Apple iPad Air 2 Exposed In Parts Leak, A8X Processor, Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

Apple has been inviting members of the media to a press event scheduled for Thursday, October 16, and it's widely believed we'll see the unveiling of a new iPad Air model, among other items. With just days to go before the event, photos of leaked second generation iPad Air (or iPad mini) parts are making the rounds on the web, potentially giving us an early look at what Apple has in store.

The photos come from Taiwanese website Apple.club.tw. Different components are shown, including the front panel, which sports a Touch ID fingerprint reader with a gold capacitive ring around it. Not only does this suggest that a Touch ID upgrade is imminent, it also hints at there being a gold colorediPad option, as was previously rumored.

What isn't as clear is if the parts shown are bound for a second generation iPad Air model or another iPad mini tablet, or perhaps both. Either way, there doesn't seem to be any surprises among the leaked parts -- all of them have been rumored or speculated in the past, including the custom A8X chip.

One of the photos shows what's supposed to be an iPad logic board with the A8X chip nestled inside. According to AppleInsider, the overall layout is consistent with prior iPad models. If true, this indicates that Apple is interested in maintaining a performance gap between the latest iPhone and iPad models rather than have both be powered by the same SoC.