The so-called 10.8-inch iPad design schemes emerge

The supposed design schemes for an updated iPad with a 10.8-inch screen have been shared by 91Mobiles.

The schematics reportedly show an ‌iPad‌ with a 10.8-inch screen. This correlates with an earlier report from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple plans to launch a new 10.8-inch iPad‌ in the second half of 2020.

Although 91Mobiles claims the schematics are for a low-cost 8th gen ‌iPad‌, it is also possible that the device shown is in fact an ‌iPad‌ Air 4.

Photos earlier this week allegedly showed a leaked manual for the ‌iPad‌ Air 4, and the ‌iPad‌ from that leaked manual looks identical to the device in these schematics. Ming Chi-Kuo’s report also did not specify whether the 10.8-inch ‌iPad‌ model will be a new version of the existing 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ or the 10.5-inch ‌iPad‌ Air, and it appears that the leaks on both iPads may have combined.

The schematics suggest that the unreleased ‌iPad‌ will have two speakers, four microphones, and a USB-C port. The back of the device features a single camera with an LED flash and a magnetic smart connector. The location of this smart connector reinforces previous rumors that the Magic Keyboard accessory will be compatible with new iPad models.

91Mobiles claims that this ‌iPad‌ will have Face ID, but that seems unlikely given the rumors that the ‌iPad‌ Air 4 has a Touch ID sensor on the power button instead of Face ID.

The images indicate that the device will look similar to the iPad Pro, with slimmer bezels and square edges. A configuration of four stereo speakers and dual cameras would be reserved for the ‌iPad Pro‌. If this device is truly the low-cost ‌iPad‌, the schematics would indicate that Apple is looking to cement the design language across the entire ‌iPad‌ line. It is also possible that both the low-cost ‌iPad‌ and ‌iPad‌ Air 4 share the same design, hence the combination of leaks, but differ in terms of internals.

The new ‌iPad‌ is rumored to be released next month. Apple unveiled a long list of previously unreleased ‌iPad‌ and Apple Watch models in a Eurasian database this week, indicating that new devices are on the horizon. According to leaker Jon Prosser, Apple plans to introduce at least some new ‌iPad‌ and ‌Apple Watch‌ models through a press release in September, followed by new iPhones at an event in October.