An Apple developer has discovered code in the latest iOS 12 beta that suggests an all-new iPad Pro is coming which features Face ID and a True Depth camera. Steve Troughton-Smith notes that AvatarKit, which Apple uses to operate its Animoji and upcoming Memoji on the iPhone X, has been altered to support an iPad-size screen.
In his Twitter posting, Troughton-Smith notes, "New in iOS 12: AvatarKit comes to iPad. Still requires a TrueDepth camera to do face tracking, though, i.e. an iPad with Face ID."
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1013958667409018886
We're just two months away from Apple's fall event, which is typically held in mid-September. While most expect Cupertino to announce three new iPhones, things have been a little bit murky on the iPad Pro rumor front.
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro were both announced in June 2017. Since then, we've heard very little about the next-generation devices.
Way back in November, Bloomberg reported that the 2018 iPad Pro lineup would feature a revamped design with slimmer top and bottom bezels, a faster processor, and use a TrueDepth camera and Face ID. That same report said a second-generation Apple Pencil stylus would also be arriving with this year's iPad Pro models.
Soon after, another report said Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) were developing a next-generation mobile chip that would make its debut in an upcoming iPad Pro revision.
According to the report from Chinese outlet MyDrivers, the chip was tentatively named “A11X Bionic.” Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone X feature A11 Bionic chips.
We'll continue to follow this story. In the meantime, what would you like to see in the next iPad Pro? Give us your thoughts below.
Besides new iOS devices, the unannounced Apple fall event could also see the introduction of new Macs, a fourth-generation Apple Watch, and more. Stay tuned.
