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Following a report from yesterday that appeared to show photos of the iPad 5's silver rear shell, FanaticFone has posted new photos of the alleged silver casing of the next generation iPad mini. While the photos highlight typical features such as a rear facing camera, speakers and the Lightning port, it does feature an embedded black Apple logo, which is a change from the current iPad mini that uses a printed mirrored logo.

iPad_mini_ng_inside.jpg
Aside from the change to the Apple logo, the shell appears essentially identical to the current iPad mini.

iPad_mini_ng_outside.jpg
Apple is expected to launch the next-generation iPad mini with a potential Retina display sometime in the fall, while the fifth-generation iPad may appear as soon as next month.

Article Link: Next-Generation iPad Mini's Silver Rear Shell with Embedded Black Apple Logo Appears in New Photos
 

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
Looks much nicer, in my opinion. I also think it will have a positive effect on wifi signal. I never could understand why the iPod Touch, full size iPad and iPhone needed plastic or glass elements in the aluminum for wifi, and the iPad mini did not. The iPad mini wifi signal was weaker than the other devices mentioned for the two that I owned. This could be an explanation.
 

tsunake

macrumors newbie
Mar 6, 2003
15
0
From the pictures, I'd bet a dollar that it's actually mirror finish silver and is made of RF-transparent Liquidmetal alloy.
 

v0lume4

macrumors 68030
Jul 28, 2012
2,522
5,207
I, for one, have loved the recent foray into using the mirrored back for the Apple logo for the mini. I love it on my phone. I hope Apple doesn't go back to the embedded black logo..!
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,453
5,075
Bummer, was hoping for dual speakers at top and bottom of the device, i.e. HTC One or Nexus 7. Considering most video is watched in landscape, having dual speakers at one end doesn't make much sense.
 

jan1024188

macrumors member
Apr 27, 2011
79
95
Major new features like this deserve dedicated reports and frontpage recognition. The new logo looks great, I can't wait to buy it.
 

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
On second examination, are you sure that is a black logo? It is silver on the reverse . . . It seems to me that it only appears black because it is reflective silver and it is held at an angle that makes it appear black in the photo.
 

virginblue4

macrumors 68020
Apr 15, 2012
2,025
693
United Kingdom
I hope that they continue to use the mirror printed version, it looks a lot nicer.

However, as another poster noted, from the inside of the shell, it appears a grey/silver colour. I think it only looks black due to the angle that it is being held at.
 

martygras9

macrumors 6502
Aug 13, 2007
264
73
Looks much nicer, in my opinion. I also think it will have a positive effect on wifi signal. I never could understand why the iPod Touch, full size iPad and iPhone needed plastic or glass elements in the aluminum for wifi, and the iPad mini did not. The iPad mini wifi signal was weaker than the other devices mentioned for the two that I owned. This could be an explanation.

It's not for wifi. It's for cellular and yes, the iPad mini has the plastic at the top. The one pictures above must simply be the wifi version.

http://assets.gearlive.com/blogimages/black-ipad-mini-cellular-back.jpg
 

MCarnes88

macrumors newbie
Nov 27, 2012
10
0
Las Vegas, NV.
On second examination, are you sure that is a black logo? It is silver on the reverse . . . It seems to me that it only appears black because it is reflective silver and it is held at an angle that makes it appear black in the photo.

The mirrored logo would not be seen on the inside of the shell, this is clearly an inset. Probably used to improve connectivity just as is used in other Apple products.
 

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
It's not for wifi. It's for cellular and yes, the iPad mini has the plastic at the top. The one pictures above must simply be the wifi version.

http://assets.gearlive.com/blogimages/black-ipad-mini-cellular-back.jpg

That's not what I am talking about. Re-read my post. I am talking about the black pill-shaped plastic insert in the wifi aluminum 5th gen iPod touch, the glass bars on the 5th gen iPhone, and the black plastic Apple logo on iPads 1 through 4, wifi. All are there to facilitate wifi reception, not cellular (except the iPhone 5, where the glass serves both purposes).


The mirrored logo would not be seen on the inside of the shell, this is clearly an inset. Probably used to improve connectivity just as is used in other Apple products.

I understand, I know it is an insert (obviously) -- but I am saying that the insert is probably silver-colored, not black. As someone has already pointed out, it looks to be a liquidmetal insert.
 

Patriot24

macrumors 68030
Dec 29, 2010
2,813
805
California
All we need is a physical part leak of a Mini Samsung retina display. Then I can officially say, "my credit card is ready!"
 
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