x PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • Bloomberg also confirms the iPad Mini story, resolution to be the same as on the iPad 2

Bloomberg also confirms the iPad Mini story, resolution to be the same as on the iPad 2

Posted: , by Daniel P.

Categories:

Share:

Discuss 12
Bloomberg also confirms the iPad Mini story, resolution to be the same as on the iPad 2
Bloomberg has a story confirmed by two sources with "knowledge of the plans", that reiterates what we've heard numerous times since last fall, and just got fleshed out in detail yesterday - that Apple is prepping a smaller, cheaper iPad to take on the Google Nexus 7 and its kin directly, due out in October. The sources said that the screen will have the same number of pixels the iPad 2 has. If the 7.85" size feeding the rumor mill turns out true, then we are looking at 163ppi, which will be lower than the 216ppi of the Nexus 7, but all apps written for the iPad 2 will work perfectly on it.

The affordable Google tablet has a clear goal - to expand Android's market share even further, locking in ever more people into the world's most popular search engine ecosystem. An eventual iPad Mini is an answer to that, and something tells us if it materializes it will also be because of Microsoft's foray into the ARM-based tablet market as well.

Apple can't allow itself to lose market share against these two formidable threats this year, and a cheaper tablet with its logo is a pretty clever way to fight that eventual trend, even though pundits always said it will never make something affordable for the sake of gaining market share, as it tries to keep its things exclusive, hence commanding a brand premium. 

As far as we know Apple, however, its rumored iPad Mini may be cheaper in comparison with the new iPad, but that doesn't mean that Cupertino won't earn a pretty penny off of it, unlike Google. It basically fronted Sharp north of $1 billion to put in its Kameyama plant more IGZO display equipment, so the eventual 7.85" display of its smaller tablet will most likely come very cheap in comparison with what the other manufacturers can achieve, and this is the single most expensive part of a tablet.

If Apple sells it for the rumored $249-$299 range, the Galaxy Nexus would have an issue on its hands, since Apple might still muster more than 30% gross margin on the product, and given the much richer tablet apps ecosphere it has, thanks to three iPad generations, it will sell many millions without a doubt. What do you think, does an iPad Mini make more sense for Apple now after the Nexus 7 and Microsoft Surface announcements?

source: Bloomberg

Share:

Discuss12

12 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. mas11 posted on 04 Jul 2012, 02:35 7

The iPad mini is a great idea for Apple, the biggest issues are pricing and features. If it costs $200 it will take away sales from the iPod touch, but if it sells for more than $300 it will cost way more than the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire and won't sell as well. I think $250-$300 is a good price. Apple better not skip on specs.

Reply

7. dickwyn posted on 04 Jul 2012, 03:41 5

No retina display ;(

Reply

9. PhoneLuver posted on 04 Jul 2012, 04:36

I like my iPad, but it can be a little bulky at times. I've seen many women choose a Galaxy Tab 7" simply because it fits into their handbags.

Reply

2. cepcamba posted on 04 Jul 2012, 02:46 8

Well, I'm a droid guy. But a sub-$250 iPad mini sure is appealing. Jailbroken, and with powerful media capabilities. 4:3 is a major turn off though.

Reply

3. mas11 posted on 04 Jul 2012, 02:54 3

Agreed, Apple should have gone with 16:9, like their new iPhone is rumored to have. Apple is pretty backwards as far as screen ratio is concerned.

Reply

5. andro. posted on 04 Jul 2012, 03:33 3

Agreed 4:3 aspect on a 7 inch screen no thank you. Even the ipad 3 is still not hd compliant with this dated aspect ratio.

Also doesn't the ipad mini already exist,aka ipod touch especially if the new one has a larger screen like the iphone 5?

Ifans start saving as come october ye will have iphone 5 to buy,the equivalent version of the new ipod touch, while also buying the ipad mini and whatever is the 'new' ipad 'big' at that time. Owning all 4 apple devices with the same grid ui,same menu,apps and itunes etc but just with different screen sizes can increase an ifans apple mana by 4 and thus increase social acceptance accordingly by a proportional factor of ten!

Reply

4. pegasso posted on 04 Jul 2012, 03:27 1

"dead on arrival"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339504575566544012851162.html

Reply

10. rudlie posted on 04 Jul 2012, 05:25

your news has been expired. the spoken man already dead when its arrival huahahaaa

Reply

6. parvsingh05 posted on 04 Jul 2012, 03:36

it will be ipod with a larger screen , i agree to u mas11 , they will put an end to ipod touch..or make a ipod touch with a larger screen, in which one can read books, magz, etc easily. great step by apple!

but this will also put an end to the other tablets with 7 inch screen! so. because u know, buyers always prefer apple due to its quality built and os .

Reply

8. andyboi_ph posted on 04 Jul 2012, 03:47

can't wait for it haha. love the idea of ipad mini

Reply

11. AppleConspiracy posted on 04 Jul 2012, 07:25

Apple will not release smaller iPad. Those are just accumulated rumors and predictions based on not knowing their true strategy.

Simple reason: they don't want to have more than one product in category. They did it even with their Mac line by ditching 17" Pro...

Of course this is contra-intuitive, but this is the strategy that it's big part of their success since iPhone. There can be only one...

Reply

12. pete8812 posted on 04 Jul 2012, 18:34

300 is a good price for it. Any lower I think people will just skip out on buying the iPod touch and go spend a little bit more cash for this.

Reply

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920