Roger Fingas
Renders shared to Twitter on Thursday are claimed to show Apple's 2018 iPad Pro design, incorporating a near bezel-free display, reduced thickness, and retro-styled edges.
One of the new Pros should be 5.86 millimeters thick, according to images shared by well-known leak source Ben Geskin. That compares against 6.1 millimeters on the current 10.5-inch model, and 6.9 millimeters on the 12.9-inch tablet.
Another claimed design change is flat edges, akin to older Apple products like the iPhone 4. iPads have had rounded edges since 2011's iPad 2, and iPhones have sported them since 2014's iPhone 6. That may make it less likely that the renders are authentic given the shift in aesthetic, though it would be a way of setting new Pros apart cosmetically.
Apple is expected to announce its new Pros sometime this month. Multiple reports have pointed to reduced bezels, but none to flattened edges.
Other features may include a Face ID, an "A12X" processor, USB-C support, and/or a "Magnetic Connector." The last may be an update of the Smart Connector, but moved to the rear and compatible with more accessories. The Smart Connector has largely failed to take off, being supported mostly by Apple and a few third-party keyboards. Many iPad keyboards still rely on Bluetooth — a universal standard.
If Apple does support USB-C, it may choose to replace the Lightning port, which would break compatibility with many previous iPad accessories. That could explain why Apple is rumored to be preparing a new Apple Pencil.
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
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Andrew O'Hara
Christine McKee
28 Comments
It’s gone from twitter - Apple takedown notice?
You know, I’ll be perfectly fine if the iPad Pro didn’t have a rear cam so that the back is flat! Still, lust for <6 mm thickness.
Face ID may require more thickness though.
5.86mm is too thin. My 10.5 is bending like crazy and giving lots of problems
I’m pysched for the new ipad pros & will definitely be buying one. Digging all the rumored changes...except perhaps the squared off edges. I don’t know if I like that. I think I kinda prefer the current rounded style more. The slightly curved edges are very comfortable when holding the ipad in your hands. But then i will really have to see the new design in person to be sure. Who knows? I may like it more.
So I guess they are going back to square design, reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and 5. I bet it looks great in person.