New Photos Claim to Show Purported Rear Shell of iPad Air 2

[MacRumors]

Taiwan-based accessory maker Yi Lin Enterprises has posted new photos on Weibo showing the purported rear shell of Apple's iPad Air 2 (Google Translate, via Mac Otakara). The images show off a gold housing with a number of design changes, including a new speaker grille with larger holes and a relocated rear microphone alongside the iSight camera.

Last month, an alleged "perfect replica" of the iPad Air 2 surfaced, showing off a Touch ID home button for the device and recessed volume buttons along with the same refined speaker grille. The prototype followed the leak of a supposed front panel from the iPad Air 2 this past April, which showed an integrated display that may hint at a thinner form factor for the tablet.

Apple's iPad Air 2 is expected to launch alongside the iPad mini 3 later this year, and is expected to include a faster A8 processor in addition to the aforementioned Touch ID fingerprint sensor and refined physical features. Rumors have also suggested that Apple is working on a larger, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, however recent reports have indicated that plans for the tablet may be on hold for the foreseeable future.

Article Link: New Photos Claim to Show Purported Rear Shell of iPad Air 2

 

[sputnikv]

internals aside, i don't see them doing anything interesting with the ipad anytime soon

 

[puckhead193]

the sooner the better my iPad 3 is dying

 

[DavidBlack]

I don't like the speaker holes at the bottom, it just crawls my blood.

 

[Gooberton]

Backlight apple logo!

 

[bushido]

how much longer before their devices get so thin they might just break by looking at them?

 

[Mr. Gates]

So....why is the Apple cut out in this and the iPhone leaks ?
Will we finally get a glowing Apple logo ???

 

[farewelwilliams]

6 months later. iPad Air 3

 

[LucasLand]

I think they've gotten to a point there isn't much they can do differently on the outside. future iPads will show improvement with internals and software. so pics like this don't mean much

 

[MagicMike]

Ipad Pro!!! Ipad Pro!!!

 

[Yakibomb]

I think they've gotten to a point there isn't much they can do differently on the outside. future iPads will show improvement with internals and software. so pics like this don't mean much

My thoughts exactly, I'll only start getting excited when I see parts leaks

 

[bushido]

So....why is the Apple cut out in this and the iPhone leaks ?
Will we finally get a glowing Apple logo ???

iPad has always been cut out as fas as i know (for the wifi)

seriously a glowing apple logo on an iDevice would be tacky, annoying to be used in public in the dark and wasted energy

 

[solamar]

I think they've gotten to a point there isn't much they can do differently on the outside. future iPads will show improvement with internals and software. so pics like this don't mean much

Yes and no.. Apple has patents on hybrid tablets over the past year.. It shows they are looking at the idea and I think it could be the next big change... BUT... it will be in Apple fashion, they will come out with it, it will be when they are ready and believe it's truly something good. Which is not yet.. They are happy to let Microsoft and Google fuggle with it..

Right now, Hybrid laptops/tablets are meh to me.. still to heavy if they are powerful and I find it hard to really want one.. or, like the new Surface 3, lighter than a Macbook Air, but still way heavier than a mid-line tablet and to weak graphics wise to be truly useful as a laptop. Who's it targeting?

When I want a laptop, I want something with the horse power to really do something.. most of the current hybrids have crappy graphics which means not really much better than a netbook to me and too heavy; even detached. Thats a step down from a true laptop or a true tablet; both of which can do better at play or work. To me it's the same issue they had with Netbooks.. it wasn't 'TRULY' great in either mode.. too much compromise..

IMO anyway.

 

[ob81]

2gb ram or greater. Fingerprint. Addition of gold color.

 

[Big Dawg 23]

Ipad Pro!!! Ipad Pro!!!

I want to see a 12.9" pro that contains Mac OS. I just got a AT&T Note Pro 12.2". I am really liking the additional screen real state over my iPad Air. What I really want is iOS to allow for attaching multiple docs to on ail or insert on a reply.

 

[brendu]

iPad has always been cut out as fas as i know (for the wifi)

seriously a glowing apple logo on an iDevice would be tacky, annoying to be used in public in the dark and wasted energy

Isn't it for the wifi antenna?

 

[brdeveloper]

I still don't know why I need a tablet AND a laptop AND a smartphone. My Macs and my wife's Windows laptop suit perfectly our digital entertainment needs along our smartphones.

 

[goobot]

Yes and no.. Apple has patents on hybrid tablets over the past year.. It shows they are looking at the idea and I think it could be the next big change... BUT... it will be in Apple fashion, they will come out with it, it will be when they are ready and believe it's truly something good. Which is not yet.. They are happy to let Microsoft and Google fuggle with it..

Right now, Hybrid laptops/tablets are meh to me.. still to heavy if they are powerful and I find it hard to really want one.. or, like the new Surface 3, way to weak graphics wise to be truly useful as a laptop. Who's it targeting?

When I want a laptop, I want something with the horse power to really do something.. most of the current hybrids have crappy graphics which means not really much better than a netbook to me and too heavy; even detached. Thats a step down from a true laptop or a true tablet; both of which can do better at play or work. To me it's the same issue they had with Netbooks.. it wasn't 'TRULY' great in either mode.. too much compromise..

IMO anyway.

I think they could make a good one, give the body mac internals and give the screen iPad internals.

 

[iChrist]

internals aside, i don't see them doing anything interesting with the ipad anytime soon

The only people who buy iPads now are first timers (very few) and people who have their iPad break (very few). Otherwise, Apple provides zero reason to upgrade.

 

[afsnyder]

I think they've gotten to a point there isn't much they can do differently on the outside. future iPads will show improvement with internals and software. so pics like this don't mean much

In a couple years we'll see front facing speakers that take the place of the bezels...

 

[Mr. Dee]

Well, the fingernail looks legit.

 

[D.T.]

Still surprised they haven’t added a flash to iPads. I get that it’s not the most convenient camera, <insert other reasons for not using a tablet as a camera>, but if you’re going to implement a camera, do it right, especially if the enhancement has almost no effect on cost or space.

 

[sza]

Still 1GB memory?

 

[AngerDanger]

I still don't know why I need a tablet AND a laptop AND a smartphone. My Macs and my wife's Windows laptop suit perfectly our digital entertainment needs along our smartphones.

You don't. Is somebody physically telling you that you do? I feel like it goes without saying, but just because something might work for other people, it does not mean that you are required to do/buy the same.

Still 1GB memory?

Yes, and they've soldered it right into the rear shell, so it makes sense that you'd ask that and isn't at all a vapid question beyond any of our abilities to answer with certainty.

 

[Traverse]

I don't care for recessed controls; harder to press. But I wonder if the redesigned speakers will have better quality.