14 DAY TRIAL // The second-generation iPad Air that we talked about yesterday appears to be a reality. A massive leak out of Vietnam hits all the right spots regarding the rumored redesign, and we’re here to share these findings with you.
The new iPad is reportedly launching next week, presumably on October 16, at Apple’s second scheduled event for this fall.
Ultra-slim enclosure
According to a recent leak, the company plans to market its next iPad as the thinnest tablet in the word, probably using a more poetic approach. Now tinhte.vn is flashing photos of the thing in all its glory. The leak seems legitimate from where we stand.
The images show an insanely thin iPad Air 2 featuring recessed buttons, a departure from the current design sporting buttons that bulge out of the chassis. The overall form factor and look remain unchanged. The device is said to measure just 7 millimeters (0.27 inches) in depth.
Changed parts
In addition to the recessed volume and power buttons, the iPad Air 2 has a few more distinct alterations to its design. Among those are a different camera + mic array and a single row of holes per each speaker grill. The holes are bigger, while their design closely resembles that of the grills found on the iPhone 6.
One thing that Apple hasn’t adopted from the iPhone in terms of design is the display curvature around the edges. It seems the iPad will remain a bit more edgy from this perspective. Basically there are almost no changes on the front of the device, as far as we can tell from these pictures.
Touch ID integration
Another addition that was previously rumored to be part of the iPad Air 2 is the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which doubles as the tablet’s Home button. Cupertino wants the Apple Pay feature to be part of the iPad range of tablets as well, so the sensor not only works for unlocking the device and making App Store purchases, but also for authorizing transactions for purchases made using Apple Pay.
Leaked iPad seems unfinished
The photographed device appears legitimate, as we stressed a few paragraphs above. That being said, the tablet doesn’t seem to have received the typical finishing touches that make an Apple device stand out. The coloring is strange (a bit too silvery, but maybe we can pin that on the lighting), and it hasn’t been powered on.
There’s no reason not to power it on (for obvious leak-centric reasons) unless it doesn’t have the necessary internals.
