With Apple preparing to show off an updated lineup of iPads on Thursday, designer Martin Hajek has asked the question “What if the new iPad’s were to borrow the design language from the iPhone6/6+?” on his site. As he has done in the past, Hajek has mocked up some remarkable 3D renderings of how the theoretical Apple devices could appear.
While the new iPads this year are expected to largely appear unchanged physically, the iPhone 6-style iPads in Hajek’s renderings adopt the protruding camera lens, flash, and antenna bands as well as the completely curved edges from the latest iPhones.
Current generation iPads feature slightly chamfered edges on the front like the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, but somewhat curved edges along the backside.
After using the iPhone 6 as well as my iPad Air since launch, I wouldn’t mind the tablets adopting a few design cues from the phone hardware, although I’d rather see the headphone jack and volume and power switches be placed more consistently myself.
You can see samples of Hajek’s design concept below, and check out his site for the full gallery.
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Looks nice, hope they do follow this way. Especially the curved front glass. That is the best thing they’ve ever done.
I second that. The antenna bands however, that’s another story.
Could care less. I look at the front.
I would love it if the new iPads looked like this, but there are no indications they will and all the leaks show them as being essentially the same physical design as last year. I know you guys love this guy Hajek and publish everything he does with loving praise, but if he is right about this, it will literally be the first time his designs have even got close to what is eventually and actually released by Apple.
What I find interesting is that Ive has been quoted at least twice recently to the effect that he says the rounded edges of the iPhone 6 became necessary “because of it’s large size.” According to him, when a device reaches a certain size (iPhone 6 or bigger), it’s necessary to have the rounded edges because otherwise it would be awkward and “uncomfortable” in the hand. Needless to say, if this is true, then the iPad mini makes no sense at all in it’s current configuration.
This could just be me, but I don’t use my iPad Mini single-handedly. The iPhone 6 and 6+ are meant to and should be used with one hand and the iPad Mini is too big to be used with one hand (for the average consumer with ‘normal’ sized hands), therefore it would not be necessary to have rounded edges on the iPads, although I would love to see a similar design on the iPads as on the new iPhones.
Mostly it’s a two handed device, but Apple has talked in the past, and also uses a lot of images of the device being held with one hand, picked up with one hand, etc.
I tend to agree that it’s actually not, (although it’s close) and that it should be shaved down to a smaller size because it is pretty much the very *largest* “small tablet” you can buy at the moment.
There is a lot of room between the 8″ iPad mini and the 5.5″ iPhone 6. A 7″ iPad mini for instance, would actually be what Apple says the iPad mini already is (easily holdable in one hand, etc.)
Reblogged this on BobLovesTech and commented:
A very plausible direction.
Antenna lines amplified, sure to make everyone happy…
Still don’t like the protruding camera. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll get used to it when I get one in 2019.
Having had the 6 Plus for a couple of weeks now, I’m still yet to really notice the protrusion.
I don’t notice it unless my fingers slip up and touch the camera. As far as looks or balancing it on table or desk you don’t notice it.
Knowing several people who own a 6 (or 6 plus), if there’s one thing they actually hate about it over other iPhones, it’s the stupid camera bulge.
I have been using the iPhone 6 since day one on a daily basis and I have yet to notice it when using it.
Although I hope the new iPads don’t have a similar protruding camera, since they are thicker(?) I don’t see a need to do so either.
It’s not a “bulge”, it’s a ring. The Galaxy phones have “bulges”. It’s a tiny 1mm ring (or less) and it couldn’t be avoided without making the phone thicker. I know everyone would prefer that, I might too, but everyone hasn’t realized that making the phone thicker and filling it with more battery would also make it heavier. I love the weight of the iPhone 6 so I’m not so sure I’d make that trade anymore. I can’t imagine why people would be so bothered by the camera ring anyway. Either your phone is in a case, in which case (no pun intended) the ring doesn’t matter… or you carry your iPhone naked in which case you’d be placing it on tables with a bit more care anyway I would hope.
Why on earth would they make the radio bands and extruded lens when they don’t have to? I say, No Way!
LOL…Why would Apple want to include NFC in iPad really? Make zero sense. BTW, iPad Air was just redesigned last year, so don’t expect it to be different physically. You’ll probably get A8x chip, 2GB of RAM, Touch ID, and maybe Retina HD screen with the same ppi…in 16/64/128GB line up.
Retina iPad mini? May not be refreshed and will be phased out eventually.
This is not a redesign, just a improved design, the back is basically the same.
When was the last time Apple upgraded resolution for mid-term upgrade for iPad OR iPhone? None.
You know nothing it seems. iPads are used for commerce and even ignoring the fact that many people use them in the exact same scenarios as an iPhone, (as a camera or a communication device), one *major* use of them, is as cash registers. To *not* include NFC would be dumb actually.
As to the iPad mini being “phased out,” it’s apple’s most popular tablet by far and anyone who’s actually used an iPhone 6 plus will tell you that in no way is it a replacement for an iPad. Look it up. There are several detailed reviews online by very well-known and reputable tech reviewers that make precisely that point.
The fact that we now have “over-sized” phones is not at all the same thing as not needing small tablets anymore.
Uh…Apple Pay is intended to replacing the physical card in the wallet. That’s where iPhone come with it so you don’t have to take out the wallet. It’s targeting the mass of iPhone owner. For iPad, what is the number of users that need mobile payment in there? So, what is the point to use iPad with NFC? LOL.
I agree! I have an iPhone 6 plus and even though it has a huge screen, at the end of the day I still use my iPad 2 (despite it being much slower performance wise) when I get home. It’s just better for reading, netflix/hulu and YouTube. The fact of having a larger display on the iPhone has more to do with mail, photography, Facebook and games. In my opinion the iPad is to bulky for mobile gaming.
It may make “Zero Sense” to YOU. But people like options (which for sure isn’t Apple’s strong-suite) but if they want to put an NFC chip in the iPads and it doesn’t affect the price, let them. Someone, somewhere will use Apple Pay on an iPad and it will make “total sense” to them.
Option for a few % of iPad owners? Look at the number of iPad sale, what is the ratio of iPad cell vs iPad? 6/100 (6%) lol.
Also, if NFC makes no sense in the iPad, you could say the same thing about the M7 chip that they included in last year’s mini.
I have one myself, and absolutely no apps connect to it, no part of the system seems to really use it and the mini doesn’t do any of the pedometer or health apps.
Just because you may have no use for it doesn’t mean a fortune 500 company wouldn’t use it in their daily production on whatever the case maybe, companies have use for a lot of things that tablets & smart phones can provide you with. Tablets Not just for people that beat off on the Internet 24/7. When companies make products it’s not solely for a certain person, it’s a universal device to please all. If you have no use for it simply don’t use it.
To you, there will be iPad with no cellular/NFC and iPad with cellular + NFC? We’ll see in 3 days and I’ll be back here to laugh.
I very much like the rounded look of the device, though I see no reason why they would do 2 things.
Firstly the antenna bands. They wouldn’t be necessary. The back plate of iPads have never followed the iPhone’s. For example the iPad Air didn’t have the glass back at the top and bottom like the iPhone 5 or 5S. They don’t even have the same colouring.
Secondly the protruding camera. Whilst I understand that tablet photography is being used more and more. They dont need to put a top end camera, such as the iPhone 6 camera. In the device. Not saying they wouldn’t, I just don’t see it. If I was perfectly honest a similar camera to the iPhone 5 would be ideal I think. They could get it to fit within the frame without any protrusion. Plus. The iPad is used on its back quite often when people are typing. A slight, rock to the device whilst typing would be irritating. Even if it is small. I have an iPhone 6+ and it does rock when placed down.
Just my thoughts. The rounded design would be very comfortable to hold though. So I’m hoping for that in the next generation of iPads. im hoping for it in the generation being announced this week but the leaks seem to suggest otherwise.
They purposely keep the cameras on the iPads at least one generation behind the iPhone cameras so it seems likely that this year’s iPad will get either the camera from the 5s, or something even older/worse. It also makes no sense to include a good camera, when there isn’t a flash module.
For whatever reason, Apple has bought into all the insane criticism over people using iPads as cameras and actively seem to discourage it, even though it’s actually a great device to take pictures with as you can make the movie right on the device at the same time.
iPads are used for making movies quite extensively in Education. Giving them great cameras instead of last year’s rehashed parts would be a good move. I’m sure they will see it someday.
I wish Aplle would go to just a cellaur/wifi model and get rid of the separate models. I doubt if it will happen with the minor revision, but think might come on uosated iPad mini.
Think the mini might get an A8 and touchid slapped in it then updated again within 6 months.
I don’t know where the split is between wifi and 4g iPads, but I always think of the ipad as something to be used in the home only. It’s far too bulky to take outside anyway. Plus why on Earth would you want to take away the option of an iPad without a cellular contract? That defies logic.
Are you insane? The iPad and iPad Mini are being used outside everywhere…business all over the world use them. If you think tablets are ‘home-only’ devices, you’re delusional, and your ‘design’ comment proves it.
You can purchase celluar models without contacts.
What if you have only 3-6 Mbs home wifi speeds. Would you not what to have the increased speed of LTE?
There is always the option of putting the sim of your iPhone in your iPad and changing the APN and using your iPhone data.
The iPhone 6 is the ugliest iPhone by far. By contrast the ipad currently has clean lines with no hideous antena bars or protruding camera lenses. The iPhone 6 is a very obviously comprised design, which is something the much larger ipad won’t be stuck with.
Once again, (and this is unique to 9to5mac, the fanboism here is disturbing, with not a whiff of criticism. I’ll offer my feedback, (typed on a 1TB SSD 15″ Retina MB Pro, so yes, I do like some of what Apple create):
(Bare in mind I have owned all the iPads, although not any more.)
1. All iPads since launch are slippery and require a case, an additional expense
2. The ergonomics of the power, mute/rotate lock and volume controls are a disaster. Even after a few years of use, one is constantly faffing around trying to find the controls by rotating the iPad in all directions.
3. On the recent models with ‘stereo’ speakers, the speakers are a) On a narrow side, IE, the side not facing you when you’re watching a movie. b) Facing the wrong way, unlike those on the HTC One M8 and Moto G (2014).
4. The lightning connector is in the wrong position, so it is not possible to dock an iPad, unlike the Sony Xperia Z or Z2, tablets, that can dock with Sony’s superb docks. (These charge the tablet and also can auto activate apps, such as photo slide shows etc.)
5. The exceptional power of the iPad is totally wasted. Kids who play video games don’t have the money to buy an iPad and large screen TV to take advantage of the all that power, and any serious creative or business person, needs an attached keyboard – not a Bluetooth one. (I have just bought a Lenovo Ideapad Yogo 11 and it’s the most ergonomically perfect device I have ever owned)
This concept design, that is probably accurate, shows that Apple are more interested in bling and simply minor enhancements, rather than improving ergonomics.
For testing some software, I had a Nexus 7 (2013) and it was superb. Very loud stereo speakers, grippy case (no need to buy an external case!), wireless charging – and responsive OS that could multitask, unlike iOS due to lack of RAM in the iPad/iPhone. (No browser pages refreshing all the time when you switch browser tabs.)
There is only one benefit of an iPad, and that is the display quality.
I think 9to5mac readers need to go try some of the competition and you’ll find that it’s more innovative and better thought out ergonomically. (In particular the Sony Xperia and new Nvidia Shield 8″ tablet with stereo speakers and a stylus, for less than an iPad mini.)
Love it!
IPOD 6 IS WHERE IDIOTS
Not so remarkable…Buy an iPhone 6 model online, open it in your choice of 3D modeling software, scale up to your idea of theoretic “NEW” iPad, post online, watch as people argue over how “this can’t be” or “I can’t wait to get one” like it’s real….then I guess be called “remarkable” by a blogger.
I was actually planning on picking up a Gen 1 iPad Air after the event when Apple drops prices on that generation to save a few bucks. If they do actually go with a more iPhone 6 design especially with the curved glass that might get me to buy the new generation instead.