As light as a pad of paper, Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller has debuted the often-rumored iPad mini, right on the heels of unveiling the company's fourth-generation iPad.
With the slow spin of the new fourth-generation iPad, the iPad mini appeared out of the darkness, further cementing Apple's position as a tablet leader with a junior version of the device as widely rumored in recent months.
"So what else can we do to help customers find even more users for iPad, to use them in places they've never imagined?" Schiller asked moments before the iPad mini unveil.
The iPad mini comes with the same 1024x768 resolution display found on the larger iPad 2, with a 7.9-inch display that means existing apps written for the iPad will work without modification.
Schiller spent a considerable amount of time comparing the iPad mini to the leading Android tablet, Google's Nexus 7 -- although he stopped short of actually mentioning it by name. However, Schiller's demonstration showed that the iPad mini offers 35 percent more display area diagonally, which equated to 49 percent more on-screen content with web pages.
"You get a tablet experience on the iPad mini, you get a scaled-up phone experience on the other," Schiller remarked.
The iPad mini is also no slouch on the inside, offering a dual-core A5 processor, FaceTime HD camera and five-megapixel rear iSight camera as well as 4G LTE and dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, capped off by the new Lightning connector and 10 hours of battery life.
"It is every inch an iPad," Schiller noted before rolling a new product video which showed off the new iPad mini Smart Cover, which loses the metal hinge that sometimes caused scratches on the back of iPad 2 and new iPad models.
Starting at $329 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model, the iPad mini will begin preordering on October 26, with Wi-Fi models shipping on November 2 and cellular-equipped models arriving two weeks later. Apple is also keeping the iPad 2 around at $399 for those who want the larger screen.
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JoseO42
October 26, 2012 at 5:16am
I think Apple should have kept the price no higher than $299. I think the price of $329 is going to keep some people from purchasing the model. It is still going to sell well but not as well if they had kept the price point lower.
brandonwalkermedia
October 23, 2012 at 1:36pm
And with this I know Apple is heading a different direction then under Steve!
jordanancel
October 23, 2012 at 11:45am
I think the iPad mini could have been a greater success if it had the A6 chip, retina display and a price of $299 for the lowest model.
While the display size and overall hand-held size are great, and the design quite attractive, I can't understand why Apple would not give us the resolution of the new iPad 4 and the same faster processor.
That, plus a price of $299 would really give people a choice: "Do I want an iPad 4, or do can I only afford a mini yet still get all the great features?"
I already own an iPad 3 with retina display and it's amazing. I was hoping to sell it and get a mini, but I think I'll wait for the 2nd gen mini. Hopefully it will have retina display, as well.
juwanh
October 23, 2012 at 11:52am
I have the ipad 3 also, so I'll wait for the 2nd gen iPad mini...
