New Report Argues 7.9-Inch Retina-Equipped iPad mini Set For 2013 Launch
by Joe White
August 15, 2013
Apple's iPad mini is set to launch with a Retina display in 2013, according to a recent report from CNET. The online publication, which cites information from IHS iSuppli, argues that the second-generation tablet's launch will be much like that of the original small-size iPad, which first appeared in Apple Stores back in November last year.
Though most of us have been debating whether an iPad mini with Retina display is indeed set for a 2013 launch, IHS iSuppli is certain that a higher-resolution display, manufactured by LG Display and AU Optromics (and featuring a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536), will appear in an updated iPad mini this year. In fact, according to IHS iSuppli, production of the anticipated Retina display has already begun. CNET explains:
The rumored Retina version of the iPad Mini is expected to use a 7.9-inch panel with a resolution of 2,048x1,536 -- the same resolution as the current 9.7-inch iPad 4. Because the display is smaller, however, the pixel density will increase: from 264 pixels-per-inch on the iPad 4 to about 324 ppi on the Mini. That would be, more or less, the same pixel density as the 7-inch Nexus 7 (gen 2), which has 323 pixels per inch, one of the highest per date for a tablet.What remains uncertain, however, is when exactly Apple will announce and release the so-called "iPad mini 2." In recent weeks, rumors of two Apple events set for fall 2013 have been circulating online, and IHS iSuppli appears to corroborate with this viewpoint. Namely, IHS iSuppli suggests that Apple could mirror its first-generation iPad mini launch, and may announce the smaller tablet after having unveiled its next-generation iPhone - or iPhones - at a separate event, potentially in September. "Based [on what] we are seeing in the pipeline ... The volumes are similar to the iPad mini that we saw in Q4 of last year," Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile and emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, explained. As such, it would appear that iDevice fans are in for an exciting few months. We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it. In the meantime, see: Pixel People Updated With Support For Visiting Friends' Utopias, Cloud Sync And More, Dig Through The Most Popular Articles Across The Social Web With Digg For iOS, and GIF It Up For Flipboard: Popular Social Magazine App Updated With GIF Support.
