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Purported 12-inch ‘iPad Pro’ cases show stereo speakers, iPhone rumored to use same 7000 Series aluminum as Apple Watch Sport

Sonny Dickson has today posted images of an iPad Pro case that reiterates previous manufacturing renders and reports. Like a render seen in January, the case has holes for stereo speakers situated on top and bottom of the device.

The ‘iPad Pro’ has been widely reported to be in development for some time, featuring a larger 12.3 – 12.9 inch display. It is unknown if the new case images offer any new information — they could have been conjured up based on the previously leaked renders. Chinese case manufacturers have offered mixed indications of future Apple product plans. The iPhone 6 design was widely leaked through cases appearing online, but other instances have not been as fruitful.

Today, there has also been a rumor around the next iPhone’s materials …

According to Economic Daily News, which has a sketchy history regarding Apple rumors, the next iPhone will use the same aluminum material, ‘7000 Series’, as the Apple Watch Sport.

Apple describes the material on the Apple Watch Sport microsite:

“For Apple Watch, we created a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminum that’s 60 percent stronger than standard alloys. Yet it’s very light.”

Current iPhones use aluminum extensively, but the difference for the ‘iPhone 6s‘, according to the report, is that Apple would use a higher-quality version of the same metal. The 7000 Series aluminum is up to 60% stronger than the normal material according to Apple. It may make the CNC milling process more complicated, but Apple has shown it is possible through the existence of the Apple Watch Sport.

apple-watch-sport

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Comments

  1. Soluble Apps - 9 years ago

    I thought the iPad Pro rumours were explained by the new Macbook- basically an iPad with keyboard, at a 12″ screen size.

    Much as the legends of dragons around the world are explained by the existence of dinosaurs, and the bones they leave behind.

  2. masamune6 - 9 years ago

    i just want the black iPhone back. they have that black aluminum watch so i hope we get black as an option again

    • Agreed! I’m hoping the next Space Gray iPhone is more like the Space Gray Apple Watch Sport. I really like the darker, more stealth look. Although the Space Gray MacBook looks more like the current Space Gray iPhone. The apparent differences in Space Grays don’t make sense to me.

    • I thought that the space gray Apple Watch looked much darker than my space gray iPhone 6, glad to hear that i’m not the only one thinking that. Online the space gray looks darker than it actually is, when i went to the Apple Store for my Watch appt it looked lighter than online, but still darker than my iPhone. My theory behind the space gray option rather than slate that was introduced on the iPhone 5, is that the slate showed scratches very easily because of the silver underneath of the slate coating. If you see a space gray iPhone scratched it isn’t as noticeable because at certain angles the space gray looks silver.
      I do think that Apples new 7000 series aluminum is a lot better at holding paint than the aluminum used on the current iPhone is. That is just my opinion, i’m not a materials scientist so i’m not too sure if i’m correct, but it only make sense why the space gray Apple Watch looks darker than current space gray iPhones.

  3. Jasper Yeung - 9 years ago

    ha then the iPhone won’t bend, and those android fan boy have one less point to criticise

  4. Scott (@ScooterComputer) - 9 years ago

    USB Type-C connector “hole” in the bottom/left of the case. Would make sense for a Surface/Pro style dock interface (could charge, drive external monitor, etc). Landscape is much more “normal” for computer use, Portrait for tablet use.

  5. dksmidtx - 9 years ago

    I assume that Type C is too thick for an iPhone – it would be glorious to have the same charge/data cable for all Apple devices!

  6. MaRico NoHands Spikes - 9 years ago

    I believe this ‘alledged’ iPad would have to use USB Type-C for charging, like new MacBook, just because of the power it needs, Lighting Cable might not cut it in volt/watt output

  7. I hope it runs the full Adobe suite properly.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.