RUMOR: 7-Inch iPad Launching October 2012, $200 to $250 Price

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

We’ve heard rumors of an iPad mini for a long time, and I don’t usually take them very seriously. One of the biggest reasons I have a hard time believing them is because an iPad mini already exist today, it’s called the iPod touch. But iMore has once again revived the rumor and claims that a reliable source tells them Apple is releasing a 7-inch iPad in October of this year with a price between $200 and $250.

We haven’t gotten a firm read on the exact screen dimensions, so we’re using 7-inches generically here. Our source has indicated, however, that the 7-inch iPad will be identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, just scaled down. That seems to include a 2048×1536 resolution display, just like the new iPad. If accurate, that would put the pixel density at around 326 ppi, the same as the iPhone 4S (and higher than the 264 ppi new iPad) retina display.

It’s hard to imagine a device with a panel that large and dense that having a price tag of just $200 to $250, especially when the baseline new iPad comes in at $500, but one way Apple will be keeping costs lower is by providing less storage capacity. $200 to $250 will get you 8GB. By way of comparison, the current entry-level iPod touch also starts at $200 for 8GB. (And no, Apple won’t be replacing the iPod touch with the 7-inch iPad, both devices will remain in the product lineup — though it’ll be interesting to see what happens with iPod touch pricing and storage capacity.)