Apple is holding its annual fall launch event on
September 12 this year. It's expected to unveil three new iPhones on that
occasion, but some new iPads may join them too. One of these, the 2018 version
of the iPad Pro 12.9, has been leaked today through CAD-based renders and a
video.
The renders show a tablet with symmetrical screen
bezels on all four sides, rounded display corners, and no Home button anywhere.
The removal has to do with the fact that this iPad will employ Face ID technology
for unlocking, just like the iPhone X (and all three 2018 iPhones).
Since on a tablet you still need some amount of
screen bezel in order to make holding it at least reasonably comfy, we're
spared the notch because the necessary sensors for Face ID have enough space in
the top bezel as it is.
The visible antenna lines imply that the back of the
tablet will be made out of metal, and not glass. The Smart Connector has been
relocated to the rear, as you can see, near the bottom. This may mean that you'll
only be able to use a keyboard cover with the tablet sitting in portrait
orientation. If so, that's probably because of the company's rumored inability
to get Face ID to work while the iPad is in landscape.
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) will be joined by a 10.5-inch
variant, both shipping with LCD panels and the A12 or A12X chipset. Apple
Pencil support should obviously be in, unlike the 3.5mm headset jack which is
gone.
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