Apple has sent out invitations to media for a special event on the 23rd of October. The Cupertino firm is expected to lift the lid on the hotly-anticipated iPad mini, a 7.85-inch version of the iPad. Although were eager to finally get to see the smaller version of the iPad, an analyst says that the iPad mini means the death of the iPad 2.
According to an independent investment banking advisory firm, Evercore Partners, analyst, Rob Chira, after the official unveiling of the smaller iPad, Apple is planning to streamline the new format.
In a note to investors, Chira said that the iPad 2 would be phased out. If true, this would mean that the 2nd generation iPad would be phased out after only being in the market for less than two years.
When Apple launched the new iPad, it has sold the iPad 2 at $399 (£249 in the UK). This is a $100 drop (£96 in the UK) after the current iPad hit shops.
Although the iPad mini is a smaller version of the iPad, it is expected to come with a beefier processor and is said to sport more RAM for added performance. We’re not expecting it to sport a retina display just like the new iPad. Its display will probably sport a resolution of 1024×768 pixels, which is the same as the iPad 2.
Despite having a smaller display, it is likely to have more pixels per inch. Coupled with better specs, it would perform better and sport a sharper screen compared to the iPad 2.
Chira suggests that Apple could be selling 7 million units of the iPad towards the end of 2012, which could grow to 27 million during the holiday season.
Apple is yet to confirm if it is phasing out the iPad 2.
Do you think the arrival of the iPad mini will mean the death of the iPad 2? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.
