Fresh from a major launch of products last month, Apple may be gearing up for another major launch this month as a rumor suggests that the iPhone-maker may send out invites next week to an iPad Mini launch.

The information comes from Fortune which says that there is “no reason to believe” the rumor apart from the publication hearing it from a “major Apple investor”.

According to Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt, this “major Apple investor” has told them that he has heard about the iPad Mini launch from “multiple sources.”

This investor told the publication that Apple may send out its invitations for the Apple iPad Mini event next Wednesday, October 10.

That means that if Apple will launch an iPad Mini, they will do so the week after they send out invites or anytime during the October 17 to 19 timeframe.

If the product will be unveiled during that time frame, expect to see it in stores about two weeks after.

Apple has been long-rumored to be preparing an iPad Mini to rival smaller and more affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire.

Both tablets from the Apple iPad rivals cost about $200 with the Nexus 7 being just slightly more expensive.

Before the iPhone 5 was unveiled by Apple, the Cupertino, California-based company was rumored to be launching the iPad Mini together with its next iPhone at its September 12 event.

Nonetheless, there have been rumors in the past that Apple will introduce its iPad Mini tablet after it launches the iPhone 5.

Rumored to be priced at a low $200, the iPad Mini was also reported in the past to cost Apple $189 to build.

That is in terms of its bill of materials which does not include other costs such as labor, shipping and marketing costs.

That is still less than what the Kindle Fire is said to cost Amazon which is at about $210 which means Amazon loses money upfront with each purchase of the Kindle Fire.

Apple would have to battle it out with Google and its Nexus 7, Amazon and its Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, and Microsoft and its Surface for Windows RT tablet.

The iPad Mini is said to be manufactured by Apple’s long-time contract manufacturer Foxconn and another company called Pegatron.

A lot of images of the purported new tablet from Apple has been making the rounds on the internet. They show what appears to be a 7-inch screen and a smaller bezel compared to the iPad.

All Things Digital has once predicted in August that the iPad Mini will launch in October.

Images from tinymaggiemags & _rafaeltorales on Flickr (CC)

About Solon Harmony Dolor

A passion for technology and journalism makes this upcoming writer very interested in social media and technology news. Fresh from finishing an English and Journalism degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, he aims to bring interesting news to our readers .