Photos of purported 'iPad Air 2' chassis detail minor design tweaks
A trio of photos out of China claim to show the rear shell of Apple's next-generation iPad Air, which looks to feature larger speaker holes, recessed volume control buttons and a repositioned rear-facing microphone.
Images of the supposed "iPad Air 2" chassis, uploaded to an account on China's Sina Weibo microblogging site this weekend and subsequently spotted by Nowhereelse.fr, detail a part consistent with a non-functional mockup first revealed in June.
Aside from internal structures like screw anchors and mounting brackets for what will assumedly be the tablet's camera, physical control and sensor component suite, the metal chassis is nearly identical to the dummy model.
Taking a closer look at the shell reveals the same external recess thought to house the iPad Air's usual pill-shaped volume buttons, making the controls nearly flush with the surrounding structure. Like the mockup, the purported part does not have space for a "mute/orientation lock" toggle switch as seen on current iPad and iPhone models. Instead, a small pinhole is located above the volume buttons, the purpose of which is not yet known.
Around back, the microphone porthole has been relocated to sit just beside the rear-facing camera, while the Apple logo cutout first seen with the iPad mini with Retina display makes a return. Currently, Apple fills the space with radio-transparent material to ensure on-board communications hardware can suitably transmit and receive Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS and other signals.
The final design tweak appears to be larger speaker holes arranged in a single row flanking a central Lightning connector port, unlike the current two-row grille design seen on current iPads.
While not much is known about the next-generation iPad Air, many expect the forthcoming tablet to come with a faster "A8" processor, minor performance increases and the inclusion of Touch ID fingerprint scanning. In April, a batch of photos suggested the future device will feature a bonded display like existing iPhone products, though the claim has gone unsubstantiated.
Images of the supposed "iPad Air 2" chassis, uploaded to an account on China's Sina Weibo microblogging site this weekend and subsequently spotted by Nowhereelse.fr, detail a part consistent with a non-functional mockup first revealed in June.
Aside from internal structures like screw anchors and mounting brackets for what will assumedly be the tablet's camera, physical control and sensor component suite, the metal chassis is nearly identical to the dummy model.
Taking a closer look at the shell reveals the same external recess thought to house the iPad Air's usual pill-shaped volume buttons, making the controls nearly flush with the surrounding structure. Like the mockup, the purported part does not have space for a "mute/orientation lock" toggle switch as seen on current iPad and iPhone models. Instead, a small pinhole is located above the volume buttons, the purpose of which is not yet known.
Around back, the microphone porthole has been relocated to sit just beside the rear-facing camera, while the Apple logo cutout first seen with the iPad mini with Retina display makes a return. Currently, Apple fills the space with radio-transparent material to ensure on-board communications hardware can suitably transmit and receive Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS and other signals.
The final design tweak appears to be larger speaker holes arranged in a single row flanking a central Lightning connector port, unlike the current two-row grille design seen on current iPads.
While not much is known about the next-generation iPad Air, many expect the forthcoming tablet to come with a faster "A8" processor, minor performance increases and the inclusion of Touch ID fingerprint scanning. In April, a batch of photos suggested the future device will feature a bonded display like existing iPhone products, though the claim has gone unsubstantiated.
Comments
That definitely looks authentic and larger than the current iPad Air display.
To me, the third pic makes it look more like a Mini.
I agree that the third pic does look closer to the iPad mini's size. If I then hone in on the fingertips on the first pic I could see how that could also be an iPad mini even thought the forearm area makes it look like it's even larger than the iPad Air, to me.
I agree that the third pic does look closer to the iPad mini's size. If I then hone in on the fingertips on the first pic I could see how that could also be an iPad mini even thought the forearm area makes it look like it's even larger than the iPad Air, to me.
Agreed. The first pic makes it look huge.
Curious what bigger holes means- or what the advantage would be.
I don't think the sound on the iPad Air is lacking, but I'm all for higher quality sound when possible. The air def. Made a decent jump in sound quality vs the iPad 4- mainly due to the speaker location.
Curious what bigger holes means- or what the advantage would be.
Well, the primary advantage would be letting more sound pass through. Don't know of any other advantages; we haven't seen speaker grilles used for anything else in other iDevices.
Boring !!!!
Another dull release, seriously 2014 is a really dull year.
I don't think the sound on the iPad Air is lacking, but I'm all for higher quality sound when possible. The air def. Made a decent jump in sound quality vs the iPad 4- mainly due to the speaker location.
Curious what bigger holes means- or what the advantage would be.
Couldn't agree more about the improved sound. I have a lot of trouble sleeping, and basically need some music to help me fall asleep. I just put on some Diana Krall or something similar on my Air, and the sound is actually fairly impressive considering.
That's not a mini, That's the new 5.5 iphone 6 :j>
LOL! Nice
The larger holes will allow whole notes and especially dotted notes to get out of the enclosure easier. It should allow bridged note to escape too without having the bridge getting broken. The net effect will be butter smooth sound quality.
You really should consider changing your user name to "Debbie Downer."
Sit up. Ergonomically, that is the worst position to sit while reading. I've never heard a mechanic complain being on a dolly, under the car, but I can always count on people complaining about 1lb while reading.
How can you tell? It’s China: small people, small hands.
Just shut up.
Yawn - let me know when I can read an iBook on a beach.