Apple is reportedly planning to remove its Touch ID home button from iPads this September.
In 2018, the Cupertino company removed the button in favor of Face ID with the iPad Pro, and now it appears that at least one other iPad model will be given the same treatment.
New leaks from insider @duanrui1205 on Twitter suggests that Apple is planning to unveil a new full-screen iPad this September – we don’t know if it’s the iPad Air or the entry-level iPad.
Thanks to new information on Twitter, we can see a new-look iPad Air 4 from its manual, showing off a new design without a home button and much larger screen space. A USB-C port is also mentioned, suggesting that Apple is continuing to transition away from its Lightning ports.
iPad Air 4
Touch ID
via 小红书 pic.twitter.com/2jc09uAKUY— DuanRui (@duanrui1205) August 27, 2020
However, rather than bringing the expensive Face ID to these lower-cost iPads, Apple is reportedly adding Touch ID to the power button. This would allow the company to keep the price down on thee models whilst offering a more modern and user-centric screen design.
A second leak from 91mobiles reportedly shows off a new entry-level iPad, which has also been given an iPad Pro-style redesign, ditching the home button and bringing USB-C.
In this design, Face ID comes as standard, and a new Magic Keyboard has also been teased.
It has been widely reported that Apple will drop a 10.8-inch iPad in 2020, but it would be unusual if this turned out to be the cheapest iPad in the range.
Therefore, we expect that at least one of these leaks is inaccurate and that the truth lies somewhere in the middle, perhaps with Touch ID remaining on the affordable iPad and Face ID coming to iPad Air.
Apple is expected to announce new iPads and Apple Watches this September at an upcoming event. Stay tuned to AppleMagazine for the latest news and announcements.