Why the next budget iPad might move the FaceTime camera to the side

Apple’s 10th iteration of the budget iPad could move the front camera towards the display and embed a Touch ID fingerprint scanner into the side button.

• What is happening? A report from Japan says that Apple’s tenth generation iPad could move the front FaceTime camera at the top of the display to the right side. It is also believed that Apple will build Touch ID into the side button, as we saw in the latest iPad mini.
• Why care? Moving the camera to the side can improve reframing with Center Stage, which applies automatic framing and panning to keep everyone in frame.
• What to do? If you’re looking for a budget iPad, don’t hit the buy button until the next budget iPad goes official sometime in October.

iPad 10 may put the FaceTime camera aside

This is reported by Japanese blog Mac Oakara, who apparently learned from unknown Chinese sources about the displacement of the FaceTime camera and Touch ID in the side button. Read: How to fix Touch ID not working

Claimed CAD drawings of the body of the device suggest that the tenth generation may be slightly wider and thinner than its predecessor. There are rumors that the display will be slightly larger, from 10.2 to 10.7 inches. Therefore, an upgraded chassis will be required to accommodate the larger screen.

Mac Otakara sources also said that Apple will move its Touch ID fingerprint scanner to the device’s side button, a solution we’ve seen on the iPad mini.

Since Touch ID remains, albeit in a different form, the next budget iPad is expected to not accept Face ID. And while screen bezels are expected to shrink, it’s not clear if they’ll be just a tad thinner or as thin as on the iPad mini.

As for the FaceTime HD camera, it should be moved from the center of the top edge to the right. According to the report, moving the camera to the side will improve the Center Stage reframing feature, which works better in landscape than in portrait. Read: How to Blur Background During FaceTime Calls

Mac Otakara is a fairly reliable source for Apple rumors, but this article notes that the exact details remain unknown, so take this with a grain of salt.