Vietnamese blog Tinhte.vn has pictures claiming to show the design of the new iPad Air, likely a dummy unit which acts as a reasonable portrayal of the device’s characteristics. Shown in white, the device is reportedley only 7 mm thin. This is almost the same depth as Apple’s latest iPhones, which measure 6.9 mm and 7.1 mm thin. As such, it also features the same recessed volume button style as the iPhone 6.
The leaks show the next generation iPad to be mostly identical to the current iPad Air, but with some notable changes. Aside from thinness, the iPad now features a ‘glass’ (likely sapphire) Touch ID home button to match previous rumors. Interestingly, the side shots of the device appear to lack a mute switch.
The blog speculates this was for space-saving reasons, meaning the mute switch (which can also be a rotation lock) was sacrificed in order for Apple to attain the desired thinness. Video below.
It isn’t clear what stage of development this ‘iPad Air 2’ is from. From the pictures, it doesn’t seem like a mere dummy unit, but the poor finish on the back side appears to suggest this is somewhat of a prototype and not ‘final’ hardware. However, the video almost certainly depicts a dummy unit, which may offer an alternative explanation for the lack of mute switch (simply incomplete dummy).
Bloomberg has previously reported that the new iPad will feature an anti-reflective screen. The Vietnamese blog could not turn the device on, so this claim from the rumor mill could not be corroborated. It is also expected that Apple will release a version of the new iPad Air in gold.
Apple will announce the new iPad by the end of the year. More specifically, it is highly likely to be announced at an event on October 16th alongside Yosemite release and new Retina iMacs.
Update: Video of the dummy in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsGWr0ZFFVU
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Looks like an another dummy.
Inc someone sitting on their iPad – #bendgate2round2
Interesting, I’d be ok with losing the mute switch, I never use it, since the iPad has a handy function that lets you hold down the volume down button to quickly mute.
I’ve used it a lot since day one but for rotation lock. It’s extremely useful on a tablet.
That’s what I don’t get. Absolutely non one that I know uses that switch for mute, as the volume buttons work fine for that. People use it for the rotation lock and it’s absolutely essential.
Literally the most annoying thing about iPads is the way they the screen rotates around exactly when you don’t want it to. Without the rotation lock using an iPad would be an exercise in frustration.
Even if they put a setting for the rotation lock in, do you really want to dig down into several layers of system settings every single time you use your iPad? I don’t get this decision at all.
Yeah me to, especially when reading in bed
The orientation lock toggle is part of the control center
Control Center > Rotation Lock.
That’s not hard. Doesn’t justify a dedicated hardware button.
“Even if they put a setting for the rotation lock in, do you really want to dig down into several layers of system settings every single time you use your iPad? I don’t get this decision at all.”
Uh, have you even used an iPad with software newer than 2 yrs old? It takes a swipe and a tap to turn rotation lock on/off, from wherever you are, even within an app. I completely agree with this decision. The switch can go, its existence is not justified anymore. The less parts that move, the better.
On the side shot it shows a small circular cut out next to the volume buttons. Isn’t that where the mute switch would go? Otherwise what is that hole for?
That little hole is too small for the mute switch. It could be the noise canceling hole or the second microphone. The mute function can be activated using the press and hold volume button. The rotation lock can be activated with the swipe up function, so foregoing the mute switch altogether is a good idea.
Actually that little hole is how those switches start before they are machained. It could be the usual positioning hole during manufacturing process.
Same old camera since it doesn’t stick out on this one.
I don’t understand the “thin” thing with Apple; thin directly impacts battery, and I believe most users prefer battery life over a millimeter. The other thing the drive to thinness seems to do is paint Apple into a corner, much as they did between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 where they ended up having to go thicker to fit the Retina screen right after they made such a big deal of going thinner. Again, minor changes to the chassis, I believe, are less noticed and less appreciated (seen by consumers as necessary) than battery life. Keep a bit of bulk, give me battery life.
But as long as these things have at least 2GB of RAM, I won’t care. They just GOTTA have 2GB of RAM…
I wasn’t aware that iPads suffered from poor battery life.
They don’t, but he’s thinking they will if keeps going thinner.
Agreed. Would rather prefer the thickness or thinness that the devices have now and come with a good battery life. That’s where it can win competitors.
First, “thin” is easier to carry, hold, and store. If you put a case on your iPad, thin is helpful. And thin doesn’t really significantly reduce battery size – just see how the MW capacity and battery life of all these devices have increased as the devices get smaller.
In terms of RAM size – 2 GB of RAM is a LOT of RAM, and iOS is very efficient given the fact that there is a standard OS-level app runtime engine. This is not a PC or a Mac where there are multiple distinct and redundant heavy weight runtime engines. In fact, if you look at the free unallocated RAM during runtime of any iOS device, you’ll quickly see that the pressure on memory allocation is very, very low. Memory management in iOS is nothing short of the best in the business.
All this is proven out by real-world benchmarks, where iOS simply outperforms all other handheld OSs regardless of their RAM and Core count.
@standardpull: You’re mixing things up. iOS outperforms the other handheld OSs but system RAM is not a part of that. The RAM talked about here is that which would allow more programs to be held in memory. Also, the way multi-tasking works on iOS is different and basically requires that RAM.
The current RAM makes the iPad difficult to use as a “real” computer. For instance if you are working on large documents and switching between programs. If you are just doing one thing at a time or playing games etc. there isn’t a problem. If like me you use the iPad for real work, there is a BIG problem.
The iPads absolutely could benefit a LOT from 2GB or RAM versus the current 1GB.
A 1 mm thicker battery will have more capacity, it’s straight up physics.
I for one welcome a thinner (lighter) iPad, but it would be nice to have a longer battery life as well. It looks like Apple figures as long as it lasts for a day that’s good enough, since a day and half isn’t necessarily any less awkward to charge. Maybe so, but at some point it would be nice to see a thicker tablet with a one week battery life (obviously we have a long ways to go).
Why to continue iOs on an iPad with 2Go of Ram?
Windows 8.1 and 10, work very well with 2Go Ram….
(Tested on Asus T100 2013)
iPads especially iPad Airs have amazing battery life, they will last the whole day easily and still have 40-50% left in them
Honestly, with the claimed 50% in power efficiency and an improved IGZO display putting 2gb of ram and making the device thinner isn’t going to drastically reduce battery life…if anything it will be the same or even an hour more with a better and faster experience overall.I say wait and see :)
Ouch, this is another stake in the heart of Samsung’s handheld business. Samsung just can’t catch a break with it being continually caught flatfooted in all segments of the handheld business. Couple that with famous lack of Samsung’s quality and it seems like Samsung’s next best move is to retract from the handheld device market and focus on its heavy equipment businesses.
So the big question is what does this mean for the market? With Samsung shrinking faster than the icecaps, it seems that Motorola may emerge as the #2 player, which is shocking considering their fall from grace 10 years ago. But Motorola is certainly deserving given their resurgence of innovation that far exceeds Samsung during its best days. But is Motorola the same player as it once was? Can they keep their pipeline full and their eye continually on the prize? Do they have leadership that can lead the troops?
Blackberry, Nokia, and Samsung have all fallen due to Apple’s incredible set of product successes. Motorola? You’re up again! You have a year to make a new mark.
We will never let anyone get ahead of Apple Inc.
Get a life Mr. Crook. Leave Samsung and become a road sweeper.
We don’t know enough about this iPad to declare it a “stake in Samsung’s heart”. It’s not likely to have a better display than Samsung’s tablets, and it will undoubtedly have less RAM. Samsung’s tablets will continue to be a bit cheaper, yet iPads have better build quality.
Android L will also be a deciding factor, and we still know very little about it. If it closes the gap with iOS in performance and stability, expect iOS to lose market share at an accellerated pace.
Yeah, is so afraid!! ;-)
Seems likely this will be the design of the iPad. However, I can’t help but hope the mute switch is there in the final model. In terms of saving space, Apple could switch to an iPhone 6 style toggle rather than the older toggle found on iPad. It’s really a much easier way to quickly change volume settings or lock/unlock the rotation.
For rotation it’s a no brainer to keep it there. Most people I know use it for that and I use it regularly for that reason. A software function for this would turn the flick of a switch into a four step process: wake display > slide up > press switch > slide down. A hardware switch for this function is better design and I see them keeping it in the retail version.
Yeah I noticed that milling hole in one of the pictures so hopefully they’ll ship it with the switch still there.
Millions will be sold, hundreds will be bent for millions of YouTube views, and the world will just keep on turning.
There is actually a hole right above the volume buttons just like it was for the iPhone 5c and other iPhones when it comes to finding where to drill the holes. I say that hole is the furthest point to the top of the device of which the ‘mute/orientation switch’ will be drilled from.
Assumption: This was either a dummy model or taken off the assembly line just before the ‘mute/orientation switch’ was cut.
Great to see Touch ID though but won’t get me to upgrade from my iPad Air 64GB Space Grey. I hope they do a lot of bonus software features for the iPad Air like Split Screen Multitasking as part of an iOS 8.1 or iOS 8.2 update.
Ah split screen MT is a bit of a gimmick. If you’re serious about MT just get a MacBook Air.
You know, Apple might have to “announce” their future products way in advance like they did with the Apple Watch so that we can actually be surprised by it and not have leaks like these spoiling all the fun!
That only happens we new product categories.
I can clearly see onther major design change: chamfered edges are replaced with the new continuous rounded edge design found on the iPhone 6. Although not as essential for swiping ergonomics, it’s nice to see consistency especially since these rounded corners don’t hurt on the iPad.
Actually the chamfered edges are still there, and the side bezels look either the same or even wider. So, they didn’t even do that.
I was going to buy a new one this year if they rounded it off like the new iPhone just because I think it would be nicer in the hand. Now I won’t be buying one at all. Other than TouchID (a minor plus), and the removal of the rotation lock (a HUGE minus), it’s the same model as this years.
I looked at the images a bit closer and indeed, it’s still the chamfered edges design. I think it works though, and it looks better than the new rounded design. But this iPad must be a huge improvement over the first Air for 3 reasons.
1. Screen consistency with other apple products. They were all retina, calibrated to the sRGB color profile, IPS, and laminated to the glass cover except the iPad Air wasn’t laminated and looked recessed. Solved.
2. The A8 chip could bring significantly better battery life, especially since it doesn’t have to power bigger-than-previous-generation displays like on the iPhone 6.
3. Touch ID would be great to have on the iPad. Especially if it enables multi-user profiles.
I don’t see why the rotation lock removal will be a huge minus. Control center handles this, along with many other quick settings, perfectly. And I don’t think removing it is a design decision because of the thinness. The iPhone 6 is thinner and still has a hw toggle.
@charil, why change your tune on the rounded v chamfered so quickly? And my guess is the rotation lock hardware switch will stay where it is.
…but does it bend?
I wonder what resolution they have chosen…
I’m hoping for a true physical 3x resolution: 2304 x 3072, which works out to 396 ppi, roughly the same as the 6+. More likely, they increase physical resolution but not quite to the physical 3x res, so we get another “desktop scaler” to downscale virtual res to display res.
If the iPad does use downscaling similar to the 6+ I don’t see how an A8 handles it. An A8X with more GPU cores may be needed.
mute button is a must!
This is bullshit. What a horrible turn of events. I’m an iPad enthusiast (practically an addict) and there is no way I would buy this piece of sh*t.
I’m thinking this has to be fake. The “mute” switch is actually used by most folks as the rotation switch and as such is an invaluable part of the device, used every minute of every day, and it makes no f*cking sense at all to remove it.
For starters, the current “mute” switch is the same size as the volume buttons and so doesn’t actually need to be removed to make the device thinner. Secondly, you could make the device literally three millimetres thinner without getting in the way of the current “mute” switch. Here they’ve only taken off .5 mm and yet they removed the switch?
“used every minute of every day” – even when you shower, sleep, etc.?
Chill out, dude. It’s probably just a pilot hole for machining the mute switch opening.
I very much agree on the need for a rotation lock switch. My Nexus 7 lacks one and it seems like I’m fussing with menus all the time to switch the rotation lock.
I think it’s a fake. Look at how “sparkly” the surface is, that is not an Apple product.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if the mute switch was removed. You don’t need it anymore, here’s why:
1) You can mute the device with volume down, as always, just hold for a second.
2) You can lock rotation with control center now, which can be accessed from anywhere at anytime including the lock screen.
3) Removing the switch saves them money (and it’s one less physical thing that can break) so they can make more profit to keep the greedy barbarians on fucking Wall Street happy (otherwise they’ll punish Apple and hurt the stock if Apple doesn’t post Earth shattering record breaking profits every quarter).
I was fine with the Air’s thinness, but on the plus side this new one will be lighter
If a new Mac Mini is not released, I am going to start smashing things up. My resolve to do this has never been stronger, and I will not be denied a new Mac Mini.
Apple; release a new Mini on the16th October; if you don’t, I will start destroying all of my property; do not deny me a more powerful Mini.
I am from Russia: do not deny a Russian man of honor more powerful computing
Nice to know there is at least one “man of honour” in Russia.
Apple CEO Tim Cook slain in honor killing, more news at 11!
You make fun of a russian man of honor at your peril. I am current making Star Trek model kit. When I am finish, my feeling are (as usual) I will speak to you most harshly
FAKE
They removed the Mute/Rotation lock switch because ITS RIGHT THERE IN QUICK SETTINGS.
its NOT hidden or hard to get to. Locking it MIGHT take 1.1 seconds longer than the old way….Geez people.
Bet they don’t remove the hardware switch. 1 step is better than 4.
Queue the Fandroid at Unboxed Therapy to try and bend the new iPad.
Can’t understand this thinness obsession.
I’d sooner have a bit more battery life, the mute switch (I DO use it, coming in and out of meetings) and …
… a device that doesn’t bend like a banana.
Soon as I get it, it’s going in a case. Bye bye thinness.
I think it’s just a sales/image gimmick rather than a useful feature.
Thinness doesn’t hurt, it makes the device more ergonomic. Even when you put a case on it, the iPad + case thickness is still down. But making it lighter is where the real benefit lies. A lighter iPad is easier to cary, feels much better when not resting on a table and reduces the impact when you accidentally drop it.
If you’re noticing less than a millimeter of extra thinness in your hand while holding an iPad, then you must be an Oompa Loompa. On the other hand (punnn), 0.5mm x 185mm x 125mm is not an insignificant amount of battery chemistry! [I’m guesstimating the size of the iPad Air dual-cell battery from iFixit teardowns vs iPad published specs.] (And keep in mind that the iPad Air dropped battery capacity from the iPad 4 by about 30%.)
The Air may have dropped in capacity but hasn’t dropped in battery life. You do realize this 0.5mm on the next gen iPads is shaved off the display, not the battery. I really believe battery life should be found in software, soc and display efficiency. Makes the devices more ergonomic, more portable and usable, and allows for faster charging.
I’ll bet you $1million that it is BENDABLE.
Yes Bendjamin.
I didn’t change your tune on rounded v chamfered. I said I prefer the ergonomics of rounded specifically on the iPhone and appreciate consistency, but I prefer the chamfered design from an aesthetics point of view.