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Photos: Purported physical mockups for new iPad Air show recessed volume rocker & Touch ID

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Somewhat unsurprisingly, photos of physical mockups (dummy units) purportedly representing the next-generation full-sized iPad Air have surfaced. This comes after several weeks of iPhone 6 dummy shots that solely differ by camera angles. These units are generally created by case makers, so they may have some inaccuracies. Nonetheless, here’s what whoever made these physical mockups is expecting based on whatever information they obtained from the Apple supply chain. As you can see in the image above, the next Air appears to be nearly identical in design to the current Air. More images below:

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You can see that Touch ID is expected to make its way to the iPad, unsurprisingly. The feature has been rumored to be making its way from the iPhone 5s to Apple’s other iOS devices for some time now. The creator of these mockups has posted the images to various online sales websites and nowhereelse.fr obtained some images with less dramatic watermarking.

Screen Shot 2014-06-17 at 8.27.45 AM

While the images do not show any new functionality, some of the pictures indicate a redesigned volume rocker control panel that is recessed into the iPad. It is unclear what benefit this offers. There also appears to be a new hole on the side of the device, but it’s purpose is unclear. It actually looks like the SIM-eject hole on the current iPads, but it does not appear connected to a SIM tray on this dummy unit. Another possibility is that it is a relocated or additional microphone for improved voice input.

Screen Shot 2014-06-17 at 8.27.52 AM

The power switch also appears recessed on the top of the device and there is also now a microphone beside the rear camera lens like on the iPhone and iPod touch.

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Above is another shot of the side profile with a larger angle of view.

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Otherwise, the new Air is expected to look quite similar to the current model. Besides the tweaked design, we’re expecting the new device to sport a more advanced and efficient A8 system-on-a-chip, improved camera sensors, and the new iOS 8 software (and perhaps with a split-screen mode if that feature is ready by the fall). Besides the new Air, Apple has a new Retina iPad mini, two new iPhones, and an iWatch in the fall iOS device product pipeline.

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Comments

  1. Case makers will have to find a new way. Those volume buttons are gonna be hard to reach with a case on

  2. clyde47 - 10 years ago

    i realy wondered why ipads has no LED flashes upto this generations. i would love to if they’ll add it.

    • That little hole doesn’t look like flash… more like back-side microphone, like the one in iPhone 5s

    • distressedcactus - 10 years ago

      I agree, and if they do have flash, I hope it will be TrueFlash with the amber element as well. Hopefully it will have a better camera, maybe like the 5S’s camera.

      • rettun1 - 10 years ago

        I think that’s a good point. And Apple have really been showcasing how people use iPads for a variety of things, so a much improved camera will enable it to do an even greater amount of things. I hope that they will now keep the ipad camera on par with what’s in the iPhone, since they will be pretty much the same thinness after these new devices hit in the fall

    • ibitebcareful - 10 years ago

      How about an IR too. Can you imagine your iPad replacing every remote in your house. It would be the ultimate All in one Remote Control.

    • clyde47 - 10 years ago

      since they launched ipad 2, i thought the succeeding ipads would have LED flashes. we love using ipad taking pictures/videos during the night. i hope apple will change this.

  3. Billy Bono (@gan6660) - 10 years ago

    Also missing the orientation lock/mute switch.

  4. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on Taste of Apple and commented:
    Looks about right. I prefer the two rows of speaker holes, but it would line up with the expected iPhone 6 design that was seemingly derived from the 5c and iPad line.

  5. drtyrell969 - 10 years ago

    Aren’t we done with WHITE faceplates?

  6. bobbell69 - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on BobLovesTech and commented:
    To be expected.

  7. acslater017 - 10 years ago

    Looks like positive refinements. I love my iPad Mini w Retina display, but I always felt like the volume and sleep buttons were the most flimsy parts. They settle and clack just a tiny bit if you tap them. And are the most likely to break when inserting/removing from a snap-on case.

  8. I loved the design a lot. Moreover the look is quite awesome for me. I can’t say anything about the navigation and all but I hope that this will be really great as apple is quite ahead in these things.

  9. Oh, that looks so innovative.. The fact that the new iPad is going to have iOS8, an A8 processor (and maybe an M8 coprocessor too?), perhaps slightly lighter and thinner, maybe is going to adapt TouchID and so on.. Do not misunderstand me, I love Apple and their products, but I really hope that they are going to make a revolution any time soon, instead of just evolving their products with predictable stuff.