WSJ: The iPad Mini Is Coming, Will Enter Production In September

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What the iPad mini may look like up against its siblings.
What the iPad mini may look like up against its siblings.

Following yesterday’s report from Bloomberg that revealed Apple plans to release the long-awaited iPad mini this September, a new report from The Wall Street Journal has this morning added even further credence to those claims.

According to “people familiar with the matter,” Apple’s suppliers are preparing for mass production of a new iPad with a display smaller than 8 inches, which is expected to begin in September.

“A launch for the device is near,” WSJ’s sources claim, and with mass production reportedly set to begin this September, recent rumors of an October launch are looking increasingly likely.

Apple Inc.’s AAPL +1.16% component suppliers in Asia are preparing for mass production in September of a tablet computer with a smaller screen than the iPad, people familiar with the situation said, suggesting a launch for the device is near.

Two of the people said that the tablet’s screen will likely be smaller than eight inches.

LG Display and AU Optronics has reportedly been chosen to supply the smaller displays for the device.

Although a price for the device isn’t mentioned within the report, recent rumors have claimed that the iPad mini will start at $249 and increase to $299 for more storage. That puts the tablet in a perfect position to compete with cheaper Android rivals, such as the new Google Nexus 7.

Of course, rumors surrounding an iPad mini have been circulating for some time, and some reports even claimed that the device would appear at Apple’s WWDC keynote back in June. However, when reliable sources like Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal are corroborating these claims, you know this is more than just speculation.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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