Rumored iPad Mini 4 Rear Shell With iPad Air 2 Design Elements Shown Off in New Video

When Apple launched the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 in late 2014, many people were disappointed with the iPad mini update, which essentially just added Touch ID to the existing iPad mini 2 with no other external design changes. Since then, there have been a few rumors suggesting Apple is working on an iPad mini 4 update that includes iPad Air 2 design elements like a thinner body.

French site Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translate] today shared a video and some images of what's said to be an early version of the rear casing for the upcoming iPad mini 4.


The aluminum shell closely resembles the shell of the existing iPad mini, but it does include several design elements introduced with the iPad Air 2. There's a single row of larger speaker holes alongside the Lightning port at the bottom of the device, rather than two smaller rows, and the mute switch on the device has been removed and replaced with a microphone hole.

ipadmini4rearshell1
Rumors have suggested the iPad mini 4 will be thinner than the iPad mini 2 and the iPad mini 3, giving it a thickness more akin to the iPad Air 2, but it is difficult to determine the device's possible thickness based on the images that were shared. Along with an iPad Air-style design, an updated iPad mini 4 would likely adopt one of Apple's more recent processors, possibly the A8X in the iPad Air 2 or an A9 processor coming later this year.

ipadminirearshell2
There's been little word on when an updated iPad mini might launch, but given Apple's historical fall release schedule for iPads, it's unlikely we will see the iPad mini 4 until the later months of 2015.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

yaxomoxay Avatar
121 months ago
What can't you do with the current iPad right now due to RAM restrictions? Give three examples.

Ex 1) Tell my friends "I've got two gigs of RAM!"
Ex 2) Divide RAM amount by 2 and get 1 as a result.
Ex 3) Complain about the fact that iPad should have 4GB of RAM.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sonicrobby Avatar
121 months ago
If Apple does not put in 2GB of RAM, then they shouldnt even bother with it.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DavidTheExpert Avatar
121 months ago
I wish they would come up with a more consistent naming convention for the iPads....

iPad Mini 4 alongisde the iPad Air 3 at the launch of iPhone 6S and a revamped iMac 5k?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
121 months ago
I can't keep up with these product releases... they all become a blur.

----------

If Apple does not put in 2GB of RAM, then they shouldnt even bother with it.
And as soon as they do, you'll come out saying that 4GB is what they should've put in.

What can't you do with the current iPad right now due to RAM restrictions? Give three examples.

More RAM is akin to a bigger gas tank.... would you rather a car engine that was super-efficient, or one with a giant gas tank? Apple strives for super efficient.

(yah, I know RAM-to-gas tank comparison is not the best... but you get the point... bigger specs does not always mean better... because software just gets more bloated and requires higher specs, and on it goes... never being happy)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BCWorld Avatar
121 months ago
WOW! I didn't see this coming!! Classic Apple: release a BS Product one year, then the next year, re-release it with "new and improved" specs. :mad::rolleyes:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ttss6 Avatar
121 months ago
That's more like it. Now just add a display with a much improved color gamut and A9/M9 chips and I'll be very interested!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)