According to the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, Apple’s next-generation entry-level iPad will come with a Touch ID power button and a repositioned FaceTime camera.
▲ iPad mini 6
Citing multiple sources, the report says that the iPad 10 renders shared earlier this month do not accurately depict the placement of Touch ID or the front FaceTime camera on the device.
First, while the renders show iPad 10 with the traditional Touch ID Home button on the bottom bezel, the report suggests the device could feature a Touch ID power button on the top bezel of the device, just like the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models.
Second, the report claims that the FaceTime camera can be placed in the middle of the device’s right frame for landscape use. The report claims that Apple’s “centered portrait” feature helps users stay centered during video calls when the iPad is placed horizontally, which works better, and suggests that the new placement of the FaceTime camera on the right frame will accommodate this scenario.
The report claims that previous renders of the iPad 10 accurately show the overall dimensions of the device. Previous rumors suggested that the iPad 10 would come with a larger 10.5-inch display, USB-C port, A14 Bionic chip, 5G cellular networking, thinner bezels and flatter edges. In comparison, the iPad 9 comes with a 10.2-inch display and A13 bionic chip.
Mass production of the iPad 10 is reportedly underway. Apple is expected to announce the device at an October event, in part because iPadOS 16 has been delayed until October. iPad 9 was unveiled last September along with the iPhone 13 series and the new iPad mini 6.
