Apple’s iPad Mini will get an October release date

Apple will launch its iPad Mini in October with the aim of getting it in stores before the festive season kicks into full swing, according to a report from a major US news source.

In its report Bloomberg claims that the new iPad Mini will have either a 7 or 8-inch display (diagonally). One key omission, says the report, is that the new iPad Mini will not carry a Retina Display, meaning it could be a lot cheaper – perhaps even sub-£200, like the Nexus 7?

Going into specifics, the report said: Apple’s iPad Mini will ‘have the same number of pixels as those in the iPad before it was upgraded to the so-called Retina Display earlier this year, giving the device a resolution of 1024x768 pixels.’

Keeping the resolution inline with current iPad 1 and 2 standards means that developers needn’t worry about developing applications for the smaller screen – everything should port across to the 7-inch display nicely, although things will obviously appear smaller.

Is the iPad Mini Apple’s answer to the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7?

It’s certainly beginning to look that way. Initially we were very dubious about these rumours, having heard them all a million times before, but now that Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal – both excellent news sources – have waded in with information on the device, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss the idea of a budget iPad.

The iPhone 5 is scheduled for launch in either August, September or October, depending on which news source you prefer to use, making it very close to the suspected launch of the iPad Mini. Could Apple be planning its biggest launch to date – one that features both the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini?

This is extremely unlikely given Apple’s track record but it’s definitely not out of the question. Following two rather successful launches by Apple’s oldest nemesis, Microsoft, the Cupertino-based company may need to employ some shock-and-awe tactics to maintain the phenomenal growth its shareholders have become accustomed to. 

Fortunately for them, it doesn’t really get any bigger in tech than a double release featuring both a new iPhone and new iPad.