Apple To Begin Production Of Smaller 7.85-inch iPad Unit By Q3 2012

The Taiwanese based website, Digitimes, are one such publication which regularly publishes reports making predictions and citing various sources who are always familiar with Apple’s internals. Historically, they have been largely hit and miss with their claims, but certainly have a good enough success rate to warrant attention being paid. The latest from the website claims that Apple are preparing themselves to begin the production process of making a 7.85-inch iPad, beginning in quarter 3 of 2012 and entering the marketplace by year end.

The purported miniature iPad is nothing new, we have been hearing rumors relating to a product of this nature for quite some time, but things seemed to have been quiet on that front, until now. The Digitimes article claims that working samples of the device have already been delivered to Apple and even elaborates on a proposed pricing structure:

Makers in Apple’s iPad supply chain have started delivering samples of 7.85-inch iPads for verification, with volume production likely to begin in the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest, according to industry sources.

The price of the 7.85-inch iPad is likely to be set at US$249-299, since Apple is also expected to release an 8GB iPad 2 for US$349-399, and has lowered the price of the 16GB iPad 2 to US$449, the sources noted.