A new batch of photos published by French site NowhereElse may give us an idea of what the next generation of the iPad mini will look like. The images are said to be of the casing for the unannounced tablet upgrade, and seem to feature some design elements inspired by the most recent version of the larger iPad model.
While the third-generation iPad mini was simply a Touch ID-equipped version of the previous model, many Apple fans are hoping to see a redesign much like this with the next refresh.
Aside from the obvious similarities in the shape and materials, the photos and a video of the shell (which can be seen below) reveal a redesigned speaker grille that mirrors the iPad Air 2’s move away from two rows of speaker holes to just one. The new shell also indicates that the iPad mini 4 may be thinner than its predecessor, though it doesn’t seem like a big stretch to predict that.
Also carrying over from the larger model to the smaller one is the lack of a mute/rotation lock switch, which isn’t such a necessity now that both of those functions are available in software through Control Center. The shell in the images appears to be from an LTE model, as given away by the cutout at the top of the device for the cellular antenna window and the presence of a SIM card slot below the volume rockers.
The authenticity of these photos has yet to be verified, but they do seem to line up with the idea that Apple would unify its iPad design. There aren’t a whole lot of rumors surrounding a potential iPad mini update at the moment, though some details of the upgrade hit the web earlier this year and also suggested an Air 2-like design shift.
You can check out a gallery of photos and a video of the case below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juqdjo8tOjk&ab_channel=SteveHemmerstoffer]
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And there I was, hoping the next iPads will look more like the iPhone 6 :( even though the grip is a nightmare…
Slippery iPhone 6! First iPhone I didn’t want a case on, and sadly the one that needs a case the most as I drop it all the time. You can’t really use the 6 one handed as well as a 5 or 5s. I hope the 4″ version makes a return with modern guts.
It’s more than what it looks like. It needs to have the same guts as it’s big brother. Anything less does not matter. The iPad mini 3 has to be the worst iPad since introduction. If that happened to the iPhone Apple would take a big hit.
Seeing as the mini 3 is better than the mini 2 (Touch ID) and the mini 2 was a large improvement over 1 I don’t see how 3 could be the worst one. Most incremental upgrade, for sure, but still the best. Obviously the mini 4 will get a significantly better chip—we’ll see if it gets an A9
No, it’s not the best because TouchID is definitely not worth $100. Anyone with any sense would buy the mini 2. It’s easily the worst iPad upgrade ever.
ALL the iPad minis from start to finish are basically the EXACT same design.
If this is the iPad mini 4 then it’s just more of the same. The mini 2 has a slightly better screen and a slightly better processor, the mini 3 has a hot-glued in TouchID button but is otherwise identical to the mini 2. This one will probably be slightly faster and slightly better screen again.
Big F-ing Deal.
@epicflyingcat The Mini 2 only comes in 16 and 32GB, so if you need 64 or 128 you’d buy the Mini 3. It also doesn’t come in gold if you’re that way inclined.
This just looks like more of the same to me. Same chamfered edge design, looks about the exact same thickness too. Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like the exact same dimensions length and breadth wise too, which means the same bezels in the same proportions.
Big f*cking deal. As an iPad mini user that’s really pissed off about the lack of anything new for over three years, this isn’t doing it for me. It doesn’t look like they have changed anything at all.
I have to think people don’t care about iPad leaks anymore
Agreed, it’s just way to repetitive.
They do had a time to change a lot I think. Actually they took 2 years to develop the Mini 4… really hope they’ll do something really good – like big upgrade, etc – with the Mini 4. And maybe give the Air some 1 year of chilling in the corner. The Air 2 is good enough anyway… but Mini needs an upgrade. A good one!
Noooo!!! The rotation lock button is, to me, the very damn best feature I’ve used in a tablet. I freaking love it. I don’t want to be swiping up and pressing a soft button, I want to have that feel that I’m actually *locking* the screen in place. I hate hate hate that they took it away on the Air 2. And for what? A second microphone? Please.