Who Wanted Two Front Cameras? The Upcoming iPad Pro with Dual Selfie Cameras Raises a New Standard

1. Source of the Rumor - Power On Newsletter Published on

July 20, in the Bloomberg "Power On", the new information revealed by Gurman, though simple, holds the potential to fundamentally change the user experience of the iPad Pro.

“Apple is adding a second, portrait-side front-facing camera to the upcoming M5 iPad Pro.” 9to5Mac
This single sentence was quickly reported, and major tech media like Engadget, 9to5Mac, and MacRumors immediately followed suit.EngadgetMacRumors

2. How Has the Front Camera of the iPad Pro Evolved?

• 2018-2023: 12 MP TrueDepth in the center of the top (portrait) bezel

• 2024 (M4 Generation): Moved to the long side in landscape. While praised as "MacBook-like and natural," it received complaints from portrait users

• 2025 (M5 Generation Rumor): Placed on both sides to achieve direct front view in both portrait and landscape

For Apple, the "portrait or landscape" debate has been a long-standing issue. This dual-camera approach can be seen as a solution of "coexistence" rather than compromise.

3. Technical Aspects: Dual Cameras + M5 Chip + New ISP

Gurman predicts the M5's manufacturing process to be an improved 3 nm TSMC N3P. Along with the new ISP,

• Center Stage face tracking becomes more natural

• Personal Voice Isolation reduces noise

• Collaborating with the generative AI of iPadOS 18 / Apple Intelligence, it could enable real-time background blurring and subtitle generation solely on the device, creating potential synergies.The Times of India

4. Competitor Comparison: Samsung Galaxy Tab S Ultra Series

SamMobile reported with a hint of irony, "Welcome to 2022, Apple." In fact, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra (2022) and later models already feature dual 12 MP + 12 MP (UW) selfie cameras.SamMobile
However, Samsung uses a method of placing two cameras side by side in the center of the landscape orientation. In contrast, Apple aims to differentiate with one camera each in portrait and landscape, diversifying the arrangement.

5. Voices on Social Media: Polarization Between Supporters and Skeptics

On Reddit r/iPad, discussions abound with comments like "Good news for portrait users" and "Won't FaceID still be covered by fingers?"Reddit
On the MacRumors forum, there are over 100 sarcastic comments like "Should have four cameras" and "Who asked for this?"MacRumors
Meanwhile, in the developer community, creative comments like "Can create a 3D conference app using both cameras simultaneously" and "Want to scan faces and documents at the same time" were also seen.

6. Impact on App Development

• By utilizing the simultaneous capture API (iPadOS 18), stereo synthesis and field of view switching with dual cameras become possible

• Combined with ARKit 9, it enhances the accuracy as a desktop scanner

• With speaker identification and spatial audio, WebRTC conferences become more immersive

These are typical Apple updates where "value is realized only with OS and SDK updates, not just hardware alone."

7. Impact on the Education and Remote Work Market

In Japanese schools, the use of one iPad per student is progressing, but classes still face the contradiction of "portrait for note-taking, landscape for presentations." The dual-camera setup eliminates the hassle of device rotation and simplifies camera switching operations for teachers.
In remote work, the benefits of seamlessly switching between vertical streaming using an external stand and horizontal meetings on a desk are significant.

8. Accessibility and Privacy

Concerns also exist about "adding cameras to the bezel = increased risk of peeping." Apple is expected to

• implement on-device image signal processing

• and hardware LED notifications to clearly indicate when recording

• and introduce IR shuttering for TrueDepth sensors to prevent unauthorized activation.

9. Release Timing and Price Predictions

• Mass Production Start: 2025 H2 (Kuo's Report)MacRumors

• Announcement Event: If following the usual pattern, the second week of September after "California Streaming"

• Expected Price: 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 256 GB at $1,399 (+$100 compared to M4). Reflecting the increase in camera modules and improved OLED yield.

For Apple, with the MacBook Pro refresh (M4 Pro/Max) scheduled for Q1 2026, it is likely that the iPad Pro will be set at a higher price as a highlight of the holiday sales season.

10. Conclusion: Dual Cameras Are Not the Goal but the "Entry Point"

The "additional camera" may seem like a minor update, but

• it addresses the "portrait vs. landscape" issue, ensuring consistency in user experience

• expands the developer ecosystem (utilizing simultaneous capture)

• and targets cross-market segments (education, business, creative)
  , a typical strategic move by Apple.

Even for features where the Galaxy Tab has taken the lead, Apple's ability to reconstruct the "experience" by mobilizing hardware, software, and services will be the highlight of the latter half of 2025.