With the upcoming update to the iPad Pro around the corner, we’re getting even more details on what the next iPad Pro will have. Back in October 2022, Apple introduced the 10th generation iPad, which is the first iPad to have a landscape front-facing camera. In other words, the camera is located along the longer side when you use that iPad in landscape mode or with the Magic Keyboard Folio.
Now that the first beta of iPadOS 17.4 was out this week, Steve Moser discovered several lines of code that indicated that the next iPad Pro could have a similar treatment, including the landscape TrueDepth camera system for Face ID.
“During Face ID setup, iPad needs to be in the landscape with the camera at the top of the screen,” reads the code.”
The reason that the current generation iPad Pro doesn’t have a landscape front camera is that the Apple Pencil 2 charger takes up the same spot where the camera would be. The iPad 10 doesn’t have the wireless charging system for Apple Pencil 2, so it can use the space for the front-facing camera. That’s why Apple offers the Apple Pencil (USB-C) for that iPad to still magnetically attach the Pencil for storage.
If the landscape front camera is coming to the iPad Pro, then that means the next generation Apple Pencil 3 (not to be confused with the USB-C version) could be redesigned to still magnetically attach and charge with that iPad. Based on code found in iPadOS 17.4, the Apple Pencil 3 might support Find My for the first time.
The iPad Pro is expected to have its first redesign since 2018 with the OLED displays and M3 chip. We can expect those models to come out either in March or April.
