The iPad mini rumour has been revived, giving us the wild Apple speculation we crave of a Friday afternoon. This time, a China-based gadget site says it’s heard details of the a 7in iPad from gossips while slinging around in Shenzhen, home to Apple’s biggest and most controversial supplier Foxconn. Are they the product of boozer bragging or do these rumours stack up?
We’ve been hearing talk of a smaller iPad for ages, basically since about five minutes after the current iPad launched. Shanzai says the new iPad model comes it at 7in and resembles an iPhone 4 on steroids rather than a shrunken iPad. It also revives talk of front and rear iPad camera.
The idea of a 7in iPad mini isn’t so wild if you think about it. It’s a pretty appealing size with both the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Dell Looking Glass plumping for the similar vital statistics. Putting two cameras in a new iPad model would also lure plenty of folk beguiled by FaceTime on their iPhone 4 but after a bit more real estate.
On the other hand, the current iPad is still rocketing along. iPad sales are massive so even if Apple is planning a smaller version, we’re unlikely to see it for months. Putting out an iPad mini now, especially one with cameras, would put current owners hackles up instantly.
Another interesting claim in the Shanzai story is that Apple has five different designs in an attempt to keep potential leakers off the scent. We’re not sure that would be the smartest strategy.
What do you make of this latest iPad mini rumour? Are you in the market for a beefed up iPhone 4/slimmed down iPad? Hop into the comments and tell us.
Out TBC | £TBC | Apple (via Shanzai)
