Sam Oliver
Monday's report from the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (via Google Translate) is the third in five days to claim that Apple is planning to release a so-called "iPad mini" in the third quarter of this year. On Saturday, a leaked document from Samsung Securities indicated Apple planned to release a "new 7-inch product" later this year.
And last week, DigiTimes also claimed that Apple will begin production of a 7.85-inch iPad in the third quarter of 2012. It was said the device could be priced between $249 and $299.
Monday's report sided with
LG is expected to provide Apple with between 70 and 75 percent of the displays for the rumored "iPad mini," while AUO will supply the remaining components. Backlights for the alleged device will be supplied by Radiant and Forhouse, the report said.
Finally, the Chinese newspaper also claimed that production of the 7.85-inch iPad will be handled by Pegatron Technology. That would be a shift for Apple, as most of its devices, including most iPads, are currently assembled at Foxconn, but Apple has recently come under fire for its partnership with the company.
While most claims of a smaller iPad model have come out of the Far East, last month The Wall Street Journal joined the fray and reported that Apple was testing a new iPad with an 8-inch screen, smaller than the 9.7-inch display currently found on Apple's touchscreen tablet. The smaller device is rumored to have a screen resolution similar to the current iPad 2.
Andrew Orr
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Chip Loder
Wesley Hilliard
Marko Zivkovic
88 Comments
Well, that rumor's perfectly believable -- can't think of more than a million reasons why Apple would flee China as a production center, if they were to drop Foxconn. And who better to predict such trends than a Chinese publication that's knee-deep in the Chinese business world?
Thanks though for clearing up where the small-screen rumor was coming from -- could someone please start a rumor about the "iPhab"? I need a few more laughs than the Chinese industrial complex can afford
I'd love to have an iPad, but I've already got a sweet Macbook Air so it's hard to justify. Show me a $300 iPad and I'm sold.
And before anyone directs me to the refurb page, no, I'm not going to buy an old iPad 1 or 2.
Let's assume this smaller ipad is "true"...How can Apple possibly price this thing so it doesn't compete with ipod Touch and used market iPads 1-2???
ipod touch = $199~
used ipads = $300~
NEW ipad = $500~
Anyone else see a problem here with this small ipad? Would some people want 7-in ipads? Sure! SOME!!! It's the same group of people claiming Amazon Fire is a contender to iPad a few months ago. Look at where Amazon is at now? Still only attracting mostly ebook-focus readers... No doubt, ebooks are hot and bring a lot of money to the table, but I don't think Steve Jobs vision starts or ends with ebooks. Jobs vision with post-PC tablets is meant to become our daily multi-purpose tool...form-factor and design is critical to making this tool functional and not just look good in your hands.... and if true, this smaller ipad would be post Steve Jobs biggest mistake by his core group of executives.
Well, that rumor's perfectly believable -- can't think of more than a million reasons why Apple would flee China as a production center, if they were to drop Foxconn. And who better to predict such trends than a Chinese publication that's knee-deep in the Chinese business world?
Doesn't Pegatron also manufacture in China? I think this has more to do with not putting too much of your manufacturing in the hands of one company (Foxconn), which also helps to stimulate a little price competition between suppliers. I've noticed over the past few years that supply chain leaks in the end tend to be the most reliable source of future product information.
I've no idea why 7.85". Seems too close to the current 9.7" iPad but I'm sure there is a reason. Maybe instead of a genuine tweener device this is just a slightly smaller iPad with a lower price to compete with the Kindle. Same principle as the they do with the MacBooks - 13" versus 15", etc.
Apple has said multiple times that a 7-inch screen is too small for tablet apps.
If Apple is indeed shopping around for 7.85" screens, it could be a completely new product. What if the Apple TV will come with a 7" touchscreen remote control ?