A few hours ago, Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 17.4, one of the biggest updates to iOS 17 that introduces big changes to the historical dynamics of iOS and iPadOS. However, the iOS 17.4 code has a few new features that seem to have been hidden by Apple. Apparently the code shows a possible iPad with the Face ID camera in a horizontal position, like most tablets on the market. This camera would allow Face ID to be used both horizontally and vertically, but this change would be transcendental in the usual design of iPads.
Will we have an iPad with Face ID horizontally? : iOS 17.4 says yes
The iPads we know from the beginning have always had a vertical format front camera. That is, when we turned the device to the right or left, the camera was on one side. This provision makes it difficult to aim the camera during video calls in landscape format because the captured image is taken from one side and not from the front.
Related article:
The first beta of iOS 17.4 is now available and here are all its new features
iOS 17.4 beta 1 (21E5184i) changes:
1) The text alludes to new iPads with a horizontal Face ID layout. Even though it says “iPad”, it is most likely the new iPad Pro expected in March.
“While setting up Face ID, the iPad should be in landscape mode with the camera at the top of the screen.”2)… pic.twitter.com/NcmsH4J2NE
-Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) January 25, 2024
Apparently Apple tested an iPad with the camera horizontally as demonstrated by the internal code of the first beta of iOS 17.4. Inside the code The main clue found is the following text:
Face ID must be in landscape/horizontal mode to learn to recognize you. Once set up, Face ID will work in both landscape and portrait.
Everything seems to indicate that this maneuver introduced within iOS 17.4 will be associated with the new iPad Pro which will be released in March, aimed more at a professional audience and it would make more sense because it requires a more pronounced design change. However, we cannot draw conclusions either since perhaps this camera could remain in vertical format and have adapted the unlocking to the horizontal Face ID format. Although taking into account the leaks around the new iPad we will likely see a radical change in the current design.
Picture – Apple Hub
