iPad Air Now the Only iPad in Apple's Lineup That Lacks 12MP Ultra Wide Front Camera With Center Stage

[MacRumors]

Yesterday during Apple's virtual "California streaming" event, Apple debuted a refreshed ninth-generation entry-level iPad ($329) and a redesigned sixth-generation iPad mini ($499). Like the iPad Pro, both devices include a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera enabling Center Stage, which makes the iPad Air ($579) the only tablet in Apple's lineup that lacks this feature.

Center Stage is a feature that automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls, and it does this by using the much larger field of view of the Ultra Wide front camera.

As users move around, Center Stage automatically pans to keep them in the shot. When other people join in on the call, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view and make sure they are part of the conversation.

Apple debuted the feature in April with the latest iPad Pro. At the time, it was thought the machine learning capabilities of Apple's M1 chip were required to power the feature, but given that the new iPad and iPad mini use A13 and A15 Bionic chips, respectively, that's patently not the case.

The current iPad Air, which debuted in September 2020, has an A14 Bionic processor, but only a f/2.0, 7-megapixel front-facing FaceTime HD Camera for selfies and video calls, making it incompatible with Center Stage. The iPad Air is in its mid-product cycle, however, so it's likely to get the 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera in a refresh, perhaps early next year.

Article Link: iPad Air Now the Only iPad in Apple's Lineup That Lacks 12MP Ultra Wide Front Camera With Center Stage

 

[Spike1999]

I wonder why they kept it quiet about the camera update for iPad 9.

 

[orbital~debris]

iPad Air update in the spring – Center Stage + new colourways?

 

[alchemistmuffin]

There is a chance Apple might refresh it during the October event, even though it’s in mid-product cycle. They won’t leave the product in this condition considering the cheaper product has more advanced features.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Cause the next one will and it is one more new feature it can have.

 

[n0va]

man, if only the iPad Air had a 12MP Ultra Wide Front Camera With Center Stage

 

[anthorumor]

Hopefully not for long

 

[cheungtsw]

Better cam is welcome but I wonder if center stage is that useful.

I only use the cam during a job interview and I am not going to move around.

 

[TheRoadRunner]

The iPad Air is really hard to recommend now, with the 11” pro and mini surrounding it, the latter at a lower price.

 

[no_idea]

Well…I mean how else do you expect Apple to generate a continuous revenue stream? They have mastered the art of the slow roll feature rollout to their products to keep people buying year after year. If they rolled out all of their latest features at once to all devices, their quarterly earnings would start to take a hit 😃

 

[Serban55]

Ipad air needs an soc and central stage upgrade soon, its not normal that stage mini to have those and the air not

 

[dantracht]

Not something I use very much.

 

[DFZD]

It's a last year model so isn't that ridiculous to write an article about it?

Sometimes I think the forum users should form a committee to make rules for the portal area.

 

[James Godfrey]

There is a chance Apple might refresh it during the October event, even though it’s in mid-product cycle. They won’t leave the product in this condition considering the cheaper product has more advanced features.

I doubt it, the iPad Pro 11 inch was technically worse than the iPad Air for quite a while… I expect we will see the new iPad Air along with the MacBook Air in the spring

 

[subjonas]

It will get it at the next refresh. The question is when will it come to Mac? Are MacBook displays too thin for the wider angle camera? It definitely would have been perfect for the recent iMac.

 

[Orange Bat]

I don’t think Center Stage is all that important, and neither is a 12MP camera on an iPad. However Apple is great at introducing things you really don’t need or want so that you’ll wait to buy the brand new thing when it’s released next year. My iPad Air has become the Apple device I use at least as much, if not more, than my Mac Mini. It’s a terrific device for actions that don‘t require desktop/laptop level software at a pretty decent price.

 

[JosephAW]

What’s the main difference between the iPad Air and entry level iPad? Weight?

 

[majkom]

There is a chance Apple might refresh it during the October event, even though it’s in mid-product cycle. They won’t leave the product in this condition considering the cheaper product has more advanced features.

Nope

 

[satchmo]

What’s the main difference between the iPad Air and entry level iPad? Weight?

Design…just look at them side by side.

 

[visualseed]

Better cam is welcome but I wonder if center stage is that useful.

I only use the cam during a job interview and I am not going to move around.

Well, that's you. I use it a lot on my iPad Pro and people notice the difference.

 

[Germany12Points]

Where is the new iPad Air 5? I have birthday in November and wanted to buy it there. Can not wait any longer!

 

[J. Jizzle]

So you're telling me the $329 iPad now has Center State, but the iPhone Pro's do not?? How come Apple isn't bring this feature to the iPhone?

 

[velocityg4]

What’s the main difference between the iPad Air and entry level iPad? Weight?

Typically it would be CPU, RAM and screen quality. Although I can't find 2021 iPad RAM specs yet. Maybe it'll catch up till the next Air update.

Although I'd say for the majority of users. The 9th gen iPad will handle their tablet needs well enough. Actually the higher end models seem to be overkill for the average user. In my opinion.

 

[Tommyinnit]

There is a chance Apple might refresh it during the October event, even though it’s in mid-product cycle. They won’t leave the product in this condition considering the cheaper product has more advanced features.

That will never happen. It’s way too soon. It would cannibalize iPad 9 and Mini sales. Spring/Summer makes the most sense for Air 5.

 

[trip1ex]

Poor iPad Air. All alone.