At its “Let Loose event” on May 7, Apple is expected to reveal a slew of new iPads, including new OLED iPad Pros and larger iPad Airs. It’s been too long since Apple updated its tablet line, but that could be because there isn’t much to change. In truth, I enjoy my iPad Pros, Airs, and minis practically exactly as they are, but I do have some thoughts and, more specifically, wishes for these new iPads.
A curved or waterfall back
At 6.1mm, the iPad Air is extremely thin but never feels flimsy. It weighs little more than a pound and feels excellent in your palm. Still, if I had my way, I would restore the curves, or, more particularly, create a waterfall to remove or soften the harsh edges, making the iPad substantially more pleasant to hold and even rest in the curve of your arm or on your lap.
Such a revamp would also pay homage to the legendary original iPad design. It also has an edge around the back, but there is a curvature that makes the gadget seem and feel more comfortable.
Shrink the bezels
The iPad has come a long way from the nearly inch-wide black bezels around the original iPad screen, but I believe Apple can go even further. The new iPad Air has a substantially bigger bezel than the 13-inch MacBook Air.
I’d want to see bezels on the upcoming iPads that are only a few millimeters wide. Apple, give me as much drawing space as possible. If you must, add a notch identical to the one found on the MacBook Air. I would prefer if you made it smaller, but I can live with the cutout if the final result is more screen. I’d also consider a punch-hole camera technique.
What I truly want is a Dynamic Island on the iPad, which would necessitate both hardware and iPadOS upgrades. Consider all the information and interactions that could be supplied via that fungible, pill-shaped interface.
Move the camera
It’s time for Apple to recognize how 99% of us use our iPads. We work on them, watch TV, play games, and use FaceTime in landscape mode. The FaceTime camera has oddly remained on the short side for Portrait mode usage. It’s an old functionality from when people initially bought iPads and used vertical iOS apps in 2X mode. If a FaceTime call came in, simply gaze up at the camera on the top edge.
iPadOS now has its own apps, and the majority of them are designed to work in landscape mode. When I conduct a FaceTime chat, I’m always staring at the wrong location and occasionally cover the camera with my fingers because I keep forgetting the camera is on the short left side.
This is a basic yet much-needed modification. Apple, move the camera to the long edge – yes, exactly below where we dock our Apple Pencil – and let’s move on from this legacy issue.
Wireless charging
This is a no-brainer, and I’ve heard whispers about such a feature.
Wireless charging has been available on the iPhone series for 7 years, and the Apple Watch and AirPods have all incorporated it. It’s virtually unthinkable that Apple’s other popular mobile technology doesn’t include it.
All I want is a lovely MagSafe inductive charging ring on the back of every new iPad, from the Air and standard iPad to the iPad Pro (and the iPad mini if it makes it). I do not believe it will increase the thickness of any iPad.
Consider the convenience of dumping your iPad on an iPhone MagSafe charger or a new iPad MagSafe chargepad that is large enough to handle the complete iPad back. Perhaps this is a new Smart Folio cover.
A moveable dock
I keep my iPad Dock very clean, with only a few go-to apps. This means it’s never cluttered and can seem similar to an app widget. The issue is that it is stuck to a single spot at the bottom of the home screen.
For the new iPad (I understand that this is mostly an iPadOS upgrade), I’d like to be able to move the dock from the bottom edge to the right or left side of my screen as a vertical dock.
It’s not only that I want freedom – which I do – but I believe the dock would be more useful placed next to one of my current programs. I believe that home screens should be less prescriptive and more customizable. Such as change also aligns with the home screen and lock screen changes that Apple made in recent years to iOS and iPadOS.
Bonus Request
The contemporary iPad is sufficiently capable that when coupled with a keyboard, it may easily function as an ultraportable touchscreen laptop. I enjoy the Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad, but it would be much better if the keyboard was on a slider that could be pulled away from the iPad screen. If it could additionally tilt up slightly to meet my touch, that would be ideal.
It’s not that I won’t like the new iPads if Apple doesn’t accomplish some or all of these things, but if it does, it will push some of the best tablets on the market to near-perfection, and who can argue against that?
