Apple iPad Mini Rumors Fly

New information suggests an “iPad Mini” may be on the way from Apple, with recent leaks indicating that the Cupertino-based company may be testing a smaller version of its wildly popular iPad for potential release this year. Details on the new tablet are scarce, but here’s what we know so far:

• 8-inch display (the current iPad’s screen is 9.7 inches)
• 1024 x 786 resolution (same as the current iPad, but pixel density will be greater due to the smaller screen size)
• Possibly priced as low as $299 (current iPads start at $499)

An iPad Mini would be an intriguing addition to Apple’s lineup for several reasons. Primarily, it would compete with smaller, cheaper portable devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Amazon’s Kindle Fire, with one industry analyst proposing that the Mini could be priced as low as $299 to “crush the opposition”. Users who carry their tablets often might prefer the smaller size of an 8” tablet, and budget-minded consumers are more likely to purchase the product at such a reasonable price point.

However, there is some evidence that a mini tablet isn’t in the works. In October 2010, Apple founder Steve Jobs famously insulted small tablets, joking that they should include sandpaper so users could file their fingers down to work effectively on the diminutive screens. And this isn’t the first time a rumor about a smaller or cheaper Apple device has come about; many have speculated that an “iPhone Mini” was in development, and we’ve seen nothing to suggest that product is real.

We’re going to call this rumor plausible. A $299 Apple tablet would seriously cut into sales of competing devices such as the Kindle Fire and Galaxy Tab, while providing customers with a logical choice between a larger, nicer tablet, a smaller and more portable version, or a pocket-sized iPod Touch or iPhone.

As we’ve previously reported, Apple is believed to be announcing the iPad 3 at an event on March 7. Will we also see the introduction of an iPad Mini?