The iPad 5 may not be official yet, but third-party accessory makers may be once again revealing design details ahead of the big unveiling.  

A lot of casing parts and case designs for the iPad 5 made the rounds over the past several months, painting an increasingly clearer picture of how the fifth-generation iPad may look. According to both front and rear casing parts and several case designs, the iPad 5 seems to be borrowing design cues from the iPad Mini, to sport a thinner and narrower look.

Several more cases just surfaced, again illustrating the concept of an iPad Mini-inspired design and offering more hints at what the next iPad may look like. The first round of images comes from case maker Tactus, which apparently has cases for both the current iPad and the next-generation model. A clear plastic mockup of the iPad 5 model shows how the full-sized tablet's features would resemble those of the iPad Mini.

Engadget, meanwhile, shared some images of another iPad 5 case leaked out of Hong Kong. Several comparison shots here show how the device size and various physical features differentiate the fourth- and fifth-generation iPad cases.

Alibaba.com is also oozing with cases for a redesigned, next-generation iPad, and nearly every case is for a slate that has a thinner bezel and slimmer profile. In other words, the iPad 5 will seemingly look like the iPad Mini, but in full size.

On the other hand, such parts and cases make it difficult to determine whether the new case leaks are based on some genuine specs that leaked out or just on rumored information. The newly leaked case designs appear to be consistent with previous leaks and rumors, and while nothing is official yet, they do paint a decent picture of Apple's potential plans.

Apple devices always get this same treatment: months before a major product makes its debut, accessory makers have a field day with making and leaking cases. Such cases usually end up rebadged and sold under a brand name. As this process takes plenty of time, the cases always pop up ahead of the device launch. Nearly every iGadget since the iPad 4 went through the same scenario, and every iPad leaked through case makers before Apple made it official.