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Production of 7.85-Inch iPad Rumored for 3Q 2012 at the Earliest

Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:02 pm PST by Eric Slivka
DigiTimes, which has several times in past addressed rumors of a smaller 7.85-inch iPad, has published a new report today claiming that Apple's manufacturing partners have been delivering samples of the device to Apple ahead of mass production that would start in the third quarter of this year at the earliest.
Makers in Apple's iPad supply chain have started delivering samples of 7.85-inch iPads for verification, with volume production likely to begin in the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest, according to industry sources.
The report suggests that Apple will price the smaller iPad in the range of $249-$299, with a rumored 8 GB iPad 2 occupying a price point at $349-$399. The report also claims that Apple could continue offering the 16 GB iPad 2 at $449 to fill out a low-end grouping below the flagship iPad 3 lineup.


We previously mocked up what a 7.85-inch iPad would look like, creating print-suitable documents to allow readers to test out the size for themselves either on paper or displayed on a current 9.7-inch iPad. With the device rumored to carry the same 1024x768 resolution of the iPad 2 but at a smaller physical size, some user interface elements would become rather small, but primary elements such as icons and the keyboard seem very usable at the smaller size.

Related Roundup: iPad mini 5
Tag: digitimes.com
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
[ 201 comments ]


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pewra
94 months ago
Not gonna happen.
Rating: 42 Votes
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pancakedrawer
94 months ago
Digitimes is working hard to churn out the BS today!
Rating: 38 Votes
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Warbrain
94 months ago
Scheduled for 3Q. Why? Because it doesn't exist and won't exist this year.
Rating: 26 Votes
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bb426
94 months ago
We keep seeing these "two releases in the same year" stories. When are they gonna learn...?
Rating: 22 Votes
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macduke
94 months ago
Look—Digitimes can keep making up stuff about the iPad mini all day long. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen. First it was spring last year, then the end of 2011, then in the spring, and now it's back to autumn 2012. It just isn't going to happen. Get over it Digitimes. The 9.7" iPad is a runaway success.
Rating: 17 Votes
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Brad9893
94 months ago
Has DigiTimes ever been reliable?
Rating: 12 Votes
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BC2009
94 months ago
Meh. DigiTimes rumors. Why is their lifetime track record? It's gotta be in the neighborhood of 8%.
Rating: 10 Votes
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nuckinfutz
94 months ago

Still no. This is not a product that Apple wants to make. A lower price (to get anywhere near the Kindle Fire) undoubtedly means lower profit margins, and it would cannibalize sales of the iPad. It's another damn platform for iOS developers to support, and there's no way to sell it as magical and revolutionary.

Not gonna happen.


Tim Cook said

“And the way that we already view cannibalization is, we prefer we do it than have somebody else do it.”


http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Apples-Tim-Cook-iPad-Cannibalization-Good-for-PC-Industry-477883/

I'm not sure Apple cares about cannibalization as long as they're in control. The developers don't have to make much changes. The reason why 7.85 is chosen as the screen size is because it's the same 4:3 ratio 1024 x 768 screen which means the UI elements get smaller but developers do not have to create new artwork.
Rating: 8 Votes
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nuckinfutz
94 months ago

1024x768 translates to 4:3. That aspect ratio is a disgrace.

I've no idea why Apple is using it. 16x10 should be the standard.


Because most web sites are based on a 1024x768 and not 16x10. The iPad is still predominantly a productivity tool rather than a media tool for movies.
Rating: 8 Votes
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cvaldes
94 months ago

Meh. DigiTimes rumors. Why is their lifetime track record? It's gotta be in the neighborhood of 8%.

Eight percent? Are you kidding?!?

It's probably 0.8%.

Heck, Digitimes is probably being ghost written by Shaw Wu, Gene Munster and Katy Huberty.

:) :p :D

Digitimes is just link baiting Apple rumor sites, enticing naive bloggers to recirculate their blatantly fabricated lies.

And get what? IT WORKS!

Ahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Rating: 7 Votes

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