Apple Readying Seven-Inch iPad Mini?

Rumours are circulating in China that Apple is preparing a smaller version of the iPad for release later this year.

According to Taiwanese media reports, the so-called ‘iPad mini’ is designed to combat the threat of Windows 8 tablets and regain market share ceded to rival platforms.

Stoking the fire

The device will supposedly cost between $249 (£156) and $299 (£187) and six million launch units are set to be produced by Pegatron and Foxconn, the controversial manufacturer which has been the source of a number of headaches for Apple in recent times.

The reported third quarter release date would be in line with previous rumours of a miniature iPad, which have continued to persist. It has been speculated that a seven-inch version of the market leading tablet would be released in time for the lucrative Christmas market.

While it currently leads the way in market share, the iPad is far from the cheapest tablet, as demonstrated by the price tag of its latest iteration, released only last month. A cheaper tablet would allow it to compete with more cost-effective rivals, including Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which has emerged as the most credible pretender to Apple’s throne.

The Kindle Fire boast a 1024 x 600 multi-touch display, 8GB of storage, a dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4 processor and access to Amazon’s catalogue of content. It retails just $199 (£126) despite costing $210 (£133) to produce and has ensured it has attracted considerable popularity, despite not being available in the UK.

The arrival of Windows 8 later this year could also pose a threat as Microsoft has pledged that the operating system will work equally well on both tablets and PCs. Improved power management capabilities and a tablet-friendly interface are some of the features which Microsoft hopes will give it an inroads into the tablet market, with recent bedfellow Nokia among those preparing tablets for the platform.

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