Fresh hints about the future education/entry level/affordable iPad of 2019 have popped up and they’re telling us that there’s no trace of Face ID this time. The iPad Mini 5 also won’t get it, apparently. The clues were found in the iOS 12.2 beta code.
Face ID involves the expensive TrueDepth mechanism, which may bump up the prices of the devices too much. Since there’s no Face ID, Touch ID is probably here to stay, together with the big bezel at the bottom, aka the chin. Interestingly, rumors also came up about a refreshed iPod model, that will get no Face ID or Touch ID.
The clues in iOS 12.2 beta were found by developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who posted a screenshot to Twitter, showing the references to the new iPad models, both with cellular and WiFi-only connectivity. These models are codenamed iPad11,1, iPad11,2, iPad 11,3 and iPad 11,4. At the same time, The Eurasian Economic Commission from Russia approved six new filings for future iPads.
These are the A2123, A2124, A2133, A2152 A2153 and A2154. Tablets are expected in early 2019, Q1 probably. iPad Mini 4 was launched as early as September 2015, which was 4 years ago, so it seemed like a dead series. The iPad Mini 5 is also said to have a dual camera module, but I wouldn’t bet on that. Apple Pencil support also seems like a given now.
Meanwhile the affordable education iPad may come with a 10 inch screen in the frame of a 9.7 incher.
