iPad 3 Rear Shell Measures in at 9.5 mm Thick, 0.8 mm Thicker Than iPad 2

While comparison photos of the iPad 2 rear shell and a claimed iPad 3 rear shell have shown slightly increased thickness for the forthcoming model and reports have suggested that the difference is roughly 1 mm, no measurements had surfaced to quantify the exact difference in thickness between the two devices.

Apple.pro now points [Google translation] to a new photo showing both shells being measured with a digital caliper. According to the photo, the iPad 2 rear shell measures in at 8.69 mm thick while the iPad 3 part comes in at 9.50 mm, a difference of 0.81 mm.

ipad 2 ipad 3 caliper
(Note: Text labels added by image poster are off by a factor of ten. Readings on caliper are correct.)

Apple's official iPad 2 specs peg the device at 8.8 mm thick, just slightly thicker that the rear shell itself, which wraps around the sides of the device. Given a nearly identical design for the iPad 3, the overall device would measure in at roughly 9.6 mm, or about 9% thicker than the iPad 2 but still well below the 13.4 mm thickness of the original iPad. Sources who have handled the iPad 3 rear shell suggest that the difference from the iPad 2 will be nearly imperceptible to users.

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Top Rated Comments

WannaGoMac Avatar
177 months ago
Geesh forget it then!

Wow, that's just ridiculous. I totally won't buy an iPad 3 now. It's too fat!

(sarcasm :) )
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CZSZSZ Avatar
177 months ago
So it is over 3in thick?

How can I trust these measurements if someone can not even write down the result?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EmbraceTheOne Avatar
177 months ago
No big deal. Bigger battery…Better screen.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HarryKeogh Avatar
177 months ago
I hope no one mistakes my iPad 3 for a cinder block.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
177 months ago
Those pictures are a bit of a fail.

95MM = 9.5 CM. That's one thick iPad! My TV's thinner than that!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MonkeySee.... Avatar
177 months ago
Cue the next Samsung ad with a a guy with massive comedy hands trying to hold onto the iPad 3 due to its increased thickness.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)