M1 iPad Pro Selfie Camera Can Automatically Pan and Zoom to Keep You in Frame During Video Calls - MacRumors
Skip to Content

M1 iPad Pro Selfie Camera Can Automatically Pan and Zoom to Keep You in Frame During Video Calls

Apple's brand new M1 iPad Pro features drastically improved performance thanks to the new chipset and an improved TrueDepth camera system with a new "Center Stage" mode.

f1618940831
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ features a 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera with a 120° field of view, compared to the standard 7MP wide-angle front-facing camera on the previous generation.

The new TrueDepth camera system enables new capabilities on the ‌iPad Pro‌, including Portrait mode selfies with the ability to adjust bokeh and Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting effects including Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono.

While notably spec and feature upgrades on paper, the Ultra Wide camera enables a new feature that Apple calls "Center Stage." Thanks to the TrueDepth camera's wide viewing angle, the ‌iPad Pro‌ can now use machine learning to automatically detect people in the frame, and pan and zoom to ensure they’re always visible. As Apple explains:

The all-new Center Stage uses the Ultra Wide camera and machine learning to change the way you participate in video calls. As you move around, it automatically pans to keep you center in the frame. When others join in or leave the call, the view expands or zooms in. Center Stages works with FaceTime and other video conferencing app for an even more engaging experience.

The new iPad Pros were one of a handful of new announcements Apple made during its "Spring Loaded" event.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)

Popular Stories

m5 ipad pro green 2

Apple Now Sells Refurbished M4 iPad Pro Models Starting at $759

Friday April 3, 2026 11:14 am PDT by
Apple is now selling M4 iPad Pro models in its online store for refurbished products, allowing customers to purchase like-new models at a discounted price. There are both ">11-inch and 13-inch options available, in multiple storage configurations. Apple is offering Wi-Fi and Cellular refurbished models, and silver and black color options. Pricing on the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro starts at $759, ...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Monday April 20, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...

Top Rated Comments

jclardy Avatar
65 months ago
It is incredible to me that the $799 iPad gets this feature, yet the $1299 iMac does not.

iMac has essentially the same internals, a larger display and a few extra ports. Yet it gets a 1080P webcam...

Of course they have to save Face ID for next year's model.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
65 months ago
and if you put it on those mac pro wheels — it will follow you around the house.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago

I don’t think I would want to use a $1,000 plus iPad in the kitchen.
That oven the guy is using is $30,000 CDN. I guess Apple's target audience here is people who see $1,000 as a cheap disposable item. Like $1,000 for a set of casters.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmgregory1 Avatar
65 months ago
This face tracking is cool, but the issue I have with the Zoom / Teams / FaceTime calls on the iPad Pro is I almost exclusively use it in landscape mode, so I’m never looking directly at the camera, since it’s on the side. The question I do have is, will this tracking work while the iPad is in landscape mode - such as what it would be if attached to the Magic Keyboard? Seems to me that it would be tracking in the vertical direction only when in landscape.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brookzy Avatar
65 months ago
I think this is what Gurman was on about when he was talking of weird HomePod-iPad combos.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
65 months ago
You will have to walk behind the screen to clear a boogie. No more leaning over. Ha. Really through, great feature. I can see this in my kitchen just like in the ad.

Side note: The range in the back with the red knobs, Wolf maybe, looks sweet. As someone that cooks often I would love one of those.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)