Alleged leaked images of the iPad Mini appear on Twitter

Some very convincing images of the mythical iPad Mini have appeared online via Twitter and Instagram, showing the device’s size in comparison with the third-generation iPad and the new iPhone 5.

Twitter user Sonny Dickson, a researcher for 9to5Mac based in Australia has posted a number of images to his account of a device that looks to be an iPad Mini – or, at least, the shell of one.

None of the images show a front view of the device display, but the outer casing and the rear of the device is clearly shown to have a smaller Lightning dock connector, dual speakers at the base and a storage capacity of 32GB marked on the back.

^{Image via sonnydickson on Instagram}

The unveiling of a smaller iPad is expected next week, though everything is speculative at this point, having received no confirmation from Apple.

^{Image via Sonny Dickson on Twitter}

Reading Dickson’s Twitter account today indicates that this stunt has been part of a drive to reach 5,000 followers (a number he has now surpassed). Whether the images are genuine or faked in order to gain popularity remains to be seen. Perhaps Apple will clear things up for us next week.

^{Image via Sonny Dickson on Twitter}