New Photos Show Details of Alleged 'iPad Mini' Rear Shell - MacRumors
Skip to Content

New Photos Show Details of Alleged 'iPad Mini' Rear Shell

A number of photos of the rear shell of the "iPad mini", both alleged actual parts and physical mockups, have been leaking in recent weeks, but a Nowhereelse.fr points to a new set [Google translation] at Chinese site NetEase showing in fairly good detail both the interior and exterior of the shell. The part is alleged to be a legitimate rear shell leaked from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in Shenzhen, China.

netease ipad mini shell 1
The pictures show a number of details of the rear shell, including the opening for Apple's smaller dock connector expected to debut on the iPhone 5 next week, a rear camera hole, and the interior lip where the display and front panel will be attached. The shell appears to be for a Wi-Fi model, as it lacks a cutout for a SIM card and an open section along the top edge for a plastic window covering where the cellular antennas would be.

netease ipad mini shell 2
As with other recently-leaked photos, the rear shell shows relatively little tapering compared to the current full-size iPad, instead carrying a rounded, almost partial bullnose profile along the sides.

netease ipad mini shell 3
While Apple is holding a media event next Wednesday, the company is said to be focusing on the new iPhone for this event and planning a separate media event for October to introduce the iPad mini.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Tag: NetEase
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Announces New iPad Mini With 8.5-Inch OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and More

Monday October 26, 2026 6:05 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new iPad mini with a larger 8.5-inch OLED display, a nano-texture display option, a thinner and lighter design, an A20 Pro chip, a new Acoustic Display audio system that eliminates speaker holes, IP67-rated water and dust resistance, a landscape front camera, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and more. Altogether, Apple says this amounts to the iPad...
MacBook Pro Ultra Feature 1

Apple to Launch Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro and OLED iPad mini on October 27

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:31 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models and an OLED iPad mini "on or around" Tuesday, October 27, reports Bloomberg. The launch will also include an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and an M6 iMac. The October 27 follows Apple's October 13 debut of a new smart home hub, a revamped Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini. Earlier this month, MacRumors reported that Apple would do ...
Black Apple Event Logo

Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'

Thursday October 15, 2026 4:13 am PDT by
Apple has begun inviting selected members of the media to a product launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a post on X, Gurman described the gathering as an "all-day product launch experience" for touchscreen MacBooks, a new iPad mini, and Macs equipped with M6 chips. Gurman previously reported that Apple would introduce the...

Top Rated Comments

185 months ago
The part is alleged to be a legitimate rear shell

When are leaks not allegedly legitimate? The question is whether they are or not.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
185 months ago
If iPad Mini happens, I'm definitely getting one! :) For some reason, it looks thick from those angles.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Swordylove Avatar
185 months ago
Am I the only one who notices that something is not quite right in the first pic?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
185 months ago
For some reason I find it hilarious that there's a ThinkPad in the background of these iPad images! :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pgiguere1 Avatar
185 months ago
Most likely fake, there's no Apple logo cutout. Remember that this is where the Wi-Fi antenna goes since it can't go through metal.

No cutout = No WiFi.

It should have a cutout like this:


EDIT: The Wi-Fi antenna could still go somewhere else, such as in the front bezel.

It's also weird that the "iPad" logo appears to have a reflective finish. All products names on aluminium are usually laser engraved in black, like this:


Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
185 months ago
To all who think it's going to be $200, you are dreaming. The Nexus 7 is sold at cost, with a plastic cases and only 8GB storage. The iPad mini is going to be a full featured, high quality 7" tablet, something that doesn't yet exist in the marketplace. It's going to be for the consumer that wants a lighter, more compact tablet, not one who is trolling for the least expensive option.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
39 minutes ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
11 hours ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
12 hours ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
13 hours ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
13 hours ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
14 hours ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
15 hours ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
16 hours ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
17 hours ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
18 hours ago
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
18 hours ago
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
18 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
20 hours ago
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
20 hours ago
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
20 hours ago
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
21 hours ago
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
23 hours ago
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
23 hours ago
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
23 hours ago
HomeView Code Suggests Future Support for AI Chatbot Apps, Anti-Spoofing Protection
HomeView Code Suggests Future Support for AI Chatbot Apps, Anti-Spoofing Protection
1 day ago
Got an iPhone Duo on Launch Day? Today Could Be Your Last Chance to Return It
Got an iPhone Duo on Launch Day? Today Could Be Your Last Chance to Return It
2 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products Today
Apple Launching Five New Products Today
1 hour ago
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 256 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 256 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
1 day ago
Apps Can Now Try to Stop You From Canceling Subscriptions
Apps Can Now Try to Stop You From Canceling Subscriptions
2 days ago
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
'Super Mario Odyssey' Can Now Run on Apple TV Thanks to AI
2 days ago
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
How 'Resident Evil' Director Zach Cregger Uses His iPhone to Make Movies
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
HomePod Mini 2's Amount of RAM Confirmed
2 days ago
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
Apple TV's '12 Days of Snoopy' Special Arrives November 13
2 days ago
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget
2 days ago
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
Apple Releases Xcode 27.3 Beta With Three New Features
2 days ago