Apple could, for the first time since launching touch-enabled devices, offer a device with a different screen size. That device will be an iPad, apparently: the "iPad Mini," if rumors are to be believed.
iMore report that the the iPad Mini is being targeted for an October 2012 release, alongside the iPhone 5, for a price between $200-$250.
"According to our sources, the reason for such aggressive pricing is to do to the tablet market what Apple did to the MP3 market in 2004 with the expansion of the iPod product line -- leave absolutely no space for its competitors," iMore reported. The new iPad retails for $499 with its smallest capacity - 16GB - rising to $829 with 64GB of storage and additional LTE support.
iMore's source didn't confirm the screen, but the site is estimating seven inches. The source added the iPad and iPad Mini will be identical, just scaled down from the former's 9.7-inch screen. If true, the 2048x1536 Retina display on the iPad Mini would have a pixel density of approximately 326 ppi - the same as the iPhone 4S. The current iPad has a 246 ppi display.
The price reduction will come alongside 8GB of internal storage, which could be restrictive for some users as the increased resolution in the new iPad means apps are becoming bigger. iMore also said the iPod is staying, despite potentially two iPads.
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs seemed negative towards 7-inch tablets, saying people didn't want to watch a movie on an iPod. Jobs also said developers would have to accommodate apps for the different screen size.
Competitors such as Amazon launched 7-inch tablets such as the Kindle Fire, which retails for $199 (though Amazon was reported to be making a loss, at least initially).
"While Amazon won't talk sales numbers ... to a certain segment of the market, cheap is what matters. Apple hasn't chosen to address the segment in desktop or laptop computers, or in iPhones, but they have in MP3 players and it sounds like they will again in tablets. And they'll do it in the same way - by being cheap and good. For large scale markets like education, a 7-inch, $200 to $250 iPad would be compelling," iMore added.
Apple also offers 16GB iPad 2 at price starting $399.
