Skip to main content

Apple’s iPad Smart Cover could one day have a display that shows notifications

Apple may be looking into making the iPad Pro’s Smart Cover even smarter. Apple has filed a patent for a Smart Cover that will keep users up to date with alerts for things like notifications. What that means is that you won’t even have to open the cover to keep current with your notifications.

The patent application shows this is something Apple has been working on for some time — this is a continuation of several patents dating back to 2012.

Recommended Videos

In the patent, it’s clear that this new Smart Cover would take a similar form to the standard smart cover. In other words, it will be built to protect the iPad and will include a tri-fold form factor. On top of that, however, it could have both active and passive portions to it for displaying things like notifications. Active portions to the display would basically incorporate low-power elements like small LED displays to provide alerts.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The cover could also take a slightly more passive approach. In that instance, the cover would basically have transparent portions that would show parts of the iPad’s actual display. When the cover is closed, the iPad would show notifications through those transparent portions.

There’s also a hybrid version of the Smart Cover — which could have both LED displays and transparent sections to show other information.

The patent also highlights treating different notifications differently. When using the transparent Smart Cover, for example, an email marked as important could show at the top of the notifications panel, while less important notifications could show lower down.

As is always the case with an Apple patent, there’s no indication of when this kind of Smart Cover will make it to market — or if it’ll ever be available at all. Apple and other tech companies routinely file for patents that they never end up using. Still, this does show that Apple is working on ways to make its accessories a little more functional, which could end up being very helpful for the people who use these accessories. As mentioned, Apple first filed a patent for the tech in 2012, but it has clearly been looking into the idea since then.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Does the iPad mini 7 have Face ID?
2024 iPad mini in the hands of a person.

The diminutive iPad mini 7 (2024) is the newest addition to Apple's expansive tablet lineup. It's perfectly portable and pocket-sized, which makes it a fun-sized option that you can pop in your bag and take everywhere you go. And it's also sporting a series of great future-proofing upgrades that make it a good investment for an Apple Intelligence-ready future.

The latest iteration of the iPad mini comes packed with double the storage, with 128 GB to play with, at its previous $499 price. It may look virtually identical to the iPad mini 6 (2021), without the home button or thick bezels, giving it a bit of a Kindle-like silhouette. It also boasts a 2K-resolution display with a 60Hz refresh rate, which Apple has optimized alongside the previous model's LCD panel in an attempt to avoid the "jelly scrolling" seen with the iPad mini 6.

Read more
The first iPad mini (2024) reviews are out. Here’s what people are saying
Person sketching on the 2024 iPad mini.

Early reviews of the iPad mini (2024), which Apple announced last week, are primarily favorable. They highlight the impressive performance of the A17 Pro chip and the device’s continued portability. Reviewers also appreciate the brighter display and support for the Apple Pencil Pro, which enhances precision for drawing and note-taking.

However, the design remains unchanged, with noticeable bezels around the display that feel somewhat dated compared to other modern tablets. A significant drawback for some users will be the need for more support from Apple keyboard accessories, which limits its productivity potential.

Read more
This iPad may be the cheapest way to use Apple’s AI for a while
2024 iPad mini in pink color.

We already know that a new iPad mini is on the way; Apple confirmed that less than a week ago. It's going to be packed with features and powered by the A17 Pro chip, the same one used in the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. Not only is it a highly anticipated device, but it might offer be the best bang for your buck as far as Apple Intelligence is concerned.

One of the biggest selling points of this iPad is its focus on Apple Intelligence, even if the service starts five days after the release of the iPad mini — on October 28. It won't even be available at launch, but users will be able to access the features after an update. The biggest selling point, though, is the price. At just $349, this budget-friendly tablet is the most affordable iPad that can use Apple Intelligence at the moment — and probably the least expensive we'll see for quite some time.

Read more