Apple plans to give its next iPad Pro a notable camera upgrade when it debuts with the M5 chip in October 2025. The device will carry two front-facing cameras (one placed for portrait use and one placed for landscape use) to make Face ID unlocking and video calls more natural in any orientation.
Why two front-facing cameras matter
Until now, iPad Pro models have featured a single front-facing camera that sits on the side edge to favour landscape use. Apple moved the camera to that position with the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024. While Face ID works in any orientation, the camera’s fixed placement meant selfies and video conferences felt less intuitive in portrait mode. Adding a second camera ensures that users looking down at their iPad in portrait do not need to twist the device for a clear view.
Orientation sensing and camera switching
The new iPad Pro will rely on the same orientation sensors that rotate the screen between portrait and landscape. When the device shifts to portrait, the top camera will activate for Face ID or video. When rotated to landscape, the side camera will engage. This automatic switching removes any manual step and creates a seamless experience for unlocking the iPad and for video apps.
Design and display changes
Rumours also suggest that Apple will further slim the bezels on the M5 iPad Pro thanks to its new OLED display. The thinner edges could have prompted Apple to rethink the camera modules’ layout to fit within the reduced frame without increasing the iPad’s width. The M5 iPad Pro is expected to maintain its thin and light chassis while offering these refinements.
M5 chip and product cycle
The M5 processor will power the eighth-generation iPad Pro and deliver roughly 25% faster performance than the M4, according to supply chain analysts. Apple typically updates its Pro line every eighteen months, making an October 2025 launch on schedule after the May 2024 release. Mass production of the new models began in the second half of 2025.
Apple’s long-term plan still includes a foldable iPad Pro in 2027 or 2028. For now, the dual camera is the biggest front-facing upgrade to the iPad Pro since its introduction to the market two years ago. All the changes prove that Apple wants to improve user experience with its best-selling tablet. You might soon end up with more natural video calls, improved self-portraits, and faster unlocking, whether you hold on to your iPad in portrait or landscape.
