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Apple will reportedly unveil its next-generation iPad -- presumably called "iPad 3" -- on March 7. But while most reports say Apple's third iPad will mirror the form factor of the iPad 2, is there a chance that Apple will release an 8-inch iPad instead?
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The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Apple is also testing an 8-inch iPad in its labs, which may or may not be introduced alongside the iPad 3 in March. The news aligns with an earlier report from Apple's Taiwanese supply chain, which said the Cupertino, Calif.-based company would release a second, smaller tablet in October. Older reports similarly stated Apple would release a 7.85-inch iPad after the iPad 3. That tablet would reportedly upgrade its hardware specs throughout the device, and come with "killer applications" to compete with Android or Windows-based tablets.
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Apple officials, who declined to be named, said the 8-inch iPad would feature a similar resolution to the iPad 2. This differs from all recent reports, which said Apple would double the pixel density of the iPad 2 in the iPad 3, with a "truly amazing" 2048 x 1536 true HD display. Assuming those reports are accurate, the 8-inch iPad the Wall Street Journal referred to could be an "iPad Mini," or an "iPad 4."
A smaller tablet would make sense for Apple, as more competitors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble look to break into the tablet space with cheap tablet offerings of their own, which both cost less than half the price of an iPad 2. Amazon's Kindle Fire measures 7 inches and costs $199. Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet also measures 7 inches, but costs $249.
Apple experienced great success by releasing different shapes and sizes of its iPod music player; it's totally possible the company could replicate this formula with their tablets, too.
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The tablet market, which was virtually non-existent prior to 2010, has become extremely popular in the last two years. Yet, people don't want tablets; they want iPads. According to market researcher IDC, the Apple iPad represented roughly 62 percent of all global tablet shipments in the third quarter of 2011.
Building a smaller tablet, however, would be going against the will of Steve Jobs, who said in October 2010 that the iPad's current 9.7-inch size was "the minimum size required to create great tablet apps."
Yet, Jobs admitted that he was wrong from time to time, and he might be wrong here. Different sized tablets, as long as they served a particular purpose, could be a real boon for Apple, giving customers more options to own an iPad without needing to buy the newest and most expensive model. The iPad 2, when given a 64 GB capacity and Wi-Fi and 3G options, costs $829.
There's a great chance that Apple will release an 8-inch iPad, but it's unlikely that the tablet will arrive in March. Apple has enjoyed tremendous success releasing one product at a time -- as evidenced by the record-breaking sales of the iPhone 4S, which was not sold alongside another iPhone 5 like many speculated. If the Journal's reports are accurate, users could expect a mini 8-inch iPad in October or November.
Meanwhile, most Apple fans are looking ahead to March 7, the release date reported by iMore's Rene Ritchie, who cites "sources who have been reliable in the past." Ritchie has a solid track record for accurate reporting, particularly with Apple news and release dates. Last August, Ritchie correctly reported Apple's next iPhone would be unveiled in the first week of October and would be called "iPhone 4S." At the time, all others called the speculative device the "iPhone 5."
Ritchie's newest report aligns well with previous reports, including AllThingsD's Feb. 9 report that said Apple would launch its next iPad in the first week of March. AllThingsD's John Paczkowski added that the Cupertino, Calif.-based company had chosen San Francisco for the unveiling, "presumably at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Apple's preferred location for big events like these." If Apple holds true to tradition, it will make the tablet available for purchase roughly a week or so after the unveiling.
The iPad 3 is said to feature an improved camera, a bigger battery, and a dual-LED backlit system to power the 2048 x 1536 display. The dual-LED solution makes the iPad's screen noticeably brighter, but it also apparently solved several puzzling issues with heat dissipation and battery consumption. As far as the tablet's shape and size are concerned, leaked images of the shell reveal the iPad 3 will have an identical form factor to the iPad 2, although it will apparently be about 1 mm thicker to accommodate the bigger battery, dual-LED system, and LTE.
That's right, LTE. The Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T and Verizon Wireless are both preparing for Apple's launch, which will affect both companies' 4G networks.If this report turns out to be true, the iPad 3 will be the first Apple device compatible with LTE's high-speed network.
Apple hoped to feature LTE in the iPhone 4S, but due to its short battery life, CEO Tim Cook said LTE was nixed from the smartphone because "first generation LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises." That reportedly changed in December, when reports surfaced that Qualcomm had developed a new, thinner LTE chipset considerably smaller than current LTE chipsets. The new chip was originally expected to debut in the second or third quarter but it looks as if Apple hastened the process so LTE is included in time for its next iPad.
