iPad Pro 3 2018 release date, specs rumors: Next-gen premium tablet to lose Touch ID feature in exchange for Face ID

The two size variants of 2017 iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Apple website

After the iPhone X launch last September, Apple is seemingly turning its attention to its iPad Pro lineup with rumors that a next-gen premium tablet is coming out soon. Interestingly, the iPad Pro 3 2018 is expected to feel the impact of the Cupertino-based tech firm's groundbreaking iPhone design changes. For one, the upcoming iPad Pro model is said to receive the Face ID; thus, the users should expect an iPhone X-like notch area on top of its display.

There are no confirmed reports yet regarding the big changes expected in the iPad Pro 3. Nevertheless, the rumors are rife that Apple will do the same changes it applied to the iPhone series on the 2018 iPad Pro model. If the decoded line from the recent iOS 11.3 beta update is any indication, it is likely that the public will see a very different iPad Pro this year. According to 9To5Mac, a particular line of code states that the latest iOS 11.3 update is made for the "modern iPad. To note, Apple also used to describe the iPhone X as the "modern iPhone" prior to its unveiling last year.

With this development, it is possible that the iPad Pro 3 2018 will borrow some of the hardware specs and features of the iPhone X. The leading candidate for the new iPad Pro feature is the Face ID system, which uses a special set of image sensors housed inside the notch area of the iPhone X. As per Tech Radar, the new iPad Pro will sport an all-screen display with much slimmer bezels in all sides of the screen, although a notch feature will be present on the top portion due to the 3D facial recognition sensors.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of the Face ID in iPad Pro 3 2018 makes the future of Touch ID in the tablet uncertain. It is possible that the iPad Pro will have both biometric scanners, but considering that the 2018 model is also going for a full view front display, the Home button that contains the Touch ID feature might have to be removed. If so, the new iPad Pro will only rely on facial recognition to unlock the screen and authenticate app transactions.

The iPad Pro 3 2018 might be showcased at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June.

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