9to5 Mac is keeping the iPad mini rumor mill churning with a new report that says the rumored tablet will be a large iPod touch. The blog claims that the iPad mini will have a 7-inch display with a very small bezel. The device may also sport a front-facing camera and possibly a back-facing camera. If pricing is a concern, Apple may choose to include low-end cameras or even a single camera to keep the price low. Another cost-cutting strategy may be the decision to remove the cellular radio and manufacture a WiFi-only version of the tablet. 9to5 Mac points to leaked shells supposedly from the iPad mini that do not have a space for the cellular radio as evidence for this Wifi-only speculation. As for the launch of the device, 9to5 mac predicts that the iPad mini will ship after the new iPhone, but still in time for the holidays.
iMore also chimed in today with a new report that says the iPad mini will be a lighter, thinner version of the iPad. The blog created a mockup, shown above, that shows the iPad mini along with the iPad and the iPhone. According to iMore, the iPad mini could be as thin as the iPod touch with a very small bezel on the sides on the device. iMore argues that this device won’t resemble the iPod touch, but will be a “full on iPad.” It’ll run the same apps and have a similar feature set as its bigger cousin. Apple, iMore suggests, is targeting those customers who passed on the iPad because it’s too big or too expensive to buy. Just like 9to5 Mac, iMore predicts the $200 iPad mini will arrive in time for the holiday shopping season.
[Via 9to5 Mac and iMore; image from iMore]