With Apple sending out invites for a Sept. 12 event in San Francisco, it seems that the rumors of an upcoming iPhone 5 iPad Mini launch may hold true. Multiple reports have pointed to an October launch for the iPad Mini and indicated a smaller 7.85-inch screen. Recently, images of the iPad Mini's die cast have surfaced, courtesy Giga.de, and point to a redesigned dock connector and slimmer design.

"At last week's IFA electronics show in Berlin, Giga.de managed to snap a gallery of photos of what appears to be an iPad mini die cast mold," stated the BGR report. The images point to a redesigned dock connector and slimmer design.

Rumors and leaks have suggested that the iPad Mini's design will be more along the lines of the iPhone rather than the iPad. The leaked images of the alleged mold seem to corroborate many of the circulating rumors, including smaller side bezels and a revamped dock connector.

"Based on the reference mold, the iPad mini should be just a hair thinner than the iPhone 4S and should resemble a large iPod touch. Clear cut-outs for a front-facing FaceTime camera, smaller dock connector port and more prominently placed speakers are also visible," declared BGR.

The purported images show a wafer thin iPad Mini, which looks considerably slimmer than the iPhone 4S in the side-by-side comparison. iPhone 4S's antenna can be seen extending over the iPad Mini, indicating its leaner measurements. The speakers, too, look like they have benefited from redesigning.

Apple's iPad Mini is rumored to sport a 7.85-inch IPS display with 1024x768 resolution and is expected to make its debut in October, capitalizing on the pre-holiday season sales.