iPad Pro Landscape front-facing camera on the wrong side... Am I alone?

[Darth77]

I've owned an iPad of nearly every generation since 2010, and I've always held my iPads in landscape orientation with the ports on the left side.

The only thing I've not liked about my M1 iPad Pro has been the location of the front-facing camera. My hand is always covering the camera making Face ID a pain in the butt to use. I kind of got used to moving my hand when I need to do Face ID, but I've been hoping Apple would move the front-facing camera to the top (when held in landscape). And they did!

But it's on the wrong side as far as I'm concerned. In order for the front-facing camera to be at the top when held in landscape, the USB-C port is now on the right. And that just might be a deal-breaker for me. All of my charging cables are on my left! For 14 years, I've been rotating the iPad clockwise when going from portrait to landscape. Now I'm supposed to rotate the iPad counter-clockwise and insert my charging cables on the right in landscape? I don't know if I can do that, lol. I wish Apple had left the front-facing camera where it was!

Am I alone on this? Maybe the "problem" is that I'm left-handed?

 

[JPack]

Am I alone on this? Maybe the "problem" is that I'm left-handed?

I think so. Most right hand dominant users want to use their right hand to insert the cable. Same reason why the power and volume buttons are on the right side of the portrait oriented device.

 

[mario-64]

I've owned an iPad of nearly every generation since 2010, and I've always held my iPads in landscape orientation with the ports on the left side.

The only thing I've not liked about my M1 iPad Pro has been the location of the front-facing camera. My hand is always covering the camera making Face ID a pain in the butt to use. I kind of got used to moving my hand when I need to do Face ID, but I've been hoping Apple would move the front-facing camera to the top (when held in landscape). And they did!

But it's on the wrong side as far as I'm concerned. In order for the front-facing camera to be at the top when held in landscape, the USB-C port is now on the right. And that just might be a deal-breaker for me. All of my charging cables are on my left! For 14 years, I've been rotating the iPad clockwise when going from portrait to landscape. Now I'm supposed to rotate the iPad counter-clockwise and insert my charging cables on the right in landscape? I don't know if I can do that, lol. I wish Apple had left the front-facing camera where it was!

Am I alone on this? Maybe the "problem" is that I'm left-handed?

Same here. Another issue is with the Folio case. I hold mine landscape with the hinge on the Folio case at the top. Otherwise the cover flap would just hang loose. Doing this with the M4 would mean the Face ID camera would be across the bottom and possibly obstructed if, for example, I’m using it for reading in bed.

 

[Darth77]

Same reason why the power and volume buttons are on the right side of the portrait oriented device.

But in landscape with the camera on top those buttons are now on the left side.

 

[Darth77]

Another issue is with the Folio case. I hold mine landscape with the hinge on the Folio case at the top.

Me too. I've always folded the cover of the case into a triangle which I use to prop up the iPad in my lap (or on a table). That's how Steve Jobs did it when he originally demonstrated the iPad. If you do that, the camera will be at the bottom and likely to be obscured by folds in your shirt or pants.

 

[mario-64]

Me too. I've always folded the cover of the case into a triangle which I use to prop up the iPad in my lap (or on a table). That's how Steve Jobs did it when he originally demonstrated the iPad. If you do that, the camera will be at the bottom and likely to be obscured by folds in your shirt or pants.

Exactly. If I do upgrade to M4 it looks as though I’ll have to go without a case so I can use it with ports on the right. Frustrating…

 

[Surfsalot]

Same here. Another issue is with the Folio case. I hold mine landscape with the hinge on the Folio case at the top. Otherwise the cover flap would just hang loose. Doing this with the M4 would mean the Face ID camera would be across the bottom and possibly obstructed if, for example, I’m using it for reading in bed.

your holding it wrong, much more comfy with the hinge on the bottom

 

[JPack]

But in landscape with the camera on top those buttons are now on the left side.

Landscape mode is alternate mode, as evidenced by the Apple logo.

 

[asleep]

…it's on the wrong side as far as I'm concerned. In order for the front-facing camera to be at the top when held in landscape, the USB-C port is now on the right. And that just might be a deal-breaker for me. All of my charging cables are on my left!

Now this might be the deal killer for me.

I typically use iPad laying on my right side, with the iPad tilted right standing on the right corner (where the fingerprint reader is on the Air 5.) It’s tilted to mirror the tilt of my head, from about 30 degrees to 45 depending on how many pillows my head is on. I use the power cord (on the left) to help hold the left side up at the desired angle. I always use a case that protects the edges/back from a drop, with a built in tri-fold unlocking cover. You’ve seen them on Amazon, they’re inexpensive but work great for me.

With the power cord on the right, my use case fails. Even just using it plugged in and disregarding holding it at an angle, there’s not going to be enough room between the edge of the tilted iPad and the pillows/surfaces to the right for the cord. I’d need some type of angled charging cord.

Damn. What a design fail for me. Never considered they’d randomly switch it up. And after all this time I waited. 😑

Edit: Rotated the screen on my Air 5 180 degrees and set it up like I use it and the power cord is bent 90 degrees. Over time it’ll ruin the Apple charging cable I think. Definitely delaying a purchase and seeing if I can resolve this upside down iPad issue. 😅

 

[Theryesider]

Still weighing up wether to upgrade to the 11“ M2 air currently have the M1 air, if I trade in will my folio case fit the new one?
TIA

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Landscape mode is alternate mode, as evidenced by the Apple logo.

not if you have it in a folio, then the logo is in landscape but I know what you mean ha

 

[Beards]

When the iPad is in Landscape the rear camera is at the top which is what you want if you place the iPad in a keyboard with back cover. This way the rear is at the top and now the front camera is also at the top, which surely this is the way it should be.

 

[klasma]

the USB-C port is now on the right. All of my charging cables are on my left!

If you're using some kind of stand for the iPad (i.e. it doesn't lie flat on the table), there are USB-C charging cables with a U-turn plug. I'm serious, I'm using one. It only adds a few millimeters on the right-hand side, and the cable goes to the left behind the iPad.

 

[asleep]

If you're using some kind of stand for the iPad (i.e. it doesn't lie flat on the table), there are USB-C charging cables with a U-turn plug. I'm serious, I'm using one. It only adds a few millimeters on the right-hand side, and the cable goes to the left behind the iPad.

I would have to use something like that charging in bed, because the right side of the iPad is up against a pillow. Still, it would be exerting pressure down/back on the female USB-C opening because the cable would pressured more than just the 90 degrees.

May be something I’ll just have to work around. May force me to previous gen iPad Pro. I just need to get Face ID, I‘m tired of dealing with the corner fingerprint reader.

 

[klasma]

I would have to use something like that charging in bed, because the right side of the iPad is up against a pillow. Still, it would be exerting pressure down/back on the female USB-C opening because the cable would pressured more than just the 90 degrees.

A cable like this one shouldn exert any significant pressure: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7GCQVC6/.

 

[asleep]

A cable like this one shouldn exert any signififant pressure: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7GCQVC6/.

Oh yeah, that would work great. Didn’t think of a ribbon cable. (Amazon reviews are mixed and all but one who posted photos got the cable for free. The one who didn’t, the end fell off.)

Good idea, thanks for that. ✊

 

[geta]

The landscape front-facing camera is wrong no matter which side it is on.