The iPad mini is most certainly far from a perfect device. The lack of a Retina display and high cost have both been pointed out as glaring issues with the scaled-down Cupertino slate, yet one aspect that doesn’t seem to have divided opinion is the design and form factor of the device. Doubtlessly, it’s beautiful to hold and use, and for the last few months, it has been reported that the full-sized iPad may be treated to similar design traits. Following on from the supposed Retina iPad mini case leaks, the first cases of a redesigned iPad 5 have leaked via case maker MiniSuit, which seem to further substantiate the notion of the iPad mini and regular iPad adopting a uniform look moving forward.
Of course, case leaks have a tendency to be hit-and-miss, so it is vitally important not to get too ahead of ourselves at this stage. However, the look and feel of the iPad mini is streets ahead of the rather bloated, and increasingly dated form factor of the larger iPad, so it would make a great deal of sense for Apple to update the look.
The leaked iPad 5 case is slimmer than that of the iPad 4, and thus as well as looking as though it would house a design reflective of the iPad mini, would also suggest Apple’s design team has successfully thinned out a tablet which, at fourth-gen, is thicker and heavier than the second-gen.
At the back of the case, it looks as though there’s an extra hole for the microphone. At present, the mic sits atop the device, but it looks as though the Cupertino will be relocating it with the next generation.
The sources at MiniSuit believes the redesigned iPad 5 will drop in June. If true, we’ll almost certainly see an announcement at this year’s WWDC, but conflicting reports have pointed to a release date of around October.
As a fan of the iPad mini’s design but just, well, not the iPad mini, I would love to see the full-sized version squeezed into a more svelte, aesthetically-pleasing package.
Thoughts?
(Source: Steven W of MiniSuit.com)
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