iPad Mini Price: The Lower It Is, The More Apple Dominates

If you're planning on purchasing a tablet, you're probably waiting for this fall. Not only will there be great deals on the already-released Nexus 7, Galaxy Note 10.1 and iPad tablets, but the next-gen Kindle Fire, Microsoft Surface, and a smaller, cheaper iPad will also be available for purchase.And if the rumors about Apple's iPad Mini are correct, then it looks like Apple just might dominate the tablet market completely.

Not only is there an intense brand-loyalty and consumer fanatisicsm among Apple products, the iPad created the tablet market. It is the most recognizable tablet out there, and the only place where it falters is its 10-inch size and hefty $499 price tag. Not every consumer wants to, or can even afford to, pay that price or own such a large tablet.

This is where smaller 7-inch tablets have made their mark. The Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7 tablets start at $199 and come with a more portable 7-inch screen. They have carved out a unique niche for themselves among users who want a tablet experience but not the size or price of Apple's iPad.But when Apple releases its rumored 7.85-inch tablet at a lower price, all of Amazon and Google's successes could be mitigated. 

The iPad Mini is expected to cost anywhere from $249 to $299.Analyst Rhoda Alexander from IHS iSuppli told CNET that Apple's pricing strategy will determine how badly Apple will "crush the opposition."

If the iPad starts at $249, and offers a 4G model at $349, as Alexander predicts, then Apple would be making a very compelling point to consumers: for only $50 more, why not invest in a popular Apple product, known to be sturdy, and can even offer you 4G capabilities that other budget tablets cannot.Apple is already a leader in the tablet market, and will surely reclaim its smartphone-king crown once the iPhone 5 comes out September.

The additional release of the iPad Mini will only open up a whole new market for Apple to conquer, and with iOS 6 touting improved connectivity with Apple devices running OS X Mountain Lion, Apple stands a good chance of making more consumers become Apple users.