First Photos of the iPad 5 Rear Shell Show a Significantly Smaller Enclosure

[MacRumors]

Rumored 5th Generation iPad (left) vs iPad mini (right)

9to5Mac has unconfirmed images of what could be the rear panel for the next iPad. The images match up very closely with a report from last week.

While we cannot confirm that the above image is legitimate, it does provide a solid representation of what Apple's next iPad will likely look like. We were told this is a prototype back piece for the fifth-generation iPad with a 9.7-inch display. We were also told that the casing is almost as thin as the iPad mini's back (pictured to the right). As you can see at the top of the purported iPad 5 backplate, this casing would likely be for an LTE model - as the black antenna cut implies.

The report lines up with iLounge's first description of the new iPad which is expected to arrive in October with smaller, iPad mini-esque bezels and chamfered edges and curves.

What does it look like? Well, it's a lot smaller than one would guess was possible: in portrait orientation, picture a 9.7" screen with virtually no left or right bezels, and only enough space above and below the screen to accommodate the mandatory camera and Home Button elements. Beyond that, it's noticeably thinner, as well, which is to say the the fifth-generation iPad will be smaller in every dimension than its predecessors. As it will have the same chamfered edges and curves, calling it a "stretched iPad mini" is very close to entirely accurate.

Leaks of parts for upcoming Apple products are becoming more and more common as the Asian supply chain grows larger.

Update:

In this composite, you see the new iPad is much smaller than the current iPad. The iPad 4 (image) and iPad 5 (image) have been overlaid to show the relative sizes.

Update 2: A reader overlaid the screen sizes showing how much of a bezel the new iPad might have.

Update 3: Diwali posted this mockup based on the dimensions of the case:

Article Link: First Photos of the iPad 5 Rear Shell Show a Significantly Smaller Enclosure

[Menopause]

Not bad, looks pretty nice.

[Kentochan]

Seems legit.

[SandboxGeneral]

Hard to tell from the photos, but it almost looks like it could have a non-slip surface. That was a nice feature of the Nexus 7 that I really liked.

[osofast240sx]

I'll take 2

[mouser45]

gonna need some other reason to upgrade; ipad3 does everything perfectly

honestly thinking about going android with it's higher res screen (2560x1600)

[deannnnn]

I feel like this is so uncommon to say in response to product leaks but... I like it! It looks great!

[Frank Gore]

That looks awesome.

[intopieces]

Originally Posted by mouser45

gonna need some other reason to upgrade; ipad3 does everything perfectly

There really is nothing that my iPad 3 can't do. I'm not a very big apps person, so much that I managed to reduce mine to one page of apps and eliminate the dock all together using Springtomize. I don't even need more space.

[saccento]

Who are ya kidding? That's iPhone 6!!

[i0Nic]

Can anyone tell from these photos if the bigger iPad has thinner side bezels like the mini?

[aziatiklover]

As long is slim and sleek iLike!

[BHP41]

Originally Posted by SandboxGeneral

Hard to tell from the photos, but it almost looks like it could have a non-slip surface. That was a nice feature of the Nexus 7 that I really liked.

Really? , I don't see it. Looks like aluminum to me, same as the mini.

[beppo]

So real surprises.

I think, though, that it will be interesting to see how the non-existent left/ right bezels are in daily usage. The point of the iPad Mini to have smaller bezels was so that you could hold the device with one hand. I can't image that, even with it being much smaller, it will be easy to hold with just one hand.

I guess this just means that Apple is very comfortable with their "holding-hand detection" software that currently exists on the iPad mini.

[ccmovies]

I like the use of masking tape

[xkmxkmxlmx]

I love the new slate (and white/sliver) design, but man it collects prints. It looks awful after a while.

[JarScott]

I think this was pretty predictable. Compared to the iPad mini, the iPad looks like a big fat giant and a total ancestor. It's easy to believe that Apple would put a lot of work into making the full sized iPad as thin, light and sexy as the iPad mini. I look forward to this.

[Defender2010]

....and my thread was mocked thank you very much!

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1514987

This was a given. Looks great!!! Guess this means IGZO displays?

[xkmxkmxlmx]

Originally Posted by SandboxGeneral

Hard to tell from the photos, but it almost looks like it could have a non-slip surface. That was a nice feature of the Nexus 7 that I really liked.

It looks exactly like the Mini. Which is *not* a non-slip surface.

[slffl]

Wow! That looks thin next to the mini case!! Excited for this one.

[daynel]

I'm getting tired and annoyed of product leaks!

I miss the days when products were not basically leaked piece by piece and essentially put together weeks before the announcement. I miss the days of not knowing what was going to be unveiled at the keynote. I miss the feeling of complete surprise and awe when the product was finally unveiled after waiting on the edge of my seat for what felt like an eternity.

Sure the leak if the iphone 4 was some fluke freak accident - and shocking at the same time, but knowing what the iphone 5 looked like a month before the keynote was just down right annoying.

I wish the supply chain would stop leaking images

[w00t951]

At least this photo wasn't taken with a potato.

[Dwalls90]

Nothing surprising here really. Only the fact that everyone thought it would be held off until the Fall. I'm glad it's not!

Originally Posted by daynel

I'm getting tired and annoyed of product leaks!

I miss the days when products were not basically leaked piece by piece and essentially put together weeks before the announcement. I miss the days of not knowing what was going to be unveiled at the keynote. I miss the feeling of complete surprise and awe when the product was finally unveiled after waiting on the edge of my seat for what felt like an eternity.

Sure the leak if the iphone 4 was some fluke freak accident - and shocking at the same time, but knowing what the iphone 5 looked like a month before the keynote was just down right annoying.

I wish the supply chain would stop leaking images

Dude, you are on a RUMOR WEBSITE.

[slffl]

Originally Posted by mouser45

gonna need some other reason to upgrade; ipad3 does everything perfectly

honestly thinking about going android with it's higher res screen (2560x1600)

You're think about switching ecosystems and the best hardware, for a few more pixels? Wow, you deserve android.

[Baklava]

That looks so great, really! But I hope, the issue that the graphite finish gets scratched easily (especially at the edges) will be fixed with next generation gadgets.