Rumors saying Apple is planning a smaller version of the iPad won’t die, and a new report sheds more light on the rumored product. Fueling past rumors that Apple is interested in creating a 7-inch iPad at a cheaper price point, iMore claims that the company is planning a 7-inch iPad for release this October alongside the next-gen iPhone.
But that’s not all! The most interesting claim is that the upcoming 7-inch iPad will be priced between $200-$250. Also, the tablet will feature a Retina display like the third-gen iPad, keeping the same 2048×1536 resolution, according to the report.
Apple will be going forward with the 7-inch iPad, currently targeting an October 2012 release alongside the new iPhone, and — here’s the killer — at a $200 to $250 price point. According to our source, which has proven reliable in the past, 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 competitors.
The report goes on to say that the “7-inch iPad will be identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, just scaled down.” iMore’s source hasn’t provided the exact dimensions, but the tablet will come with lower storage capacity — 8GB for the cheapest $200-$250 model.
A Retina display-equipped 7-inch iPad would have the same pixel density of the iPhone 4S at around 326 ppi, according to the report. Arguments have been made that Apple wouldn’t put a Retina display in a cheaper iPad to conserve costs, but iMore makes it sound like the company has figured out a way to make the technology cost effective.
The first thing that comes to mind at the prospect of a $200 7-inch iPad is the current iPod touch. Why would Apple need to create a product so close to what it has already? Will the iPod touch be killed off? iMore says that “Apple won’t be replacing the iPod touch with the 7-inch iPad, both devices will remain in the product lineup.” Regardless, the iOS device product line will be significantly shaken up if a 7-inch iPad is indeed coming.
Apple usually continues selling its last-gen iPad for $100 cheaper when a new model comes out, but this 7-inch device would be a much more significant price change. If Apple did release such a product, the iPad’s competitors would likely fall into a panic. How would there be room for any other tablet to survive?
iMore has proven to be an accurate source of Apple rumors in the past by pinpointing the third-gen iPad launch date and LTE networking. The site has also claimed that the next iPhone is set for an October 2012 release, which falls in line with mainstream consensus.
Source: iMore
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
12 responses to “Apple Planning $200-$250 7-Inch iPad With Retina Display For October Release [Rumor]”
I still have the following hunch: The iPod Touch days are over…it’ll be revamped into something alike to the Galaxy Note or a bit larger.
The reason would be that Apple already has 2 music players (shuffle and nano), so the iPod touch gets the gaming/media/internet focus but can still be used as a music player, only larger, AND it would be the main difference between the iPod Touch and the new iPhone, and we wouldn’t have to answer to the ones that aren’t into the tech world that the iPod Touch is an iPhone without the phone.
I would totally buy it.
This would be great and I hope it’s true. I have always hated the size of the current offerings and for me personally, this is perfect!
So, according to this, the ‘iPad mini’ would be cheaper than an iPod touch? Haha, good one. There’s no iPad mini. Stop this nonsense.
If anything like this were to happen. I honestly think it’s going to be a larger ipod touch, thats the ONLY way I see this happening
Some of you na-sayers are going to look preaty stupid if Apple does ends up releasing a smaller version of the iPad this Oct. lol
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I do not believe that it will have 2048×1536 on 7.85in screen. Most likely it will be 1024×768.
This is actual size comparison of 7.85in ipad with iPhone and standard ipad:
Comparison
I have to respectfully disagree. You’re omitting the fitness market that is very fond of their wrist/arm bands that holster their nano’s and iPod touch’s whilst exercising.
If this rumor came from Digitimes or any junk Apple rumor site I could care less. But being that it’s from iMore I take more interest since they have a good track (although not perfect) record for predicting Apple products. They, like Jim Dalrymple, have decent sources.
While I do hope that they don’t do this, consider that Apple changed the iPad 3’s name to just iPad. That makes it easier to create something that could be called iPad mini, as it would not have worked well in future if these products had different numbers. But personally, I’d rather see them work on something new altogether.
Please let it be true. I’m prepared to shave down my fingers to make it so.
iPod touch: