A mysterious cutout on an alleged leaked next-gen iPad Pro case suggests that Apple could be relocating the Smart Connector position on its new tablet — or even introducing a new connector or sensor altogether.
While the cutout isn’t explained, it does line up with previous reports suggesting that Apple would be moving the Smart Connector position closer to the Lightning port.
The thing that baffles me would be the purpose of moving the Smart Connector. Shifting it to the bottom of the device would make it easier to use the iPad in portrait mode, but more difficult and awkward in landscape mode. Especially after Apple introduced new multitasking features to the iPad, which work better in landscape than portrait mode, it seems unlikely that Apple’s going to try and reorientate the iPad around being used in vertical mode.
One possible option is that Apple is set to feature two Smart Connectors for the device, although this doesn’t necessarily seem like a suitably elegant Apple solution.
Provided this leak is legit, maybe it could be a new type of connector altogether?
Coming soon to an iPad near you
Compared with the new iPhones, this year’s iPads haven’t been quite so widely covered — and spoilered.
Based on what we do know so far, Apple will be bringing some of the most popular features of its flagship iPhone X to the new iPad. This includes the smart bezel-less design of the premium smartphone, along with the arrival of Face ID as a means to unlock the device. Face ID for the iPad Pro was first rumored last year by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
With Apple having seen six straight quarters of increasing tablet shipments, it feels like there’s more excitement than ever around the iPad.
How will Apple take advantage of that for this year’s device? We’ll have to wait until next month’s media event to find out.
What do you hope Apple introduces for the 2018 iPad refresh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Slashleaks
