iPad Mini release date: Nov. 2 makes the most sense
The iPad Mini is the new iPhone 5 when it comes to Apple rumors, but for some reason, there’s been very little mention of a release date for Apple’s rumored smaller tablet.
Here’s what we do know: Apple is planning some kind of Keynote address this month, the normal time for a music-related announcement, but when exactly is a mystery.
The iPad Mini is expected to feature a 7.85-inch display and be significantly thinner (think as thin as an iPod Touch), include a new lightning connector and be quite lighter. The product will directly compete against Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7 and be marketed toward commuters and children.
Apple tends to hold major announcement Keynote addresses on Wednesdays. Being that the beginning of the month starts tomorrow, it’s certainly not going to be the third. It also doesn’t seem plausible that Apple would be able to turn around an announcement the following Wednesday.
Our guess over here at Blorge? Apple will announce its iPad Mini on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and preorders will begin, like the iPhone 5 did, the Friday after.
Now the iPhone 5 released just a week after its preorders, but Apple did admit its the fastest turnaround time they’ve ever taken on with an iOS device. Our guess is that it will take at least two weeks, which means Apple’s iPad Mini would release to the masses on Nov. 2 — just in time for the holidays.
It was originally rumored that the iPad Mini would be aggressively priced between $200 and $250, but after Apple introduced its new iPod Touch, which starts at $299, it seems like the iPad Mini will start at $350 for a 16 GB device.
Of course, Apple could prove us wrong and release the iPad Mini a week after preorders, which means you could have one in your hand on Oct. 26, right before Halloween.
What are your thoughts? Think we’re on to something?
