Microsoft mini tablet to take on Apple, Google

After Apple, it is now Microsoft’s turn to get into the mini tablet bandwagon.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft Corp is developing a new lineup of 7” Surface tablets.

The report quoting sources said the tablet is expected to go into mass production later this year. The mini tablet could well be out in the market during the first quarter of 2014.

The mini tablet market is already crowded with the likes of Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7, Apple’s iPad and a range of other products from HP, HTC and other players.

Two days ago Acer unveiled Iconia A1-810, the 7.9” running on Android Jelly Bean and powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8125 CPU, geared at taking on the similar sized iPad mini.

Meanwhile, earlier reports that Apple might announce the iPad mini 2 in March has already turned out to be false. During the recent Spring Gitex in Dubai retailers had reported brisk sales of iPad mini. The mini version by Apple was the bestseller in comparison to other similar models.

A recent report by Digitimes however has warned that Apple has slashed iPad mini shipments for the second quarter of 2013. It was blamed on increasing competition from other 7” Android tablets like Google's Nexus 7.

While the Google Nexus 7 was selling for Dh800 after discount at Gitex Shopper, the iPad mini was priced close to Dh1200.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s bigger sized Surface and Surface Pro is yet to take off in any major way. Surface Pro is yet to be officially launched in the UAE and was selling at Gitex Shopper for Dh5,399.

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