Apple leaks images of iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

The normally secretive Apple appears to have accidentally upstaged itself by posting photos of two new iPad models -- the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 -- the day before they were scheduled to be unveiled to the world.

The new iPads are expected to make their official debut at Apple's launch event Thursday in Cupertino, California. But on Wednesday, the the photos somehow ended up on the iTunes store prematurely.

Images of the new iPads were revealed in the iOS 8.1 iPad user guide within iBooks, according to a report on 9to5mac.com. Apple removed the page about an hour later, 9to5mac reported.

The screenshots suggest that the new iPads will look similar to their predecessors. The main difference appears to be the addition of the Apple "Touch ID" fingerprint scanner to both devices, and the addition of Burst Mode for the camera, which lets users take several photos in quick succession on the iPad Air 2.

In addition to new iPads, Apple is also expected to unveil new Mac computers at the product event on Thursday. You can follow CNET's live blog of the Apple event here beginning Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific.