Apple working on a smaller iPad around the 8" mark, says WSJ

Now, when the Wall Street Journal reports something about an upcoming Apple device, we tend to listen, as there's rarely an industry publication that is more connected with analysts, who in turn are buddy-buddy with various suppliers and insiders, and so the wheel turns.

Now WSJ is reporting that Apple is working on a smaller, around 8" device, than the 9.7" iPad 2, and test runs with panels from LG and AU Optronics are being run.

This, of course, doesn't mean that Cupertino will be pleased with the final results and decide such a creature is needed, but the sheer fact that it might be thinking of screen sizes in-between the 3.5-incher on the iPhone and the 9.7" iPad 2 is pretty telling, since the competition has quickly filled most niches there already. A 5.3" device like the Galaxy Note, for example, is selling surprisingly well.

Possible smaller iPad with a keyboard attachment is rumored in testing by Apple

Introducing a smaller tablet device would allow Apple to broaden and diversify its portfolio, especially since the rumor says that the screen resolution will be similar to the iPad 2, making the apps compatible, but the device way lighter, more compact and, likely, cheaper, taking on annoyingly affordable slates like the Kindle Fire, which sell by the boatload.

Another rumor, coming from a Citigroup analyst who sat and talked with Tim Cook, entertains the thought that Apple is prepping a device with a physical keyboard dock or attachment of sorts, which will blur the boundaries between tablets, netbooks and ultrabooks or laptops.

Similar thing was suggested by another analyst, who said that the shrunk panel might be testing for precisely such a combo. Other industry watchers are chiming in that a smaller device with lower price point would prove a very successful strategy for winning over up and coming markets like China, or the iBooks 2 student market, for example, where an iPad 3, or even iPad 2 might come too expensive.

source: WSJ & Forbes

12 Comments

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posted on 14 Feb 2012, 05:17

1. dws93 (Posts: 15; Member since: 22 Nov 2011)

well , this would be even better than the 9.7" ipad , i really loved the 8.9 '' galaxy tab cuz its not too small like 7'' for movies and not too big for our hands like 9.7'' or 10.1'' , and there will be a big chance to see less price from apple products .

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 06:03

2. samirsshah (Posts: 61; Member since: 10 Mar 2011)

My quick response is that I agree with Steve Jobs' observation that anything less than 10" is too small. I may come up with more detailed reasons later. I find Galaxy Note to be a toy rather than a tablet and the biggest lacuna of Amazon's tablet (after it being a walled garden) to be her 7" form factor totally negating a pen.

But I do not agree with Steve Jobs about pens. I think tablets need a pen and handwriting recognition. Microsoft needs a keyboard and a mouse for enterprises, Apple does not. Handwriting recognition has been perfected by Microsoft a long time ago and given some millions (or Billions, whatever is the going rate) Microsoft may even license it.

Again, a very personal opinion, detailed reasons later.

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 06:16 2

3. protozeloz (Posts: 5396; Member since: 16 Sep 2010)

Well with different sizes you have different price ranges and different needs I'll be happy with a 10" transformer prime while my sister loves the 7" Tablets because they are easy to hold and fit in a purse easily. Also the Galaxy note is not being sold as a tablet, some say its too big for a phone and too small for a tablet it's why I call it phablet. And it has is features with the Spen could be easily somewhere a hobbyist painter could draw and share some art works with friends, it can also be a great working tool because it can recognize handwriting.

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 07:25

4. andro. (Posts: 1999; Member since: 16 Sep 2011)

A Ground breaking,innovative move by apple. The first tablet of that size of its kind,it changes everything again and thoroughly deserves months of speculations to build ifan buying fever!!

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 12:58

10. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

you forgot the #sarcasm or /sarcasm

posted on 15 Feb 2012, 23:15

12. quakan (Posts: 1396; Member since: 02 Mar 2011)

sheesh the first 50 times people tried the innovation joke it was funny but with you being number 15,987,765,432 it's just not funny. That's probably why you were thumbed down.

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 07:54 2

5. samirsshah (Posts: 61; Member since: 10 Mar 2011)

Let me come out and say it outright, I have made a big mistake.

I was reading an article about tablets in schools and suddenly a thought occured to me, these students will NEVER know pen and handwriting. I myself use a keyboard more than pens and handwriting.

So Steve Jobs was right about pens also. Pens and handwriting live in an ever shrinking window in time that will go away very SOON.

So 7" and 8" tablets DO make sense. External keyboards DO make sense.

I am sorry about my previous comments. I am human. I also DO make mistakes.

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 09:03

6. ghost__uwi (Posts: 175; Member since: 28 Nov 2011)

Well seeing the new ipad 3 will have retina at 10". Maybe they will take the res of the ipad 2 and place it in a 8"

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 09:05

7. ghost__uwi (Posts: 175; Member since: 28 Nov 2011)

I really cannot ever see myself buying a galaxy note. Saw someone talking on that thing and almost wanted to laugh. Its really to huge. It looked like a cell phone from the 90's

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 12:59

11. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

Wow, cell phones from the 90's were less than an inch thick and had 5.3" screens? I must have missed them.
Or do you mean the 2090's?

posted on 14 Feb 2012, 09:21

8. abish1234 (Posts: 51; Member since: 22 Oct 2011)

.. didnt steve jobs say 9.7 is ideal size for typing etc.. now why are they reducing size.?? how ironic!!