iPad 3? iPad 2S? Mysterious iPad Aluminum Case Surfaces

February 13th, 2012 by: Paul Strauss

The rumor mills have been flying that the iPad 3 is in the works and set for a reveal sometime this March. Now, some pictures and video have surfaced of a new aluminum case that looks suspiciously Apple-like, but definitely different from the iPad 2.

ipad3 case 1

The guys over at Macotakara[JP] and iLab Factory[JP] have posted images of a new aluminum case which appears to have a slightly different depth for its LCD panel, adding 1mm to the thickness of the back panel, but making adjustments for a slightly thinner LCD panel – reportedly this 2048×1536 panel from Sharp – which fits into the case perfectly. The images do nothing to confirm rumors of a Retina Display, but the changes to the case depth indicate there is clearly a change coming to the display panel itself.

ipad3 case 1a

In addition, it looks like the camera opening has changed, possibly to support a new, higher quality (and possibly wide-screen) camera.

ipad3 case 4

It also looks like refinements have been made to the dock connector, improving its rigidity – which should make it less likely that you’ll accidentally yank out the dock connector.

ipad3 case 2

So are these images of parts from the actual iPad 3? Will there be an iPad 2S first, with minor refinements to the iPad 2? Or is this just some knock-off clone being made in China? Only time will tell.