Take an early look at the redesigned 2018 iPad Pro

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This is the best image yet of the 2018 iPad Pro.
This is the best image yet of the 2018 iPad Pro.
Photo: mysmartprice

A leaked product image goes a long way toward confirming that the 2018 iPad Pro is getting a significant redesign. Apple’s next tablet is shown in a folding case, but it’s clear that the bezels have shrunk and the Home button has disappeared, just as previous rumors indicated.

The image also clearly shows the front-facing sensors needed for Face ID.

The case image, which was leaked to mysmartprice, shows the 2018 iPad Pro being used in landscape mode. This adds weight to the unconfirmed reports that Face ID will work with the tablet held this way. There have been some questions about  this, as Apple’s facial recognition system works only in portrait mode on iPhones.

More 2018 iPad Pro design changes

The tablet in the leaked image is supposedly the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. However, the length of the Apple Pencil indicates this is likely the 10.5-inch version instead. In the 2018 models, Apple is expected to keep the same 12.9- and 10.5-inch screen sizes, but reduce the overall dimensions of the tablets by shrinking the bezels.

Still, no screen cutout (or notch) is necessary for the TrueDepth camera, as the iPad Pro won’t have bezels as thin as the iPhone XS.

The angle of this picture neither confirms or refutes the reports that the 2018 iPad Pro models will the the first iOS devices ever with a USB-C port.

The case in the product picture has a slot for an Apple Pencil. It’s not clear if the one shown is the rumored updated version of this active pen.

This redesigned iPad is expected to be unveiled before the end of this month. This will supposedly happen at a second fall press event, along with the unveiling of a new MacBook Air and Mac Mini.

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