Apple’s iPad Mini Reportedly Already in Production
Apple has reportedly begun production of its much-rumored new small-screen iPad tablet computer, dubbed the “iPad Mini.”
The Wall Street Journal cites sources from within Apple’s Asian component suppliers as stating that “mass production” of the new tablet is now underway.
Apple’s iPad Mini would arrive in a very competitive market for smaller tablets, including already-established devices including: Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire, along with the NOOK HD from Barnes & Noble.
It was reported by Forbes this week that Apple will hold a press conference for the iPad Mini on October 17, just over a month after the Apple announced the new iPhone 5 and iPod products in a packed end of year for the company.
The biggest matter if/when Apple announces the iPad Mini will be price; base models of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7 start at $199.
It’s conceivable Apple may put a slightly higher price on the tablet, focusing on the quality of production and range of features, as it has done with previous products.
If the rumored timetable for the iPad Mini announcement is indeed accurate, we’ll find out answers to all of our questions concerning the device soon enough.