Following the design changes made to the M4-powered iPad Pro models, Apple is preparing to redesign the front camera layout on the next-generation iPad Pro with the M5 processor. In addition to the front camera, which was moved to the top edge for landscape use in the current models, the new models will feature a dual front camera. This will allow for video calling and photo taking regardless of the device’s orientation.

The M5-powered iPad Pro will feature a dual front camera

The M4-powered iPad Pro models were released in May 2024 with an OLED display and a slimmed-down design. The new M5-powered models are expected to retain the overall design but add some notable, albeit limited, functionality improvements.

Chief among these innovations is Apple’s M5 chip and dual front camera setup. Mark Gurman, a source close to Apple, confirmed this information, stating that the goal is to provide a smoother experience in apps like FaceTime regardless of the device’s orientation. While the current Face ID technology already works in all orientations, the front camera was only located on one side.

According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, mass production of iPad Pro models with the M5 processor will begin in the second half of 2025. Based on the company’s historical product schedule, iPad Pro updates typically occur every 18 months. Therefore, the new models are likely to be introduced in September or October 2025.

The fact that OLED panel production has already begun indicates that hardware preparations are progressing as planned. However, the M5 iPad Pro is not expected to feature a radical change in its overall design. Apple is focusing on improving the user experience through hardware efficiency and flexibility, while largely preserving the thinness and display technology advancements achieved in previous models.