Apple’s finally fixing the most annoying thing about iPads and Face ID

Apple’s next iPad Pro is shaping up to be more than just a spec refresh — it’s addressing a problem iPad users have lived with for years. And it’s doing it in a way that feels quietly obvious.

Two front cameras, finally

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next-generation iPad Pro will feature two front-facing cameras — one on the landscape edge and one on the portrait edge. That means no matter how you’re holding the device, the iPad will know exactly where your face is.

This simple change fixes two long-standing frustrations: awkward FaceTime framing and inconsistent Face ID performance, especially for people who prefer holding the iPad vertically. Until now, Apple has only offered a single selfie camera on its tablets, traditionally placed along the portrait edge. Last year’s iPad Pro M4 moved it to the landscape edge, which made sense for docked or keyboard setups — but it created issues for vertical users.

The dual-camera setup takes the guesswork out of it. FaceTime, selfies, and unlocks will just work — in any orientation.

Powered by the M5 chip

Inside, the new iPad Pro is expected to be powered by Apple’s upcoming M5 chip. While specifics are still under wraps, the M5 is likely to deliver performance gains and better energy efficiency over the M4. It's not a major redesign year, but Apple seems focused on refinement and fluidity — the kind you notice when you're jumping between tasks, editing video, or running pro-grade apps.

More than a quality-of-life update The addition of a second front-facing camera might sound minor, but it’s the kind of fix that impacts how you use the device daily. If you’re someone who video calls often or uses Face ID to unlock, the improvement is instant. No more twisting your iPad or shifting position just to get things working.

And it signals a broader shift: Apple is making the iPad Pro a more context-aware device. A product that adapts to you, not the other way around.

iPad Pro isn’t alone

Gurman also reports that Apple’s chip roadmap includes upcoming refreshes for the Vision Pro, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. All of them are expected to adopt versions of the M5 chip. But the iPad Pro looks set to lead the way — combining hardware finesse with actual usability improvements.

If Apple nails the execution, this update won’t just be about power. It’ll be about finally making the iPad Pro as seamless as the rest of your Apple ecosystem.