We’ve known for a long, long time that the fifth-generation iPad would borrow the iPad mini’s design cues and have thinner bezels on the side for a more streamlined form factor. Heck, iLounge’s Jeremy Horowitz said as much as early as January of this year, claiming that the iPad 5 would be “a lot smaller than one would guess is possible” with “virtually no left or right bezels.”
For months now, we’ve seen parts leak out of Asia confirming that report, including cases, rear shells, and more. Today, we have leaked images of the front panel and digitizer. And yup! Look, Ma! No bezels.
The Australian Mac repair site Macfixit have posted a number of pictures of the new panel, along with the following notes:
– The display area is the same as the iPad Retina.
– The edges of the frame are narrower using the same style as the iPad mini.
– The ITO (Indium tin oxide) is the same as the iPad mini.
– There is now 2 connectors instead of 1.
– The connectors have been changed from FFC (Flat Flexible Cable, like the iPad 2/3/4) to FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits, like the iPhone 4/5).
That’s an interesting detail about the two connectors instead of one. I wonder what that could mean. There’s been a lot of talk about how Apple will implement the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S, with some reports indicating it will happen by placing your finger against the screen. Could the iPad 5 be getting the same ability? Is the extra connector to handle that?
Source: MacFixit
