iPad mini

Apple suppliers reportedly building specialized plants in preparation of iPad mini

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2012

As rumors concerning an alleged $200 iPad mini have lately begun picking up considerable steam, industry sources from Apple's supply chain in Asia have chimed in with claims that Taiwanese suppliers are building specialized plants to meet Apple's ever-growing demand for parts and components that go into its iPhone and iPad.

The sources also mention these new production facilities are being constructed in preparation of the iPad mini, said to feature a 7.85-inch display and a low price close to $200.

Apple, which shipped nearly 50 million smartphones and tablets in the first quarter of this year, is responsible for a big chunk of its suppliers' profits.

The Cupertino company controls an estimated two-thirds of the tablet market, though Apple's lead is believed to diminish as Windows 8-based tablets and those running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich arrive later this year...

Rumor: Apple to unveil $200 7-inch iPad this fall

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

iMore is out with a new report today, claiming that it has learned from a reliable source that Apple will be going forward with plans to release a 7-inch iPad this fall. The tablet will launch in October, alongside the new iPhone, and cost less than $250.

While it's easy to chalk this up to just another "iPad mini" rumor — we know, there's been a lot of them — it's worth noting that iMore has been fairly accurate in the past with Apple info, most recently nailing the new iPad event date last March...

Rumor: iPhone 5 due in September, iPad mini in August, iPad 4 in Q4

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Citing sources close to Apple's supply chain, Asian hit-and-miss trade publication DigiTimes reported this morning that Apple will launch a sixth-generation iPhone in September, followed by the long-rumored seven-inch iPad mini in August and a fourth-generation iPad in the fourth quarter of this year.

According to the report, Pegatron has reportedly landed orders for the next iPhone while Foxconn is said to manufacture the seven-inch iPad mini, presumably designed to tackle the lower-end of the tablet market currently occupied by Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire tablet...

Kindle Fire now accounts for over half of Android tablet market

Cody Lee ∙ April 27, 2012

Still wondering why Apple would want to enter the budget tablet market with a 7.85-inch iPad? Perhaps this will help shine some light on the matter.

ComScore, a highly regarded research firm, is out with a new report today regarding the current landscape of Android tablets. And guess which slate is leading the pack? The $199 Amazon Kindle Fire...

Analyst is confident Apple will release a smaller iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 17, 2012

In a note to investors today, Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said that it was a "question of when, not if" Apple would release the rumored 7.85-inch iPad. He believes it would make strategic sense for it to expand its tablet family.

"A smaller iPad would be the competition's worst nightmare," he explained. Apple's competitors are already having trouble beating the company on price at $399 and $499. They wouldn't stand a chance against a $299 tablet...

Rumor: Apple making six million sub-$300 iPad minis for third-quarter launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 27, 2016

According to a new report out of China, Apple is allegedly looking to launch a 7.85-inch iPad model some time in the third quarter of this year. The device is said to be priced between $249 and $299, an obvious effort to compete with Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire that launched last holiday to become by far the most popular Android tablet.

However, the iPad mini is said to be primarily intended to "counter attack" upcoming tablets running Windows 8. If the rumor is true, than the low-cost iPad mini is going after the low-to-mid-end of the tablet market.

But does a miniaturized iPad sound like something Apple would even consider doing?

What an iPad with a 7.85-inch display would look like

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Rumors of Apple building a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display have been around for several months. Pundits believe that the Cupertino company would do well to release a smaller version of its popular slate to appeal to the budget tablet crowd.

Well known Apple-insider John Gruber fanned the flames last week when he said that he was aware of such a product being tested in Apple's labs. And today, the folks over at Ciccaresedesign poured even more gas on the fire with this iPad mini mockup...

Apple has 7.85-inch iPad with 1024×768 display in its labs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

As noted by TechnoBuffalo, well-connected Apple proponent John Gruber (of DaringFireball) made some interesting comments today regarding the oft-rumored "iPad mini" on his weekly 5by5 podcast with Dan Benjamin.

Gruber claimed that he has been told by a number of Apple insiders that a 7.85-inch tablet exists inside Apple's labs, but he's unsure when or if it will see the light of day...

Samsung official says iPad Mini to feature Samsung display

Jake Smith ∙ March 13, 2012

The iPad Mini has been in the rumor mill for quite a while, and we've heard some pretty interesting things about the 7-inch tablet. Yesterday, a report was published saying the smaller version of the iPad will feature a slim bezel display that may allow for a larger viewing area.

Today we got word that Samsung is the exclusive supplier of the Retina display for the third-generation iPad. We're also hearing out of the Korea Times, that a Samsung official told the publication that Apple will release a 7.85-inch iPad by the end of the year, using Samsung's displays...

Rumor: 7.85-inch iPad moving closer to production

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2012

A new report from DigiTimes surfaced this morning claiming that the oft-rumored 7.85-inch iPad is moving closer to production. The site points to an article from United Evening News, a Taiwanese newspaper, which says Apple has just picked suppliers for the tablet.

DigiTimes doesn't have the best track record in providing accurate Apple information, but we've seen a number of reports over the past few months regarding a mini iPad. And these particular claims appear to have some kind of basis...

Rumor: 7-inch ‘iPad mini’ launching in Q3

Jake Smith ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

A 7-inch iPad has been in the rumor-mill for quite awhile, but has yet to see the light of day. Many have said Apple will never choose to go with a 7-inch display and will continue to opt with its 10-inch iPad -- which is currently the top selling tablet. However, many reports indicate a 7-inch (or 8-inch) version of the iPad will launch later this year.

OLED-Display says it has obtained a leaked document from Samsung, dated from December 2011. According the document, Apple will launch a 7-inch 'iPad mini' in Q3 of this year...

Rumor: Apple still planning on releasing 7.85-inch iPad later this year

Cody Lee ∙ March 1, 2012

It looks like the fact that Apple's iPad 3 event is less than a week away wasn't enough to deter rumors of a smaller iPad coming in late 2012. We've been hearing about this "iPad mini" for what seems like much more than a year now.

The latest report comes from DigiTimes, who by the way appears to be rather busy this morning. The news outlet is claiming that Apple is looking to start mass production of a 7.85" iPad sometime in the third quarter of this year...