Alleged iPad mini dummy unit appears in photos

The upcoming iPhone 5 might be dominating the headlines today, but the rumored iPad mini is not being left far behind. What we can see in the photos below, which surfaced on a Chinese blog post today, is speculated to be a dummy iPad mini unit based on the tablet's finalized design. In fact, this has to be the first time we get to see an image of the iPad mini fully assembled without it being a digital rendering. Previous leaks have only revealed the device's outer aluminum shell and possibly some of its internal components.

If this iPad mini dummy unit truly resembles the real deal, then the tablet is shaping up to be more or less as predicted - a slate of around 7 inches with a metal casing, camera on its back, mini dock connector, and the typical for Apple minimalist design. On the other hand, Apple rumors and leaks come a dime a dozen, and they should all be taken with a grain of salt. Perhaps waiting until the iPad mini is officially announced would be a much better idea, rather than getting overly excited about a tablet that might not come soon. Chances are that the iPhone 5 will be the star of the Apple event tomorrow, and the iPad mini will be announced separately next month.

source: DGtle via BGR