Leak of next-generation Apple iPad rear casing again shows design cues from the Apple iPad mini

posted by Alan F. / Apr 22, 2013, 11:38 AM

Leak of next-generation Apple iPad rear casing again shows design cues from the Apple iPad mini

Is this the rear casing of the next full-sized Apple iPad?

Last week, we showed you some pictures allegedly of cases, molds and the rear casing for the next iteration of the Apple iPad. On Monday, another picture of the rear casing has been displayed and once again shows off design cues from the Apple iPad mini. The next Apple iPad will apparently have a thinner bezel, continue to sport a 9.7 inch screen, and could be powered by an Apple A7x processor. The tablet will have a curved casing similar to the "mini," as well as stereo speakers on the bottom of the device. The current fourth-generation iPad has a single speaker at the rear of the slab.

Apple is expected to use a thinner LED backlight for a lighter design. There is some speculation that the slate will feature an Indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) display made by Sharp, which has twice the resolution of the LCD displays while offering power savings of 90%. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo,who has a network of sources, said last week that the 5th generation iPad will be 25% lighter and 15% thinner than the previous model. Early indications months ago were that the next full-size tablet from Cupertino would have a thinner footprint and weigh less.

With lighter batteries expected on board that are possible due to improvements in the power management of the display, the next full-sized Apple iPad is expected to weigh 500 grams, down from the 650 grams on the current model. The device will be just 7.2mm thick compared to the 9.4mm thickness of the fourth-generation iPad. An 8MP camera will be on back and the tablet is rumored to be offered in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB variants.

source: Tactus via AppleInsider

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32 Comments

1. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Looks the same too me. I see nothing different

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 11:41 AM 18

2. Emily1985

Posts: 127; Member since: Nov 08, 2012

This is exactly what I said when I saw the Galaxy S4.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 11:46 AM 32

23. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Galaxy S4? You mean S3.5?

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:05 PM 4

29. chistoefurpuffer

Posts: 140; Member since: Mar 11, 2013

Go away.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 4:19 PM 8

12. TechBizJP08

Posts: 495; Member since: Mar 25, 2013

yup..

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:18 PM 2

18. ardent1

Posts: 2000; Member since: Apr 16, 2011

It must be that time again to see your eye doctor.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:50 PM 2

3. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Thinner and lighter is great! But I'm worried about the design and the iOS.......... I hope Apple will redesign the iOS and the iPad's design.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 11:48 AM 10

4. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

I don't think the iPad itself needs a redesign, I DO believe iOS needs to be revamped if it's going to keep Apple moving forward. iOS STILL looks & feels the same as it did when the original iPhone came out back in 2007.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:09 PM 14

5. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Nothing like a familiar UI, eh? ;-) Got to look out for those who can't handle change, and what-not.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:14 PM 3

25. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Yeah I know exactly what you mean. lol +1

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:10 PM 2

8. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Both need to be redesigned, just look at the iPad, and the iPhone, six years, SIX YEARS, and the design still remains the same! For example, the circle physical home button, they should at least make it become on-screen, this can be count as redesigned, and the bezels too, they should make it slimmer. And let's say the iPhone, SIX YEARS later, and the design still remains the same, and it becomes even taller, not wider. The iOS, we don't need to talk about that right? So, in conclusion, Apple have no creative, this is one of the weak points of Apple.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:35 PM 5

20. itreday

Posts: 68; Member since: May 24, 2012

"If it's not broken, don't fix it." The design remains mostly unchanged because they got it right the first time. The only thing that needs a redesign is iOS.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:53 PM 8

26. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Thank you!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:12 PM 2

31. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Ok! I surrender! I agree with you!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 10:25 PM 0

22. CanYouSeeTheLight

Posts: 1122; Member since: Jul 05, 2012

Saying the iPhone needs a redesign is fanboyism at its finest, as much as i hate iOS and love Android i actually love the design of Apple's products.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 2:19 PM 3

24. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

I can agree with that. Apple sure knows how to design a phone & a tablet. Were they are REALLY struggling is in the UI department. iOS is very boring & dry. People want functionality, customization & some flare, that is why Android is so HUGE. People see this & naturally are attracted to Android. Apple is learning that even if you make a sexy phone, ultimately how you interact with it is MORE important.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:08 PM 4

32. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

You love the design because the design is simple, and iOS is easy to use, so the combination between these two, equals = EASY.SIMPLE!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 10:27 PM 0

28. quakan

Posts: 1419; Member since: Mar 02, 2011

I hope they never get rid of the physical home button.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:23 PM 0

6. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

To Apple's credit, they appear to be adding stereo speakers.... Maybe they could add a stereo UI? As in 3D? At least SOMETHING other than the so 2007 UI.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:17 PM 6

9. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Yeah, I agree!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:35 PM 0

27. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

That would be something. I mean anything is better than the current iOS. lol

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 3:14 PM 2

13. kozza3

Posts: 778; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

I hope they come up with something exciting, I love watching companies compete with innovative features but hate it when they just copy from each other. In part I think its the customers fault though for just buying whatever crap they put out there.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:29 PM 2

16. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Me too! I hope they come up something new and exciting! And most of the peoples are following trend, most of them are teenagers, they think that buying an iPhone will make them look cool, well, they're wrong! Smartphone is smartphone, iPhone is smartphone, when you have a smartphone, you're already looking cool, even a low-end smartphone makes you look cool too!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:40 PM 0

7. moronman66

Posts: 162; Member since: Jan 09, 2012

As far as rumors go, that all sounds realistic, and I must say, I think it looks better with the thinner bezel, but I wonder about the speakers, they might be stereo, but I think Apple should look at taking a page from HTC and going with amps with them? I'm sure loads of people would appreciate the living crap out of that, and it would sound nicer at higher volumes

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:32 PM 0

19. WakaFlakaD

Posts: 576; Member since: Apr 30, 2011

That "loads" amount is still relatively small if we would put in percentage in market share. I am considered one of the "loads" iWish vs reality

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:52 PM 0

10. ojdidit84

Posts: 462; Member since: Jul 16, 2011

Only thing that really piques my interest about this is that IGZO display...

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 12:49 PM 1

11. bigstrudel

Posts: 621; Member since: Aug 20, 2012

Yeah people are going to be jealous when the first IGZO smartphones arrive with 3 + days battery life in tow. If Apple can monopolize Sharp's production of IGZO; it will be a huge advantage.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:16 PM 1

14. kozza3

Posts: 778; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

and it would be a huge hit to customers. why should i be stuck with having to buy an Apple product to get the IGZO tech? on second thought, i guess it SHOULD push the rest of the industry towards even better displays.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:31 PM 2

15. ZeroCide

Posts: 816; Member since: Jan 09, 2013

meh!!

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:37 PM 0

17. itreday

Posts: 68; Member since: May 24, 2012

I think what would make apple succeed in the future is for them to revamp iOS and separate the iPad and iPhone OS or make them deferential. The iPad has a far bigger screen and shouldn't look the same as the iPhone. There's a lot more screen real estate that they can use with iPad. They should also make a 5 inch screen iPhone and name it iPhone X with a different OS or different interface.

posted on Apr 22, 2013, 1:42 PM 0

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