Kotaku is pointing to a report from NetEase, a Chinese website, who is claiming that Apple is planning to launch an “iPad mini” in Q3 of this year. The report gets oddly specific and claims that the device will launch with six million units on hand at a price of $249 to $299. Reportedly, this new smaller, iPad is a response from Apple to fight off Amazon’s Kindle Fire and forthcoming Widows 8 tablets.
This report ties back into recent claims from the ever-well-connected John Gruber of Daring Fireball that Apple does indeed have a 7.85-inch iPad in their labs. Remember, just because it’s in the lab doesn’t mean it is coming to market.
If I had to guess, something is brewing on the iPad front. Personally, I have no interest in a smaller iPad. I also believe a smaller iPad will blur the line between iPhones and iPod touches and iPads as we know them, and I don’t think this is necessarily a good thing. Perhaps I’m wrong, and time will ultimately tell what Apple is up to and whether the market will like it. They are facing fierce competition in this market, and may feel that they have to enter this segment of the market.
Image courtesy of MacRumors.
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TAGS: ipad mini, q3 2012
