Newly leaked iPad Air 2 cases hinted that the tablet will pack a new design and form factor.

A Taiwanese accessory maker posted new photos of the alleged iPad Air 2 cases on Weibo that were immediately picked up by French website Nowhereelse. If the images proved to be true, it is most likely that Apple will make slight changes on the outside appearance of its full-fledged tablet.

Based on the photos, there will be a new speaker grille with larger holes and a relocated rear microphone that is placed near the rear camera rather than in the middle. Moreover, the buttons were also sunken rather than the protruding ones.

This is not the first time that iPad Air 2 cases were leaked. Last week, a set of iPad Air 2 cases from a Chinese case manufacturer who published a string of photos of the cases hinted that the tablet will include the Touch ID fingerprint sensor that Apple previously packed in iPhone 5S. Moreover, the leaked cases hinted that the successor of iPad Air will be slightly thinner.

It was thought that the current model of the iPad Air will also include the fingerprint scanner since it was released later than the iPhone 5S, but that was not the case. The current iPad Air already boasts to be the one of the thinnest and lightest tablets on the market.

Rumors claimed that the iPad Air 2 will have the same 9.7 inches screen display with upgraded pixel resolution. Other rumored features of the iPad Air 2 are 64-bit processor, iOS 8, improved camera and a longer and more efficient battery.

iPad Air 2 release date is set to be in October just like last year and to be right in time for the gift giving season. However, Apple has not revealed any official information about the iPad Air 2 release date and its features.