Apple may release a 7" or 8" iPad mini by holidays

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Lots of news on the iPad Mini rumour front...

Here is a detailed new analysis from John Gruber which includes a number of sizzling teases of what Apple's latest device could look like, which include:

• 25% lighter than the Nexus 7 (265g vs 340g) despite it's 40% larger display
• 30% thinner than the Nexus 7 (7.2mm vs 10.4mm)
• A much thinner side bezel than the full size iPad facilitating one handed use
• Front and rear facing cameras
• A price equal to or lower than the Nexus 7

Here are two sites with new mock-ups of the iPad Mini (or iPad Air, as Gruber dubs it) - one from 9to5Mac and one from iMore.

And finally, some purported pictures of the actual device leaked from one of the case manufacturers.

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Nexus 7 vs iPad Mini...

[shaolinmonk]

Can't see apple undercutting the android price

I'm guessing 299 wifi and 399 3g

[Ojam]

they've done it before.. ipod video, ipod classic etc..

The iPod Classic is still available. But hasn't been updated since 2009. I'd like to see them update this line with larger storage again.

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Can't see apple undercutting the android price

I'm guessing 299 wifi and 399 3g

I'm still betting that Apple will match the Nexus 7 price at $259 CDN, and if the Canadian dollar stays strong through the release period, they will beat it at $249 CDN.

Of course, we can't compare the price of a 3G/LTE iPad Mini since that option isn't available on the Nexus 7.

[shaolinmonk]

They have no reason to match the price... Apple can charge the usual $50 more and still sell tons

Plus I'm not convinced that the nexus 7 is selling in huge volumes...

[Supercooled]

The iPod Classic is still available. But hasn't been updated since 2009. I'd like to see them update this line with larger storage again.

Is it even worth updating? I mean it's so dated. Is there even a point in having a 64GB iPod much less 128GB? I can see that with a larger screened iPod so you can watch videos but what's the Classic's screen size? 3" ?

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• 25% lighter than the Nexus 7 (265g vs 340g) despite it's 40% larger display
• 30% thinner than the Nexus 7 (7.2mm vs 10.4mm)
• A much thinner side bezel than the full size iPad facilitating one handed use
• Front and rear facing cameras
• A price equal to or lower than the Nexus 7

Here's some more leaked pics of the back of the iPad Mini...

[shaolinmonk]

looks thick.. and honestly the rear facing camera is low on the importance scale

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Additional leaked documents - this time schematics:

These purported schematics of the iPad mini now appear to be real

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looks thick..

The Galaxy S3 smartphone is 8.6 mm thick compared to the rumoured 7.3 mm of the iPad Mini - I suppose thickness is in the eye of the beholder (or the hand of the holder).

[george__]

The blackberry might still be more popular since these things are probably going to cost a arm and a head to buy

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The blackberry might still be more popular since these things are probably going to cost a arm and a head to buy

What is your prediction for the price of the base wifi 16GB iPad Mini?


(Note: The Blackberry Playbook is 60% heavier at 425 g vs 265 g for the iPad Mini.)

[george__]

^ No clue. But I'm just basing it on the fact that Apple products are very very expensive

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^ No clue. But I'm just basing it on the fact that Apple products are very very expensive

Interesting.

I suppose it depends on your definition of "very very expensive" and also your concept of value for money. For many people a Honda Civic would be considered "very very expensive" compared to a Chevrolet Aveo, or a Sharp HDTV would be considered "very very expensive" next to a Philips. Steak costs $15/lb and hamburger costs $5/lb.

A Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone costs $599 while a Samsung C414 feature phone only costs $119.

Yes - I guess you're right - some things are "very very expensive".