Apple is set to drop the 3.5mm audio jack from the upcoming iPad Pro tablets. The same report also says that the new tablets will be smaller, and Apple will introduce FaceID albeit only in portrait mode.
The upcoming iPad Pro is said to receive a shrinking treatment when compared to the previous model. Apple has managed to reduce the footprint of the tablet by about 10% overall to fit the larger 12.9-inch display into a smaller body. The end result is that the upcoming iPad Pro will have smaller bezels all around; this unfortunately also results in the removal of the audio jack for the large iPad.
News of the audio jack removal may be a drawback for those who are dependent on it such as music producers and creators. To add salt into the wound, Apple may not bundle in the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter in the box like how it did with the iPhone 7.
The same report also says that Apple is set to introduce the Face ID module to the iPad Pro lineup but with a twist. It can only be used in portrait mode, not in landscape. While this may be a minor inconvenience to some users, it may be detrimental to others, especially those with Smart Connector keyboards which are only available for the landscape position. To combat this, the report hints that Apple may be shifting the Smart Connectors to the bottom of the tablet, near to the Lightning port.
We have to take these reports with a grain of salt as nothing has been confirmed at this point in time. However, the shrinking of the iPad Pro is logical as manufacturing processes get better with every generation. The loss of the audio jack is also expected as design decisions made on the iPhone line tend to migrate to the iPad product line. We will have to wait and see if any or all of the news are true.
(Source: Macotakara (Japanese) via 9to5Mac)
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