12 iPad mini Models Are Launching Next Week

A list of 24 iPad mini SKUs (stock keeping units) for black and white versions has popped up on the web, indicating that Apple has prepared what is essentially a line of 12 different models with storage capacities ranging between 8GB and 64GB.

AppleInsider has published an image of the “presumed ‘iPad mini’ product SKUs” based on information obtained from people who are familiar with Apple's product inventory. The full list shows 24 separate device models. However, when the Black vs White distinction is taken into account, the list only shows 12 clearly distinct models, from a technical standpoint. The four different product descriptions each come with three distinctions labeled as “GOOD,” “BETTER,” and “BEST” which, according to the source, could point to Wi-Fi-only, 3G, and 4G LTE models, respectively. The A / B references most likely refer to the color of the tablet, which indicates that Apple is not shipping the iPad mini in a variety of colors, but rather in the same Black and White scheme as it does with the current line of iPads. Lastly, an 8GB version is expected to launch next week with a $249/€192 price tag.

Rumored for October 23, an Apple media event is said to be hosted at the company’s 1 Infinite Loop headquarters in the Town Hall auditorium. There, Tim Cook and his troops are expected to take to the stage to unveil not only the iPad mini, but also a slew of much-needed new Macintosh upgrades. The iMac is said to get a complete redesign (a teardrop shaped enclosure), while the Mac mini changes are said to be more interesting on the inside, rather than on the outside. On the laptop front, a 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro with Retina display is said to be ready for launch. The Mac Pro, on the other hand, seems close to its demise.

Alleged iPad mini part numbers
Image credits to AppleInsider

Posted in: Preview, Tablet