5217b0e7 eb0f 4909 81ff a8deb9dcc2a2

Dual Front Cameras Are Coming to the iPad Pro – Here’s What We Know

The M4 iPad Pro introduced several major upgrades to Apple’s flagship tablet, including tandem OLED displays, a thinner design, improved cameras, and a much more powerful processor. Now, rumors suggest that the next-generation M5 iPad Pro will largely retain the current design — but with one unusual hardware tweak: a second front-facing camera .

This isn’t for better selfies or portrait effects. It’s all about orientation.

 

🔹 Why Add a Second Front Camera?

According to a recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman , Apple is planning to equip the M5 iPad Pro with an additional front-facing camera , this time on the shorter edge of the device.

The reason? To solve a usability issue introduced with the 2024 M4 iPad Pro .

In that model, Apple moved the front-facing camera to the longer edge of the tablet — a change meant to make video calls and FaceTime more natural when using the iPad in landscape mode. While that made sense for many users, it created a new problem: using the device in portrait mode became awkward , especially for Face ID authentication.

Now, Apple seems to be trying to make both sides happy — literally — by adding a second camera on the opposite edge.

 

🔹 Not for Depth or Zoom — Just for Orientation

Unlike smartphones that use dual cameras for depth sensing or optical zoom , Apple’s rumored addition isn’t about photography enhancements.

Instead, the second front camera is expected to help Face ID work more smoothly when the iPad is held vertically. This would eliminate the need to rotate the device just to unlock it — a small but noticeable annoyance for many users.

It’s an unusual solution, but not entirely out of character for Apple. The company has a history of addressing user frustrations with hardware tweaks, even if they seem over-engineered at first glance.

 

🔹 What’s Still Unknown?

At this point, there’s no official confirmation from Apple about the exact specs of the new front-facing camera setup. We don’t yet know whether the second camera will be a simple lens or part of a full Face ID module including infrared components.

Also, it’s unclear whether this feature will be available on all iPad Pro models or only on the larger 13-inch variant.

 

🔹 Final Thoughts: A Clever Fix or Overkill?

Adding a second front-facing camera might seem excessive at first glance, but if it makes the iPad Pro more intuitive and easier to use in both orientations, it could be worth it.

Apple has often faced criticism for pushing users toward a specific way of using its devices. This rumored change suggests the company is finally listening — and adapting — to accommodate different usage styles.

We’ll have to wait for Apple’s official announcement to see how this new camera setup performs in practice.

Similar Posts