It’s now only few hours remaining before we get to see the coveted iPad mini. The event is scheduled for the 23rd of October. Nothing much about the iPad mini is a secret now. We know what it looks like, we have a fair idea about what it will be priced at. But the one aspect no one looked at was the implications of this product on Apple’s other products. More specifically the iPad 2.
Analysts are predicting that with the announcement of iPad mini, Apple will be looking to phase out the iPad 2. It has enjoyed a successful life and at $399 it still can put up a fight against the best Android tablets. But with the iPad mini priced at $329 and iPad 2 at $399, there is no clear distinction between tablet offerings from Apple. This is something they are looking to fix by phasing out the iPad 2. By doing this they will have two tablets aimed at different markets. One small tablet iPad mini at a lower price point, and a bigger higher end tablet iPad 3 for those looking for a richer experience.
Whether the demise of the iPad 2 will have any effects on the balance sheet, that we will know in the coming months.