More iPad Mini photos leak as reveal date pinned on October 17

It’s coming. More photos of the supposed iPad Mini have leaked on to the internet, just days after a separate report indicated the device would be revealed on October 17.

The photos follow months of rumours the tech giant would move into the crowded seven-inch tablet space, even though late founder Steve Jobs said the company wouldn’t consider making a smaller version of the popular iPad.

The new pictures come via UkranianiPhone.com, and show a smaller form iPad with a new lightning connector, a nano-SIM tray and a headphone connector on the top of the device.

This particular leak is worth mentioning because in the lead-up to the release, many of the supposed leaks haven’t been leaks at all, but rather mock-ups of what the device may look like. These pictures suggest those mock-ups may have been quite accurate.

The pictures also come just days after Fortune suggested that, according to a well-connected investor, Apple would debut the new device on October 17, with invitations to be sent out to the press on October 10.

The release of a smaller iPad would create a significant amount of competition for the Christmas season, especially if Apple is controlling both price points and form factors in the tablet market. The leading tablet, the Google Nexus, could be tipped into second place.

Although Steve Jobs originally said in 2011 the company wouldn’t move into the seven-inch category, more rumours have suggested the company will do exactly that.

Earlier this year, both Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported the device had gone into production.