For what seems like an eternity, rumors have been swirling about Apple producing a smaller version of the iPad — an iPad mini, if you’re sticking with their iPod and Mac naming schemes. But when the late Steve Jobs called 7-inch tablets “tweeners” and said they can’t compete with either tablets or smartphones, many assumed that meant Apple wouldn’t be building a smaller model.
But according to John Gruber, a 7.85-inch iPad makes complete sense. At that size, an iPad mini would offer 66% of the physical screen area of the larger iPad. That’s a big increase over the 45% of a 7-inch tablet like the Kindle Fire or original Galaxy Tab. That’s also enough room for Apple to provide an iOS user experience that’s at least as good as that of the iPhone.
Gruber goes on to talk about price, saying that he thinks that Apple could very well sell a 7.85-inch iPad for $199. Google thinks they can make a go of it with the Nexus 7, after all. And when you take into account additional factors like Apple’s epic supply chain control and the purported 1024 x 768 display (which should cost a bit less than the Nexus 7′s 1280×720 screen), it certainly seems possible.
Even if Apple were to bump the price by $50 to bring it to a more Apple-y profit margin, the iPad mini would still be a hot seller. It would be smartly positioned as the “budget” iPad, much like what Apple did when they introduced the iPod mini alongside the iPod. Buyers who prioritize price and portability could opt for the 7.85-inch iPad, while those who demand Apple’s best would go for the Retina display-packing 9.7-inch iPad.
Of course, no one at Apple has confirmed anything yet. While Apple may very well be testing out a smaller iPad in Cupertino (as Gruber’s sources and others have stated recently), there’s still no guarantee it will ever make it onto retail shelves. One thing’s for sure: until one does, the rumors won’t ever stop.
