Production Has Begun on a Smaller iPad

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By Trey Thoelcke Published
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The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) Asian component suppliers have begun production of a new tablet computer that is smaller than the latest iPad model that came out in March.

South Korea’s LG Display and Taiwan’s AU Optronics last month began mass production of the LCD screens for the new device, according to people familiar with the matter. This smaller tablet is said to have a 7.85-inch liquid-crystal display with a lower resolution than the current iPad.

Apple’s new smaller tablet comes at a time competition is increasingly fierce in the fast-growing market segment. Apple is trying to stay competitive against rivals such as Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), which are already offer smaller, less-expensive alternatives to the iPad.

Earlier this week, CNN.com report on rumors that a “major Apple investor” had heard from “multiple sources” that invitations to a press event will be sent out on October 10. If Apple follows its usual pattern, that implies a product introduction on October 17, followed by a launch date of November 7 for the new iPad.

Apple, following its long-standing practice, has declined to comment on such rumors.

Photo of Trey Thoelcke
About the Author Trey Thoelcke →

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.

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