Apple is working on a redesign of high-end iPad that is slated to release in 2018 that will feature the Facial recognition and slimmer edges just like the iPhone X. However, the new iPad won’t have the OLED display according to a report from Bloomberg.
Use of OLED screen has an advantage as it provides more vivid colors and sharp display. At least one iPad high-end model sporting a similar 10.5-inches size releasing in 2018 is said to feature Facial recognition technology with added benefits like making payments, and sending animated emojis. The face ID will replace the Touch ID fingerprint sensor which debuted back in 2014.
By removing the home button, Apple will have an advantage in noticeably reducing the bezels on the top and bottom of the device, thus bringing the iPad design much closer to the recently launched iPhone X. This will be the first redesign and revamped look of iPad since the introduction of iPad Pro in 2015.
Apple iPad line-up has been the second largest product line for the company until 2015 post which the global tablet sales declined 17% the past three years. The iPad revenue too fell far behind the sales generated by Apple’s other offerings and Mac products. However, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro models seem to have slowly coming back as Apple last week reported that iPad revenue rose 14% to $4.8 billion in the fiscal Q4, with an 11.4% increase in the number of units sold.
Apple is still focusing on the iPad line-up as the company is launching refreshed models of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro models in successive years as the company sees them as future for mainstream computing. And, with features like slim edge-to-edge design and Face ID, Apple is aiming to improve the iPad revenue and reach further.