Apple to Launch Cheap iPad Mini Priced Below $250

The first half of 2013 was very busy for the smartphone and tablet makers. Consumer Electronics Show and Mobile World Congress took place in Las Vegas and Barcelona, respectively, Samsung announced the Galaxy S4, HTC has put its hopes in One flagship, while LG makes a furious attack: Optimus G debuts in Europe, Optimus G Pro is announced, and Optimus GK is officially introduced in South Korea.

Things are going well for Apple to, as the iPhone sales have grown compared to the same time frame of the last year, according to the information provided by IDC (37 million units in Q1 2013 compared to 35 million in Q1 2013).

Apple didn’t announce any new products in 2013, but I am sure that the Cupertino-based giant has a lot of surprises for us. Samsung has grown a lot and analysts have started to question Apple’s strategy and Tim Cook’s leadership.

The latest rumors retarding the unannounced Apple products talk about a low-cost iPad Mini which will reportedly have a price between $200 – 250. It would be one of the first Apple products that would fit into the budget segment.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the iPad Mini will have modest hardware specifications and that its case will no longer be made of aluminium. The cheap iPad Mini will come with 8 GB of internal storage, no camera on the back, and other cheap components meant to lower the production price.

It would be a challenge for Apple to develop a low-end product that still provides excellent iOS experience. But according to the rumor mill the cheap iPad Mini will not be the only budget product in Apple’s line-up. You’ve probably heard about the cheap iPhone with policarbonate body, as it made the headlines of the tech publications weeks in a row.

Do you think the market needs an iPad Mini with a price below $250?