Apple international regulatory filings hint that two new iPad models are imminent
Apple has obtained permission to sell two new iPads in several Eurasian countries, suggesting that the company is planning to announce them in the near future.
The Eurasian Economic Commission --- overseeing Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan -- this week approved "A1893" and "A1954" models, Consomac noted on Wednesday. Those numbers don't correspond to any existing iPads.
Apple has also secured permission to bring several iPad and iPhone "samples" into the region, with "CC" and "AA" prefixes in front of their model numbers. Since this is the first time the company has won EEC permission for samples, it's not clear which devices are involved.
This year's iPad refresh is expected to be a significant step forward, since code in the iOS 11.3 betas refers to a "Modern" model. Before the announcement of the iPhone X, pre-release iOS 11 code referenced a "Modern" iPhone.
That could imply that new iPads will switch to Face ID and edge-to-edge displays, abandoning Touch ID and even the relatively modest bezels of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The products are likely to use LCD instead of OLED, however, given the cost of OLED and the difficulty of mass production.
Since the EEC's document mentions two models, those are presumably 10.5- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. It's not certain when -- or even if -- the company will update its 9.7-inch "budget" iPad.
The Eurasian Economic Commission --- overseeing Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan -- this week approved "A1893" and "A1954" models, Consomac noted on Wednesday. Those numbers don't correspond to any existing iPads.
Apple has also secured permission to bring several iPad and iPhone "samples" into the region, with "CC" and "AA" prefixes in front of their model numbers. Since this is the first time the company has won EEC permission for samples, it's not clear which devices are involved.
This year's iPad refresh is expected to be a significant step forward, since code in the iOS 11.3 betas refers to a "Modern" model. Before the announcement of the iPhone X, pre-release iOS 11 code referenced a "Modern" iPhone.
That could imply that new iPads will switch to Face ID and edge-to-edge displays, abandoning Touch ID and even the relatively modest bezels of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The products are likely to use LCD instead of OLED, however, given the cost of OLED and the difficulty of mass production.
Since the EEC's document mentions two models, those are presumably 10.5- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. It's not certain when -- or even if -- the company will update its 9.7-inch "budget" iPad.
Comments
Not sure why the article is doubting it's that one, the source is neutral and that came out in March last year?
Not expecting it, but the surprise would be welcome.
We've been waiting to upgrade the iPads, but FaceID with its restriction to a single user would make that them a non-starter.
I can't use my wife's iPhone X because Face ID only allows one user to be registered. OK, that's fine for a personal device like the phone, but as I said, we share the iPads, and need to both be able to use both of them.
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Come on, Apple, if you are going to take away TouchID, then FaceID has to allow multiple users!
It's kinda hard to go back and forth between iPhone X and my current iPad Pro. I am already so used to swipe-the-bottom-edge gestures
My HP ENVY has a system similar to FaceID. While it staryed out with a very beta feel, Microsoft and HP have actually gotten it to work fairly well. Apple could easily do the same thing for Mac and iPads but make changing users even cleaner. It just takes time to fully develop the hardware and software.
So what do i want to see in a modern iPad:
1,
Higher CPU and GPU performance. This is a given but might as well be on record.
2.
Enhanced AI hardware. We arecat the 6502 stage of hardware development when it comes to AI hardware and software so Apple has a ling ways to go here. The goal should be AI like behavior like the old Knowledge Navigator videos.
3.
im hoping for a betterv up sell configuration. That is buying extra storage shouldn't feel like a complete rip off. The top end model should also double RAM.
4.
more environmental I/O. By this i mean temperature, air pressure and the like. Even an always on wrather alert radio would be nice.
5.
Apple should pull head from Ass and do something about a Broadcast FM radio. So little hardware is required herethat it kinda boggles the mind that they dont off this feature. There is still much in this world that isnt net based and probably never will be.
6.
The cameras on these units cry out for interchangeable lenses. It would be awsome to see Apple standardize a bayonent for this desire. Either that or offer a zoom capability of at least 6X. In the end nothing beats an optical solution to image composition. Further camera tech has come so far that quality optical solutions would not be a complete waste.
7.
This is probably ways off but solar charging would be a nice feature. Again an upsell solution but the thing here is iPad is big enough that a reasonable recharge rate can be had from a well implemented solar charging solution. Building this solution into the front glass would be ground breaking but id settle for cells mounted on the back side. An alternative here would be to add a hardened port for a solar charging snap on device (protective cover).