Apple to launch 7.85-inch iPad in 2012?

AppleRumours of a smaller Apple iPad tablet have resurfaced. Citing “sources in the supply chain,” Digitimes is reporting that Apple is “likely” to launch a 7.85-inch iPad in the latter part of 2012. Production could begin in Q2 with 7.85-inch displays coming from LG Display and AU Optronics.

Apple has in the past resisted the move to launch a smaller tablet. Jobs himself was very dismissive of the smaller tablets, going as far as arguing that people would need smaller fingers to use them. Apple has now apparently been “persuaded” to pursue this option due to “increasing market competition” from smaller tablets such as the 7-inch Kindle Fire and ever-larger smartphones.

Apple could face a number of challenges in producing a smaller tablet. The smaller display could force it to support a new resolution (it already has one for the iPhone and the current iPad). A smaller display would not by itself drop the price far enough; it is likely that other features would have to be dropped to reach a selling price around the US$200 mark.

In the meantime, a new 9.7-inch iPad could be out by March or April.

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