Apple finally positions the front camera on the iPad along the landscape edge, where it should be

At its “Let Loose” event on Tuesday, Apple announced new iPads, including two iPad Air models and the iPad Pro with the new M4 processor. A significant update for users who frequently take video calls is the relocation of the front-facing camera to the landscape edge of the device.

Previously, the camera was positioned on the portrait edge, which required users to hold the iPad in portrait mode for video calls. This setup often resulted in awkward and unflattering angles when the device was used in landscape mode, similar to a laptop. The new iPad models address this issue by placing the camera on the landscape edge.

Melody Kuna, Director of iPad Design, explained, “We’ve also redesigned the iPad Air to put the front-facing camera on the landscape edge and feature Center Stage that uses machine learning to keep everyone in the field of view automatically. So it’s perfect for connecting with friends and family over FaceTime or joining a video conference while using a keyboard.”

The same change applies to the new iPad Pro models equipped with the M4 processor.

The new iPads will start shipping next week. The 11-inch model is priced at $599, and the 13-inch model is priced at $799.