Smaller iPad To Give Competitors a Headache

Two undisclosed sources with inside knowledge of Apple’s iPad plans have revealed that the company intends to release a smaller iPad by year-end. The current iPad has a 9.7 inch high resolution Retina display, while the new model is expected to be around 7 to 8 inches and without the high resolution Retina display. Crucially, while the current iPad is reassuringly expensive, this new one will be priced at around $200 which will compete very effectively with Google, Amazon and Microsoft, who are all trying to grab a larger slice of the expanding tablet market, according to Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc. “It would be the competitors’ worst nightmare”.

One can see why too, because since the iPad was released in April 2010, Apple have dominated the tablet market, with a 61% share. On top of that, DisplaySearch are predicting that the iPad market will reach $66.4 billion this year – an awful lot of money and not something that Apple’s rivals are going to allow Apple to keep all for itself. This should get interesting and hopefully result in innovative devices at great prices.