The iPad Mini Will Launch In Q3, Cost As Little As $250 [Report]

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What the iPad mini may look like up against its siblings.
What the iPad mini may look like up against its siblings. Image courtesy of Ciccarese Design.

Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch its much-anticipated “iPad mini” during the third quarter of 2012 in an effort to “counter attack” the upcoming Windows 8 tablets. The 7.85-inch device is expected to cost between $249 and $299, which will also allow it to compete with cheaper Android devices from the likes of Amazon.

The report comes from Chinese net portal NetEase and was translated by Kotaku:

NetEase claimed that the device will be released around the third quarter of this year to “counter attack” the upcoming Windows tablets. The report further claims that the devices will cost anywhere from US$249 to $299 and that there will be an initial 6 million units ready for launch.

Apple is already rumored to be testing a 7.85-inch device in its labs, and many analysts believe that the device is just what the Cupertino company needs to fight off competition from the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire. Not only would the device do that, but it would also steal interest from the first crop of Windows 8 tablets if it launches at the right time.

Despite its smaller display, the “iPad mini” is expected to feature the same 1024 x 768 resolution of the original iPad, meaning existing iOS apps would not need to be modified.

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