iPad Air 5 with ultra-wide cam might beautify video calls

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iPad Air 4
The 2022 iPad Air 5 might look much like its predecessor, but with a FaceTime-friendly front camera.
Photo: Apple

The next-generation iPad Air is right around the corner, according to a leak coming out of Asia. The upcoming tablet will allegedly get a better front-facing camera with support for Center Stage. And a general specs boost.

On the inside, the iPad Air 5 supposed to have much in common with the iPad mini 6.

iPad Air 5 could be the next with Center Stage

Perhaps the standout feature in the fourth-generation iPad Air will be the 12MP ultra-wide front camera, according to the Japanese site Macotakara.

The high-resolution camera will enable Center Stage so that the camera follows the user during a video call. It makes the tablet well suited for video calls, whether via FaceTime, Zoom or some other option. Center Stage is already available in the latest iPad Pro, iPad mini and budget iPad models.

As for the iPad Air 5 internals, “the specifications will be similar to the iPad mini (6th generation),” according to Macotakara. That includes an Apple A15 Bionic. And probably 4GB of RAM. It will be the latest iPadOS tablet with access to 5G celluar-wireless networks.

No external changes

Macotakara’s unnamed Chinese sources say the overall design of the next iPad Air 5 will not change after the redesign of the iPad Air 4. Expect it to stick with a 10.9-inch display, USB-C port, Apple Pencil 2 support, Touch ID in the power button and a single rear-facing camera.

The computer reportedly will be unveiled at the same time as the iPhone SE 3, in spring 2022. The timing makes sense — the iPad Air 4 came out in autumn 2020, and Apple generally updates its tablets every year to 18 months.

Pricing for iPad Air 5 unknown at this time, but the current version starts at $599.

Macotakara has a 63% accuracy rate from AppleTrack. That makes its predictions somewhat trustworthy, though there are tipsters with much better records.

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