An Apple developer 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.”
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.
A report from Chinese outlet MyDrivers stated that the chip was tentatively named “A11X Bionic.” Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone X feature A11 Bionic chips.
Besides new iOS devices, the unannounced Apple fall event could also see the introduction of new Macs, a fourth-generation Apple Watch, and more.