In the last decade, the iPad has undergone an evolution that has turned it from an entertainment and content consumption device into an unparalleled tool for productivity and creation. A transformation that has been gradual but constant, marked by improvements in hardware and software, and now, while we await the release of the new iPad Air 6 and iPad Pro, it seems that the iPad is ready to take another step in its evolution. A small change that marks a before and after in how we perceive the iPad.
“The iPad is just a big iPhone”
According to rumors, the new iPads will position the camera in such a way that, when the device is placed horizontally, the camera will be at the top and center. This change not only affects the aesthetics and design of the device, but also reflects a change in how we are using the iPad. Traditionally, the design of the iPad, with its camera placed on the top edge in portrait mode, spoke of a usage experience more aligned with that of an iPhone, that is, a device intended to be used vertically. However, this new landscape orientation is a clear approach to the MacBook, as the iPad is increasingly conceived as a computer replacement for many people.
We had part of this debate and feeling when we discovered, a couple of years ago, that when turning on a horizontally positioned iPad, the Apple logo appeared correctly aligned instead of, as before, horizontally oriented. Now, the change in the camera, the only trace of the vertical position, is going to disappear. Of course, we can still use it like that, maybe for reading, maybe for some specific apps with lists or feeds, but the iPad becomes horizontal.
Horizontal orientation is preferable for many productivity-related tasks, such as writing, graphic design, and video editing, as it provides a wider workspace and also because it facilitates the use of accessories like the Magic Keyboard. The same Magic Keyboard that is rumored to be evolving into a next version in a few days, and that becomes an integral active part of the iPad. It’s not a case, it’s not a keyboard, it’s part of our iPad.
Is the iPad with the Magic Keyboard a touch MacBook? In a way, yes. A hybrid device that is now better integrated and more designed for working on a desk, with its keyboard and trackpad and the camera at the top. A device that can serve as a base for working with the Vision Pro or even controlling a Mac thanks to Universal Control.
Am I letting myself be carried away by what is just a small change? Well, it could be, but it doesn’t seem like a minor change to me. The orientation of a device says a lot about its purpose and with this change, Apple is telling us, between the lines: “the iPad is used like this, horizontally”. Whether it’s to unlock the device with Face ID or to make a video call, this is the “correct” orientation.
“Your next computer is not a computer”
The advertising with which Apple promotes the iPad has long ceased to see the iPad as a big iPhone. The improvements in the operating system, the hardware specific to computers starting with the M3 chips and ending with the amount of storage we can configure, are another element of this evolution.
For many Softonic readers, the difference between a computer and an iPad is clear and revolves around the operating system, mainly. But from personal experience, I must say that there are many people for whom the distinction comes down to the screen size and form factor. In this sense, for this audience, the iPad will now be more computer than ever.
A minor change, perhaps, but a change with intention. A simple practical change for videoconferences? In a way, yes, but it shows us that videoconferences are done with the iPad on its corresponding keyboard. An iPad that is more computer than ever and that now, it will show it before we even pick it up to unlock it. The iPad is now horizontal and this represents a change that brings it closer to the Mac than it has ever been. And undoubtedly, this will not be the last time that the iPad takes a step forward in this direction, we will see what surprises Apple has in store for us at the launch in a few days and what new features iPadOS 18 brings to our next computer.
