When the next generation iPads are unveiled this Thursday, we’re expecting a thinner form factor, recessed volume buttons, refined speaker grills, gold color option and, of course, Touch ID.
But what if Apple went ahead and rethought the devices’ design language so as to match up with the stunning appearance of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus?
That’s the idea behind some beautiful new 3D renderings from one of our favorite concept designers Martin Hajek, who previously imagined what it might look like if the iPad was also struck with a case of Bendgate.
Check them out after the jump.
The new-look iPads certainly look attractive, although Hajek also chose to adopt some of the criticized “flaws” of the iPhone 6 design — including the protruding camera lens and antenna bands.
It seems he’s not too sure about this decision, either, because as he notes, “Not sure if I would like this [myself since] the plastic bands on the iPhone 6 just feel … well…too plastic-ey to me.”
You can draw your own conclusions:
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
17 responses to “What if the new iPads were as pretty as the iPhone 6?”
“Unveiled this Sunday”??!
Nope it’s unveiled on Friday
No hahaha on Thursday
I’ll see your Thursday and raise you a Wednesday. Yes, WEDNESDAY, except that, ah crap, on Wednesday we’ll still have to wait a day.
Cheers.
Have to say, as an owner of the iPhone 6, I prefer the look of the current iPads than my iPhone 6! They already share a restrained amount of design language with the speaker gill etc, but Apple hasn’t tended to be particularly obsessed about sharing overall looks across devices – function clearly dominates when it comes to crafting an object when you listen to Jony Ive – he tailors things to their purpose. For example you don’t need that curved glass on the larger iPad in particularly as it was put there to make it easier to hold with one hand. The bands aren’t necessary too as they’ll just have the top bit for cellular.
Mock ups have historically over-tried to clone one device into another. iPhone was an ipod, iPad was a blown up iPhone (which it never really looked like), iMac’s have their own look, Macbooks Air and Macbook pros have their own too. Colour and materials is perhaps the exception.
i6 is sexy asf <3 deal with it
“deal with it”. sure. As i said I have one. It’s ok. and, frankly, it’s in the Apple case so i dont see more than 50% of the design.
p-p-protruded lenses again?!…. :(
He did not get the color right on the space grey iPhones. I wish they came in that black of a tone with black bands though.
Those are actually pretty fugly. I’m sure Ive can do better than regurgitate the iphone design.
This is why I regard designers like Martin Hajek as having no fucking creativity.
Those white bands are ugly. The camera jotting out is ugly.
The worse part is that he does realise that those are ugly and still incorporates them in his renderings.
Herd mentality.
Actually, the worst part is that he doesn’t realized that those bands have a functional purpose that wouldn’t be necessary on the iPad (aside from the cellular versions).
He’s good at using CAD software etc but seems to have very limited knowledge of actual hardware design. Or even think about it for a few moments. Completely agree with @PMB01:disqus for example.
I think last year’s iPads and iPad minis look very similar to the iPhone 6’s as is by changing the case where it’s a lot thinner, I know it’s not identical, but it’s close, but the IPads have that chamfered edge around the top, I think what screwed up sales was not having at least 2GB of RAM, I think they definitely need to have at LEAST 2GB an split screen multi tasking to display two apps at a time. I know both Android and Windows tablets do that and Apple got lazy in that area.
I still don’t know why they haven’t added a flash to the camera on the iPads, I think they kind of need to do that.
Do you think the average person buying an iPad thinks abut the RAM before they press hand over their credit card in a store? I just don’t see it being a problem on the scale you suggest affecting sales, in the general population.
The merits of more RAM are there – i don’t suggest they are not, just saying i don’t think this affected sales. More likely is that people have older iPads, or indeed other makes – Amazon, Samsung, etc etc.. – and dont feel the same urgency about upgrading. After all, most sales of the iPhone, in many western territories at least, are stimulated by the false subsidising model. Paying 200$ for your iPhone every couple of years is one thing. 400+++ on an iPad, which you dont necessary use as much, and complements perhaps a computer too, doesnt seem quite as easy.
I bet they will be, makes sense following their brand now and they have to retool any model released anyway so might as well keep it consistent.