Thursday Apple Rumors: Retina iPad Mini Launch Moved Up

by Christopher Freeburn | September 5, 2013 12:36 pm

daily apple rumors AAPL[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for today:

Accelerated: The list of new products that Apple (AAPL[3]) unveils this fall will likely include an iPad Mini 2, featuring a higher resolution display[4], CNET notes. That forecast comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Most analysts have expected the company to release an updated iPad Mini with a Retina screen, following in the footprints of the standard-sized iPad. However, reports surfaced earlier this year that Apple’s Asian manufacturing partners were encountering problems producing the smaller Retina screens in sufficient volume to meet Apple’s requirements. Those reports led to a number of predictions that a Retina iPad Mini would not debut until some time next year. Kuo says that with competition in the tablet market growing fast, Apple now feels that it cannot wait much longer to introduce a Retina iPad Mini. It has stepped up production to launch new tablet before the end of the year. The Retina iPad Mini will feature an A7 chip, which is also expected to appear in the company’s soon-to-launch iPhone 5S. Kuo also predicts that Apple will release a lower-priced non-Retina iPad Mini, aimed at budget shoppers, in 2014.

More Evidence: A French website has obtained a component allegedly for the upcoming iPhone 5S that shows something new under the home button[5], Business Insider notes. The item in question is a home button with a fingerprint scanner built-in. Rumors have abounded for months that Apple planned to include a fingerprint sensor in its latest iPhone, but direct evidence has been hard to come by. Last year, Apple spent $356 million to purchase security solution provider AuthenTec, which makes fingerprint sensors and related technology. Most analysts have expected Apple to integrate fingerprint sensors for use in iPhone security and possibly as a stepping stone toward developing a mobile payment system. Apple has sent out invitations for a special media event on September 10, at which it is expected to debut the new iPhone 5S.

Dropped: Documents obtained from a Canadian wireless carrier indicate that some iPhone 5 models will be discontinued this month[6], 9to5Mac notes. The leaked documents indicate that Telus (TU[7]) will stop selling the 32GB and 64GB versions of the iPhone 5 on September 28. The document does not mention the 16GB iPhone 5, suggesting that it may linger as a discount offering. Apple is expected to launch its new flagship iPhone 5S next week alongside a cheaper iPhone 5C. The two new iPhones are expected to become available to consumers about 10 days after they are unveiled. Recent rumors have suggested that after the new iPhones launch, Apple will discontinue the iPhone 5. Some reports say that the iPhone 4S will continue until the end of the year.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[8] stories.

Endnotes:

  1. [Image]: https://investorplace.com/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/
  2. Apple rumors: https://investorplace.com/search/?q=Apple+Rumors&searchsubmit=Search
  3. AAPL: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=AAPL
  4. featuring a higher resolution display: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57601443-37/fearing-rivals-apple-eyes-ipad-mini-retina-in-2013-analyst/
  5. something new under the home button: http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5s-fingerprint-sensor-2013-9
  6. some iPhone 5 models will be discontinued this month: http://9to5mac.com/2013/09/04/canadian-carrier-telus-will-discontinue-32-and-64gb-iphone-5-on-september-28th-16gb-to-remain-on-as-mid-tier/
  7. TU: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=TU
  8. Apple Rumors: https://investorplace.com/2012/04/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/

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