A few U.S. retailers have substantially dropped the price of the third generation iPad today, signalling the possibility of a second generation iPad Mini and fifth generation iPad coming to the market soon.
Typically, the third-generation iPad has been offered at a price of $449.00 for the 16GB version and $699.99 for the 32GB version. Today, Best Buy is offering the 16GB third-generation iPad for $314.99, and the 32GB model for $384.99. MacMall and Wal-Mart are offering discounts on the iPad Mini, with MacMall offering the 16GB iPad mini Wi-Fi version starting at $329.00, and Wal-Mart offering the same model for $299.00.
These discounts come amongst rumors of Apple cutting back shipments of the first generation iPad mini, and suggestions that Apple could hold an iPad launch event later this month. The iPad mini 2 is rumored to have a 2048 x 1536 resolution retina display, an A6X processor and an improved rear camera. The next iPad is projected to be a little slimmer, coming in 4mm shorter,17mm narrower and 2mm thinner than the previous incarnation.
With Android handsets and tablets being released at a rapid pace, Apple is slowly losing mobile market share due in part to the lack of hardware offerings and software innovations. If Apple wants to keep up with the bevy of Android devices on the market, they will have to develop more devices for multiple price points, and keep software fresh and functional.
[Via: TabTimes]