads?
 
When the new base iPad launched with only gen 1 (USB-C) pencil support people kept saying that the reason the gen 2 pencil with magnetic charging wasn't supported was because the landscape camera got in the way of that charger. Maybe now those people will finally acknowledge that Apple can put the pencil charger on the top, like they always could have with the base iPad.
 
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paradox00 said:
When the new base iPad launched with only gen 1 (USB-C) pencil support people kept saying that the reason the gen 2 pencil with magnetic charging wasn't supported was because the landscape camera got in the way of that charger. Maybe now those people will finally acknowledge that Apple can put the pencil charger on the top, like they always could have with the base iPad.
Click to expand...
Yes they can, and yes they did, but as predicted, it required a Pencil redesign.
 
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