The carousel 2nd image appears to have erased the camera to make it fit the marketing narrative? That's pretty bold.

The argument is most people use a case regardless, so if it were the same thickness across the device, the iPad would be considerably thicker once in a case. That and weight. I don’t use cases so it bothers me too, but it does make some sense.

I have a hard time believing the camera bump isn't the result of intensive consumer psychology experiments. Setting a bare apple device down on a flat surface feels like chair with a leg sawed off. They need you to buy the accessories. This is part of making the ecosystem viable.

If they levelled it out you could surely fit a far larger battery in it too. I'd far rather have a device 1.5mm thicker with a battery lifespan twice as long and no silly bump on it.

Since basically everybody uses a case anyways, the important factors are weight and width with the case on. This design makes both of those significantly smaller than your suggestion.

Even stupider for iPads because who even is using the back camera? Just get rid of it entirely and the device will be exactly as functional.

Tangentially related: this is the funniest rant about this "devices with a fat camera bump that don't lay flat" rant that exists: "Why?" - Lazy Posy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP7lYuyGTmg

I always keep my phone in a case... I've had one too many drops, and I'm super-careful.

That being said, even with my Pixel in a case, the camera still protrudes.

It would be interesting to try a camera where the lens extends out when the camera is activated; and flat otherwise.

> This requires a cover to equalize the size with the camera for haptic reasons.

Not really! The cover just follows the seam. And larger batteries will increase the weight as well, which Apple definitely doesn't want.

> larger batteries and make the device the same thickness everywhere

thermals.

Aren't most people using their device with a case anyways?

This is why I believe the Pixel 10a is the best designed phone to date.

More battery means more weight, and no one wants these to be heavier.

Yeah it's infuriating. I love how even Apple are embarrassed by it, since in the first two animations of people holding and rotating the device they've left off the camera bump, making it look smooth flat.

More material, bigger battery = heavier device. For something this size I figure people want something they can comfortably hold in one hand for a session.

Perhaps if they put a very small lip around the camera lens and a physical bump on the other side so the device doesn't rock, at least it would be symmetrical and the glass would be slightly less prone to surface contact.

The iPad Mini has never had a camera bump.

Isn’t the bump already used to pack components that don’t fit in the rest of the device body? I don’t believe it’s only used for the camera.

Though I do hate that bump. I just tried a duo and the bump makes it awkward to hold as a tablet

It makes sense for the manufacturer, they save a LOT of materials.

What about weight?

But don't you just need a big camera on your giant tablet? How will you ever manage if you don't have a nice camera on both sides of all your handheld devices? /s

If they put the tiny "front-facing" camera pointed out the back it would be enough for the vast majority of people I imagine.

Yes that stupid camera bump ... I hope those designers lose their jobs to AI. Then again, perhaps they already did :)