Code Found In iOS 11.3 Beta Hints At iPad Pro 3 Release

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New code found in the iOS 11.3 beta contains many references to unreleased iPad models, suggesting we could see a refresh of the tablet line in the new iPad Pro 3 this coming year.

iPad Pro 3

We don’t have much information regarding the new iPad Pro 3 other than the fact that it exists and is present in the code for iOS 11.3, but we did have a sense that this might have been coming after a prediction from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last fall that suggested we would see the Face ID biometric security measures from the iPhone X included in a new iPad.

The name iPad Pro 3 is still up in the air too, with the iOS code evidence simply referencing an unreleased “modern iPad.” We first saw this reference back in the release of iOS 11.2.5, and it became more readily apparent with this new beta for iOS 11.3. The combination of code in these two releases does suggest that a new iPad Pro 3 or some other modern iPad model is in development and will likely feature the Face ID from the iPhone X – just as Kuo reported back in 2017.

The name “modern iPad” is especially significant, because “modern iPhone” was the name used to refer to the iPhone X before it debuted. 9to5Mac reports that this “modern” reference is used to distinguish between hardware that uses Touch ID versus hardware that uses Face ID. As such, it’s looking like there’s a high probability that we’ll see Face ID in the new iPad Pro 3.

The KGI report initially released back in 2017 didn’t say much about what we’d see from the new iPad Pro 3 outside of the addition of Face ID, so the specifics of the new tablet model are anyone’s guess. However, considering the radical redesign of the iPhone with the release of the X, it’s possible we’ll see something creative that is a departure from what we typically associate with the iPad line. The report did say, however, that the Face ID will be limited to the “Pro” versions of iPads released in 2018, but that there’s a possibility it will come standard on iPad models releasing in the years to come.

Added Features

The inclusion of Face ID in the new iPad Pro 3 would allow unlocking of the device via facial recognition, but there are also some added bonuses that might not be immediately apparent. Animojis would likely make an appearance on the platform which is a cool feature, but another more significant change is the ability to take selfies in Portrait mode. This isn’t guaranteed by the inclusion of the TrueDepth camera system, but it does technically give the tablets the capability. Whether or not that’s actually implemented with the release of the new iPad Pro 3 remains to be seen, but we have our fingers crossed.

We’ll have to wait and see what Apple has to offer with the release of the new iPad Pro 3. Outside of the inclusion of Face ID, the revamp of the product line is shrouded in mystery. By including Face ID, Apple has the opportunity to refresh a product line that hasn’t been nearly as popular as their phones. Considering the massive success of the iPhone X’s initial launch, it’s likely that the company will try to move the technology into more of their products. Innovating in more ways than just facial recognition would give Apple another edge, but considering the massive amount of resources that were likely involved in the development of Face ID, we’re not expecting anything totally new for quite some time.

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