iPad Mini Release Date Set for October
Though Apple plans to launch the next iPhone on September 12, the smaller 7.85″ iPad “mini” will be released later at an event in October, according to a new report from AllThingsD.
Only after the next-generation iPhone is out the door and on sale will Apple announce the smaller iPad it’s been working on. That device, which is expected to have a display of less than eight inches, will be uncrated at a second special event, which sources said is currently scheduled for October.
This confirms some speculation that has occurred about the timing of the next iPhone and iPad mini events, and AllThingsD suggests the two launches will be Apple’s biggest hardware announcements of the year.
AllThingsD is a sister publication to the Wall Street Journal and is generally viewed as a very reliable source of Apple rumors and leaks.
Little is known about the so-called “iPad Mini”, but piecing together rumors and some common sense suggests the following may be true about the hotly anticipated device:
- 7.85″ display running at 1024 x 768
- A5X CPU from current iPad 3
- Front and rear cameras
- 8GB base storage and up
- Weight of about half the current iPad 3
- Appearance to resemble a larger iPod touch with thin side bezels, similar to picture shown at top according to 9to5mac
- Ships with iOS 6, which is set for a “Fall” release
- $299 price point
All iPad models to date feature a 9.7″ display, and the smaller tablet space is currently dominated by the Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7 tablet.
I’m buying two for my kids for Christmas. I hate Apple iProducts myself, so I will stick with my Nexus7.
People buy apple product also for its huge software ecosystem. These things will see like hot cakes. when you have tipping point in market share, it’s extremely hard for others to catch up, but it’s also true that what goes up must come down, that is, if Apple screw up big time. This could also mean they need to have more openness (e.g. open it up for other people to live along side, instead of just using iTune for example). The desire for openness is what people want, and no company can hold it for long, so might as well be the first leader to win.
seems like it’s going to be a smaller version of the current iPad 2…
Stayed tuned for pix of life on Jupiter …
I already have an iPad mini. It is called an iPhone.
Too Expensive, should have been $249 for entry storage. They think they have it made with Jury award in Patients trial. iPhones and iPads will get more expensive
@DCH – who says that Apple won’t start at $249/£199 – these are only rumours after all!
For those that don’t get the point of the mini size, for me it makes sense for kids since the original is a little big and heavy for tiny hands and yes nowadays kids do need a tablet at a young age. It’s never too early to teach them about the electronics that will be an everyday part of their lives. It also works for adults that don’t have iPhones, it’s a perfect “in between”
I’m so excited for this! It means I get my iPad 3 back from my three year old! She got so used to the iPad 1 since she was a baby so she has no interest in kiddie touchpads now.
Lol!!!! I agree! My 2 year old son has take over!
Same here lol My 5 year old got upset when we got her the LeapPad for her birthday instead of an Ipad!!
Bummer. I was hoping for a price point of $199 or at most $249.
In for one! Can’t wait.
I don’t get it, iPad mini just doesn’t seem right. Curious how this will turn out..
Apple made it to compete with kindle fire, nexus 7, and Samsung Tab and take back some of the market share they lost to those 7″ tablets.