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Apple’s 2020 iPad Pro will feature major camera upgrades and a surprise feature

By Joshua Swingle

Updated: Nov 12, 2019, 8:31 AM

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2018 iPad Pro

Apple is preparing a revamped iPad Pro lineup that’ll debut at some point in the near future. Little is known at the moment but the latest report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg suggests the planned upgrades are very camera-centric.

New iPad Pro will pair two cameras with a 3D system

People familiar with Apple’s plans revealed the company is readying an updated iPad Pro that features two cameras on the rear, up from just one on the current model. The setup wasn’t extensively detailed but the change likely involves borrowing the iPhone 11’s cameras. Therefore, the next iPad Pro should include a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle shooter coupled with Night Mode support.

These cameras will be accompanied by the usual LED flash and microphone, although it turns out Apple has something else in the works. Corroborating earlier rumors, sources claimed the iPhone giant is working on a 3D system that’ll require a small hole. It’ll allow users to create three-dimensional copies of rooms, objects, and people.

Apple’s new 3D system may not seem like much at first but Bloomberg’s sources claim it’ll “be the centerpiece” of the company’s next hardware push – augmented reality. The setup has reportedly been under development for years and is even more advanced than the Face ID setup used on existing iPad Pro and iPhone models. Speaking of which, the 2020 iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are expected to feature Apple’s new AR-focused upgrade in addition to support for 5G networks.

2020 iPad Pro concept render by Ben Geskin

The Silicon Valley-based company has worked hard to improve iPhone cameras over the years but hasn’t really shown the same determination when it comes to tablets. Current-generation iPad Pro models simply borrow the iPhone XR’s cameras, so the upgrades will certainly be welcomed by buyers.

When the 2020 iPad Pro might be announced

The 2018 iPad Pro lineup was announced in October of last year and earlier rumors had suggested Apple was planning to unveil its upgraded lineup just twelve months later. This never made much sense because next-generation iPad Pros are typically unveiled every 18 months and now it seems the skepticism was justified.

Apple shut down rumors of a 2019 iPad Pro update during its most recent earnings call by revealing that its earnings forecasts for the fourth quarter take into account the lack of new iPad Pro models. Now, Bloomberg claims the official introduction will happen at some point during the first half of 2020.

The 2018 iPad Pro

An exact timeline hasn’t been provided yet but the news could mean one of two things. Either Apple is planning to introduce its new iPad Pro lineup at WWDC in early June, or that an announcement is scheduled for late March at its annual event. Currently, the latter seems most likely because noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has mentioned that timeline in the past.

The 2020 iPad Pro could be joined by the iPhone SE 2

If Apple chooses to introduce its 2020 iPad Pro models in March, the updated tablets could be joined by the highly anticipated iPhone SE 2. This phone will spiritually succeed the original and is reportedly going to be based on Apple’s cheapest and smallest smartphone, the iPhone 8.

The device’s package involves pairing a 4.7-inch LCD display manufactured by LG with thick bezels and a physical home button that incorporates Touch ID. The rear panel should once again be made out of glass and incorporate a single rear camera. It’ll remain to be seen if the sensor used is borrowed from the iPhone 8 or iPhone 11, though.

Internally, Apple’s iPhone SE 2 will include the A13 Bionic alongside 3GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable internal storage. The latest version of iOS 13 will be pre-installed and the device should support Night Mode and wireless charging.