First Photos of the iPad 5 Rear Shell Show a Significantly Smaller Enclosure

Ipad5back
Rumored 5th Generation iPad (left) vs iPad mini (right)

9to5Mac has unconfirmed images of what could be the rear panel for the next iPad. The images match up very closely with a report from last week.

While we cannot confirm that the above image is legitimate, it does provide a solid representation of what Apple’s next iPad will likely look like. We were told this is a prototype back piece for the fifth-generation iPad with a 9.7-inch display. We were also told that the casing is almost as thin as the iPad mini’s back (pictured to the right). As you can see at the top of the purported iPad 5 backplate, this casing would likely be for an LTE model – as the black antenna cut implies.

ipadside
The report lines up with iLounge's first description of the new iPad which is expected to arrive in October with smaller, iPad mini-esque bezels and chamfered edges and curves.

What does it look like? Well, it’s a lot smaller than one would guess was possible: in portrait orientation, picture a 9.7” screen with virtually no left or right bezels, and only enough space above and below the screen to accommodate the mandatory camera and Home Button elements. Beyond that, it’s noticeably thinner, as well, which is to say the the fifth-generation iPad will be smaller in every dimension than its predecessors. As it will have the same chamfered edges and curves, calling it a “stretched iPad mini” is very close to entirely accurate.

Leaks of parts for upcoming Apple products are becoming more and more common as the Asian supply chain grows larger.

Update:

compare

In this composite, you see the new iPad is much smaller than the current iPad. The iPad 4 (image) and iPad 5 (image) have been overlaid to show the relative sizes.

Update 2: A reader overlaid the screen sizes showing how much of a bezel the new iPad might have.

Update 3: Diwali posted this mockup based on the dimensions of the case:

ipad5 2

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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Top Rated Comments

Dwalls90 Avatar
162 months ago
Nothing surprising here really. Only the fact that everyone thought it would be held off until the Fall. I'm glad it's not!

I'm getting tired and annoyed of product leaks!

I miss the days when products were not basically leaked piece by piece and essentially put together weeks before the announcement. I miss the days of not knowing what was going to be unveiled at the keynote. I miss the feeling of complete surprise and awe when the product was finally unveiled after waiting on the edge of my seat for what felt like an eternity.

Sure the leak if the iphone 4 was some fluke freak accident - and shocking at the same time, but knowing what the iphone 5 looked like a month before the keynote was just down right annoying.

I wish the supply chain would stop leaking images :(
Dude, you are on a RUMOR WEBSITE.
Score: 90 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slffl Avatar
162 months ago
gonna need some other reason to upgrade; ipad3 does everything perfectly

honestly thinking about going android with it's higher res screen (2560x1600)

You're think about switching ecosystems and the best hardware, for a few more pixels? Wow, you deserve android.
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
saccento Avatar
162 months ago
Who are ya kidding? That's iPhone 6!!
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w00t951 Avatar
162 months ago
At least this photo wasn't taken with a potato.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
daynel Avatar
162 months ago
I'm getting tired and annoyed of product leaks!

I miss the days when products were not basically leaked piece by piece and essentially put together weeks before the announcement. I miss the days of not knowing what was going to be unveiled at the keynote. I miss the feeling of complete surprise and awe when the product was finally unveiled after waiting on the edge of my seat for what felt like an eternity.

Sure the leak if the iphone 4 was some fluke freak accident - and shocking at the same time, but knowing what the iphone 5 looked like a month before the keynote was just down right annoying.

I wish the supply chain would stop leaking images :(
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dkouts Avatar
162 months ago
Not sure about the residual masking tape.
Probably would've gone for a more industrial binding process.

Seems very un-Apple.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)