The rumored 2018 iPad Pro will have an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, and more

We’ve speculated that new iPad Pros would be coming later this month, and thanks to some insider information from 9to5Mac, we may know a few of the features coming to them. According to “sources familiar with the development of the new 2018 iPad Pro,” this year’s iPad Pros could bring a substantial overhaul to Apple’s venerable tablet line.

The biggest change, according to 9to5Mac’s sources, will be the display. The 2018 iPad Pro may take a page out of the iPhone X’s book and sport a near-bezelless display. That would mean the iPad Pro will have to ditch the physical home button in favor of the iPhone X’s swipe and gesture system. The word “near-bezelless” is important, as the unnamed sources specified that the iPad Pro will not have a notch. Instead, there will be just enough bezel left to house the depth sensors and cameras needed for the next feature new to iPads: Face ID.

According to rumors, the 2018 iPad Pro will bring the same Face ID system used by this year’s new iPhones. However, the iPad Pro’s Face ID will supposedly work in landscape as well as portrait mode, though it won’t work when the device is upside down.

The upcoming iPad Pros may also swap out Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for USB Type-C. The reason may be to output 4K HDR video to supported external displays. While iPads have been able to connect to external displays since their inception via a dongle, current iPad Pros can only output to Full HD (1920x1080) without HDR.

Other smaller additions may include a revamped Apple Pencil that will connect to and pair with the new iPad Pros by proximity, much like Apple’s Airpods. There may also be a new magnetic connector along the back of the tablet to connect different peripherals (think keyboards, charging cases, and more), à la Motorola’s Moto Mods.

Of course, take all this with a grain of salt. While 9to5Mac has a fairly good reputation when it comes to Apple leaks, these are still rumors. We’ll know for certain what the new iPad Pros will bring when (and if) Apple announces the devices later this month.

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