iPad Mini Release Date and Features Rumors; If True, Worth Buying?

Rumors have been circulating for weeks about an Apple iPad Mini. Would it be Wi-Fi only? Will the price compete with the Kindle Fire? Will there even really be an iPad Mini? And if so, will it be worth purchasing?

CNN's mobile tech writer Amy Grahran said there's speculation that Apple could announce the release as soon as Oct. 17 in her article Will an iPad Mini Be Worth Buying?

Grahran said Apple founder Steve Jobs probably wouldn't be too pleased with the idea of a mini tablet, since he publicly dismissed the 7-inch tablet in 2010.

With competition from Amazon's Kindle Fire, the iPad's sales are weakening. The article said just as as many people own Android-based tablets (48 percent) and half of those own Kindle Fires (21 percent). The Kindle Fire comes with 7- and 8.9-inch display options, and a reasonable price tag of $99 to $299. The iPad is priced at $500 and has a 9.7-inch display, the article said.

How could Apple not partake in the mini-tablet trend?

As for some of the possible features, Grahran says, when Apple finally debuts the iPad Mini--she expects it will have a display size of 7 to 7.8 inches. She said it will be Wi-Fi only and have at least two carrier-specific 4G models (Verizon and AT&T).

"Most importantly, to appeal to the small-tablet consumer market, Apple probably will need to limit the iPad Mini starting price to about $150 to $200. Consequently, the lowest-end iPad Mini may only offer 8 gigabytes of built-in memory -- and I'm betting that no iPad Mini will offer Apple's high-end Retina display," she said.

She adds that Apple is now for offering "premium" products," so the price will definitely be higher than the $99 Kindle Fire.

But don't go too low. Cult of Mac said the mini's price will have to compete with its counterparts. Cult gave a starting price around $249.

"Considering the entire line of potential iPads, you'll have the $249 iPad mini, the $399 iPad 2 and the $499 new iPad, which mirrors the way the other Apple product lines are positioned, with high, medium, and lower end pricing structures," Cult said.

Cult of Mac also speculated the iPad mini will be thinner and use the Lightning connector. Some reports said the device will be as thin as the iPod touch 4G. It's also expected to use the new Lightning dock connector, which means a smaller, thinner device.

To add to thespeculation, Forbes chimed in, saying it will go on sale Nov. 2 and 10 million will be manufactured. Just like Cult of the Mac, it listed the price around $249.However, Forbes said Apple would make the big announcement today (Oct. 10).