iPad Pro 3 2018 release date, specs rumors: Next premium tablet's design to resemble the iPhone X, but without the notch feature

The Apple Pencil used on an iPad Pro.Apple official website

In the recent years, Apple has introduced some big changes to its iPhone and MacBook lineups. However, the public is waiting for the Cupertino-based tech giant to shake things up for the iPad series, particularly the iPad Pro. Per the latest rumors, the iPad Pro 3 2018 is expected to boast a few groundbreaking features, some of which are already known via last year's iPhone X. For one, the next-gen iPad Pro is likely to sport an all-screen front, akin to the 2017 iPhone model, although the premium tablet is not expected to receive a notch feature on the top display.

The latest update from the rumor mill suggests that Apple could give the iPad Pro 3 2018 the same treatment as the iPhone X. Supporting this rumor is the recent line of code spotted in the iOS 11.3 beta build, which seems to talk about a "modern iPad." Interestingly, Apple used the "modern iPhone" phrase prior to the iPhone X launch. With this, it is likely that the iPad Pro 3 2018 will borrow some features of the iPhone X, including the TrueDepth camera technology and Animojis. 

If the iPad Pro 3 2018 has the TrueDepth camera, it is expected that the premium tablet will also have the 3D facial recognition feature via Face ID. The recently updated iPad Pro hardware still has the home button and the 3.5mm headphone jack, but this might be the time for these two features to get ditched, especially if the iPad Pro 3 2018 follows the trend of the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X devices. 

If there is one iPhone X feature that may not make it to the iPad Pro 3 2018, that will be the notch on the top display. Apple could figure out a way to include the TrueDepth camera sensors in the iPad Pro without the need of having them in a black notch area. Also, the next iPad Pro is not yet expected to use organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, even as the latest iPhone is no longer using LCD screen. 

Apple has launched its previous iPad devices at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will be held this June. The iPad Pro 3 2018 could make an appearance at the said event, although it is also possible that the tablet will be announced later this year.