Apple may soon move the front-facing camera on iPads to work better in landscape.
The news comes from leaker Dylan (@dylandkt), who has previously shared leaks about upcoming MacBooks. In a recent tweet, Dylan states that future iPad Pro models “will feature a horizontal camera placement and an Apple logo positioned horizontally on the back.”
Future iPad Pros will feature a horizontal camera placement and a horizontally placed Apple logo on the back. Apple will make landscape mode the default for iPad Pro use. I have not confirmed whether the next-gen model will have this feature, but it is in the works.
– Dylan (@dylandkt) September 23, 2021
Dylan also noted that Apple will make landscape mode the “default” for iPad Pro, but notes that they have not confirmed whether the changes will be ready for the next generation iPad Pro.
Although it may seem like a small change, moving the camera could have significant benefits for users. IPads currently have the selfie camera on one of the narrow sides, the ‘top’ when you hold the tablet in portrait mode. But as Apple adds and expands the capabilities of the iPad, it encourages people to use the iPad in landscape mode.
A good example? The absurdly expensive Magic Keyboard accessory effectively turns the iPad Pro into a laptop. Also, it forces people to use the iPad in landscape mode.
It is not really a problem until someone tries to join a video call. Having the camera on the left or right side (depending on how people orient the iPad in the landscape) can be confusing, and often people just don’t know where to look. Features like ‘Center Stage’ can help, but ultimately moving the camera to the long side of the tablet and conditioning people to use the iPad in landscape mode would go a long way towards addressing the problem.
Or, Apple could add a little LED light next to the camera so people know where to look. But maybe it’s asking too much.