Report of Hands-On with iPad 3 Rear Shell and Other Components

iLounge, which just last week updated its claims regarding details of the next-generation iPad with mention of improved cameras, today reports that it has viewed what appear to be at least prototype parts for the device.

The parts, which seem to include the rear shell and front glass bezel, reportedly corroborate iLounge's earlier claims of an almost imperceptibly thicker body and an upgraded iPhone-like rear camera.

The new iPad’s body is so slightly thicker than the iPad 2 that the change is unnoticeable on first inspection; a roughly 1mm increase will barely be perceptible to users. We’ve heard that the only accessories that might have issues are cases, and then, only cases that were precisely contoured to fit the iPad 2’s back. On the rear, the camera in the upper left corner has become bigger—noticeably so when placed alongside the iPad 2, but not so huge that anyone would think they were different at a distance. The new camera hole is silver-ringed, and does in fact look the same size as the iPhone 4S’s much-improved rear camera system, minus the LED flash.

iLounge's Jeremy Horwitz reports that some accessory manufacturers are claiming that the iPad 3 will come with a slightly smaller screen, but a front glass bezel seen by Horwitz fails to support that notion. Otherwise, the locations of all external features of the iPad 3 remain identical to those on the iPad 2.

leaked ipad 3 display
Previous leak of claimed iPad 3 display

Horwitz cautions that the rear shell part he was able to view seems to have been produced at least six months ago and thus may not represent the final design for the next-generation iPad, which he notes could be called the iPad 3 or perhaps some variation on the iPad 2 name. But the parts do apparently support iLounge's existing claims of Apple's design tweaks for the next-generation iPad, which many are expecting to debut around March of this year.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: iLounge
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
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Top Rated Comments

Mjmar Avatar
171 months ago
My only concern is whether or not it will have a retina display.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newyorksole Avatar
171 months ago
I know it is incredibly superficial but adding even one millimeter will not be acceptable. We are still in the middle of the "thin is in" race. Other manufacturers are shaving away at those millimeters Apple will be expected to do so as well.

who cares if it's 1MM thicker. Apple still has better software and a better ecosystem as well as better support and a better looking product.

let's see "other manufacturers" get that down pact.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darlo770 Avatar
171 months ago
iPad 2S?

I have this horrible feeling it's going to be the iPad 2S released in March, with a retina screen but Dual-Core (higher clock speed) to drive that new display (not a Quad-Core yet). I just want somebody to say a dual-core technically couldn't drive a retina display that large. Could it? :( This would be Apple down to a tee, saving the quad-core for the iPad 4 (and it's 'major hardware upgrades' rumoured recently).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shrink Avatar
171 months ago
I must say that the photo in the news story took my breath away. I couldn't be more moved and excited. Any way to get a large, framed version? :rolleyes: :D
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adildacoolset Avatar
171 months ago
Lol, apple haters are haters. When they launch a phone, they want it to be bigger. When they launch a tablet, they want it to be smaller. And the companies that are making their stuff are converting phones to tablets, and tablets to phones. Just popped up into my head
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slurpy2k8 Avatar
171 months ago
Apple,
please include the following in iPad 3

* SD Card Reader
* Hi Res (720p) Front Facing Camera for Skype calls
* Hi-res display
* more memory

The last 3 will happen. The 1st won't.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)