Reports of a retina display for the iPad mini aren’t aren’t new, but an end-of-the-year release date is. And according to Bloomberg, Apple is looking at a very busy holiday season, with a new iPad mini as well as a new, redesigned iPad, both available before the end of year.
Given the proliferation of high-quality, mid-size tablets, like the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, a retina display for the iPad mini makes sense. After all, the 1900-by-1200 HD display on the Nexus 7 works out to a super-fine 323 pixels per inch, while the 7.9-inch, 1024-by-768 iPad mini has just 163. This means that Apple will essentially have to double the tablet’s resolution while keeping the size the same.
In addition to the retina display-toting iPad mini, Apple is also expected to release a newly-svelte iPad. Aside from the Lightning port on last year’s fourth-generation model, the iPad hasn’t seen a significant redesign since its second iteration. Apple will likely shake things up a bit this generation by employing a thinner display with less bezel.
Bloomberg reports that “Apple’s share of the tablet market slid to 32 percent in the second quarter, from 60 percent a year earlier, according to market-research firm IDC.” So releasing two revamped tablets should be exactly the one-two punch Apple needs right about now.
In addition to the iPad news, Bloomberg corroborates a September 10 date for Apple’s next special event, where it is expected to announce the iPhone 5S and potentially the iPhone 5C.
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