Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPad Mini launch imminent, Shares Fall In Pre-market

Apple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) is scheduled to hold a media event on Tuesday for the launch of an unspecified device/devices.

This is Apple's second media event this season and this time the buzz is around iPad Mini, dubbed by the media as such because it is rumoured to be smaller and cheaper than the existing iPad models.

The iPad Mini is one of the most speculated devices that nobody has seen, and all the more mysterious because none of Apple's executive have ever mentioned the product.

The event will be held at a venue believed to hold 1,122 seated audiences, as compared to a September 12 event venue, which housed 757 seats, Value Walk said.

Considering the size of the venue, analysts are taking this to mean that the company will no merely be unveiling the iPad Mini, but a lot of other devices as well.

The technology giant is known to match the importance of an event with audience capacity, and this is suggestive of a refresh of the iMac line-up, which has not been refreshed for more than 540 days, Value Walk pointed out.

A recent survey by Baird Equity research showed that 46 percent customers would like to buy an iPad Mini. However they wanted a larger device - one with an 8 inch display compared to that with a 7 inch display.

The iPad Mini supposed to be launched by Apple on Tuesday is expected to have a display size of 7.85 inches. So this is somewhere between the two.

The iPad Mini is supposed to compete with the Google Nexus and Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets both of which are handy at 7 inches.

However considering the price points at which it is sought to be introduced, the Mini version could well compete with the previous models of the iPad such as the iPad 1 & 2. 

Shares of AAPL soared 3.97% to $634.03 in Monday’s session and down 0.50% to $634.03.