Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Furman

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 25, 2015
110
97
Greenville, SC
I never have used the camera on the iPad’s I have owned. Are there others out there like me? Why does the iPad have a camera? Why wouldn’t Apple offer an iPad without a camera, one that would be less expensive?
 

0128672

Cancelled
Apr 16, 2020
5,962
4,783
Totally agree about why wouldn't they offer some models without. I've never used any of my iPad cameras either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: snipr125

LibbyLA

macrumors 6502a
Jun 16, 2017
825
857
I don’t use the cameras on mine all that much, but I have used them to take pictures of documents several times. When I need them, I need them. I don’t have an iPhone so taking a picture with an iPhone and Air Dropping it to an iPad isn’t an option for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blkjedi954

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,763
4,589
Delaware
Hmm... I have sometimes wondered why you can't get an iPhone without a camera.
I seldom use the camera on mine - I may go several months between pictures.

I suspect that this is about manufacturing scale. Apple would need cases without the openings for the camera, or put some kind of cover in its place.

Anyone see any device for sale with the camera as an option?
 
  • Like
Reactions: calliex

Deliro

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2011
1,143
1,337
Mine is rarely used. The front one is for zoom calls and the like. I think I’ve only used the rear once to upload a check to my bank.

Apple would never remove it and charge less. If anything they’d remove it, charge the same price, and say it’s to lessen environmental footprint.
 

Richard8655

macrumors 68000
Mar 11, 2009
1,927
1,373
Chicago suburbs
Yeah, that's a dilemma for those who don't always need all the features they pay for in a device. But since most users like the added camera, it's likely more cost effective to include it rather than have separate models and another manufacturing line.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rafark

Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
20,396
23,902
Singapore
Also at concerts, I assume?

For scanning documents and QR codes (many meetings I attend often ask the participants to fill in an online feedback form that’s linked via a QR code image - iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard makes it easier for me to type out lengthier responses), and as a makeshift visualiser in my classroom. Also for recording screencasts, and I have used it to film my students doing presentations in class as well (makes it easier to edit directly in LumaFusion later on).
922ae6788bad1cda29fb1fc71f0ed20f.jpg

I have also gone for courses and workshops and while typing out notes in either Notability or the notes app, having a camera is great for quickly taking pictures to capture critical information which I can then easily insert alongside my notes.

In short, I use it like I would an iPhone, but with a larger viewfinder and longer battery life.
 
Last edited:

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
I never have used the camera on the iPad’s I have owned. Are there others out there like me? Why does the iPad have a camera? Why wouldn’t Apple offer an iPad without a camera, one that would be less expensive?
If you don't need fancy cameras, then you can simply opt for the cheaper iPad Air or iPad 8. Their cameras are flush to the body so you won't even know they're there.
 

HDFan

Contributor
Jun 30, 2007
7,298
3,347
International travel photography. If you're not going to use your phone overseas, why carry two devices? Looks sorta weird though.
 

calliex

macrumors 6502
Aug 16, 2018
481
231
Pittsburgh, Pa
I never use the camera on the iPad and rarely use it on the iPhone, I did not get the iPhone pro for that reason. Since the Pandemic I have used the camera for video doctor visits a couple of times since the dr app does work on MacBook Pro. When the M1 platform matures and I can run phone apps on it, that will eliminate my need for an iPad.
The next phone I get may be the SE since I really do not need all the bells and whistles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: snipr125

Hadron

macrumors 6502
Apr 13, 2010
325
247
I never use the rear camera on any tablet. But I suspect that this question is a bit like my wanting DSLR/MILC cameras that don't have video capabilities: I never use it, and in principle the camera could be a little cheaper if it weren't part of the design, but it's not worth it for the manufacturer to make 2 models and the overheads of doing so would probably remove most of my potential saving.

The front camera on a tablet I have a use for. A worthwhile change there would be for Apple to follow Samsung and put it on the long edge (for video conference in landscape mode) rather than the short edge as at present.
 

tops2

macrumors 6502
Dec 30, 2014
373
190
Before Covid, I barely use the iPad camera unless I FaceTime the family.
After Covid, especially my son uses both camera all the time for school Zoom and submitting all his school work that he physically does.
 

secretk

macrumors 65816
Oct 19, 2018
1,494
1,229
I rarely use my iPad camera. I don't scan documents and yeah if I want to take photos outside I would use my phone or my camera. I also don't use Facetime so I would not use the front camera either.

That being said IMO it makes sense to keep the camera not just for the scanning documents part, but also for some apps like home design and others VR/AR apps. As far as I know it uses the camera to try to scan the place. Measurement tool also I think uses the rear camera to do measurements (correct me if I am wrong).

To sum up - not a lot of people would use iPad camera to take landscape photos during trips, but they can use the camera for scanning documents and for AR apps.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
We use the iPad cameras daily. Both of them. Primarily for FaceTime - it's a lot easier to show someone something with the back camera than the front - but also for scanning documents, school work, etc.

I don't even know why this is a question? Apple is not going to make this an option both because of operational scale and the complexity of additional SKU's, accessories, etc. and even more so because Apple simply doesn't operate this way. There are a ton of apps that wouldn't be functional without the cameras. Apple doesn't want there to be any question whether things will work or not.
 

1rottenapple

macrumors 601
Apr 21, 2004
4,758
2,774
I never have used the camera on the iPad’s I have owned. Are there others out there like me? Why does the iPad have a camera? Why wouldn’t Apple offer an iPad without a camera, one that would be less expensive?
Agree almost never. I've had the 3rd gen iPads and I think I've used the camera to test a few times, but never actually take a picture for the sake of picture taking. I supposed I can use it to scan documents but I usually have my phone with me. If anything I wish they would repurposed the role of the camera as a scanning device and make it flat, and not stick out as much. If they took out the rear camera's I would not complain.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,119
10,912
Agree almost never. I've had the 3rd gen iPads and I think I've used the camera to test a few times, but never actually take a picture for the sake of picture taking. I supposed I can use it to scan documents but I usually have my phone with me. If anything I wish they would repurposed the role of the camera as a scanning device and make it flat, and not stick out as much. If they took out the rear camera's I would not complain.

Have to agree on the camera bump, an annoying design feature.
 
  • Like
Reactions: etkuo
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.