A new report claims that 2024 iPads could adopt an entirely new type of Face ID lens that will be both cheaper to manufacture and more discreet.
In a report on Thursday, prolific insider and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote that Apple’s supply chain “is expected to start mass production of Apple’s metals in 2024, which is expected to replace the plastic lens of the ‘iPad of Face ID’.
This upgrade is currently slated to be introduced to Apple’s iPads in 2024, and if successful, it could debut in Face ID a few years later. The Metalens would replace the Face ID plastic lens on the iPad and “provides the benefits of lower cost and reduced height compared to existing plastic lenses”.
Kuo says Apple hopes to reduce its reliance on plastic lenses, capitalize on cost advantages, and use metal technology in its futuristic Apple Glass eyewear, slated for release over the next decade. as Kuo notes, Apple Glass shouldn’t be confused with Apple Reality Pro, the company’s VR headset that we might see in just a few months when WWDC 2023 rolls around in June.
As for the Metalens iPad Face ID upgrade, it doesn’t seem like the lens really impacts the functionality or quality of Face ID or the iPad’s front camera. However, more reliable components that reduce manufacturing cost and make room for other innovations are always welcome.
The biggest update on the iPad’s horizon right now is the introduction of OLED displays to the lineup, which is expected to happen again next year. Bolder and brighter screens could see the iPad Pro start with a whopping price tag of around $1,500. In the meantime, iPadOS 17 will be unveiled at the aforementioned WWDC, possibly with Control Center changes in tow.
