Apple to release an iPad Mini?

We’ve been hearing a lot of buzz regarding the Cupertino-based innovator’s plans on releasing a 7 to 8-inch version of their uber-popular Apple iPad tablet.

While this speculation may just be more of a rumor than something more realistic, it’s never too late to tell you guys the latest news (or shall I say ‘hearsay’?) in the tech world right? Well, there’s hardly any evidence to confirm these allegations but we’ll never know what Apple is really hiding up their sleeves until they reveal an actual product that’s [done almost every other quarter or so] ready for us to take a bite. Put quite simply, there’s still a possibility that Apple is indeed going to release a smaller version of their popular tablet.

Given that the tablet market is growing at a steady pace — alright more like at a surprising rate, it’s completely normal for Apple to join the bandwagon. There’s the Samsung Galaxy Note that — well, we can’t really call that thing a phone or tablet, perhaps a “phablet”? There’s also the now defunct Dell Streak 5, Galaxy Tab 7.7 and 8.9, the Kindle Fire… now the Google Nexus 7 and many more! You see? It’s really exciting isn’t it? Who would’ve thought that tablets could come in so many flavors and sizes? It’s really comforting, mostly if I myself can barely afford one. Sigh.

Anyway, back to the topic. So here’s what we know so far based on some reports:

– The iPad’s ‘mini-me’ version is said to feature a 7.85-inch IGZO panel that (boasts 330ppi) manufactured by Sharp — more on that later.
– The pricing for the 7-inch iPad will start at $250 with the top end model sporting a $300 price tag (roughly P10,500 – P12,500)

So what’s so special about IGZO? IGZO LCD panels feature indium gallium zinc oxide semiconductors which enables manufacturers to produce thinner and energy saving displays that possess much higher resolution/pixel density compared to a regular LCD panel. IGZO panels are manufactured by Sharp’s Display Products division.

Back in February, The Wall Street Journal has mentioned in a post that some notoriously secretive good eggs from Apple has shown their suppliers some “designs for a new device with a screen size of around eight inches”, one person has even stated that the smaller iPad will have a similar resolution with that of the iPad 2. Statements that aren’t easy to throw away since The Wall Street Journal’s inside scoops are pretty reliable.

So far, all the things we’ve been hearing about the mysterious iPad ‘mini’ are the display and aesthetics-related stuff. What about under the hood? Well, Many have speculated that the New iPad will come with a quad core A6 chip of some sort, instead, we were surprised with an A5X chip that’s basically just an A5 SoC with upgraded graphics. It’s safe to say that the A5X may just find its way inside the smaller iPad while the ‘Newer iPad’ or iPad 4 will most probably debut with a the quad core A6 chip.

Sounds realistic doesn’t it? Well, if it turns out that my idea about the processor hand-me-down comes true, you’ve read it here first (although, I doubt if that’ll even happen).

There’s no denying that Apple is aiming at the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire tablets with their 7-inch iPad. Apple after all, is more than just a fruit.

{sources: Wall Street Journal, TechnoBuffalo, Wired, Cult of Mac}