Analyst is not impressed by rumors of a smaller iPad launching in spring

Dec 23, 2011 15:31 GMT  ·  By

A new research note from Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair suggests there will not be a 7-inch iPad next year, or anything in the 7-inch range for that matter.

“Don’t expect a 7-incher,” he said. “While we believe Apple has tested 7-inch screen prototypes for over a year, we don’t currently expect the company to release anything in the 7-inch size in 2012,” Blair wrote in his note to clients today.

Brian Blair is one of the people who accurately predicted Apple’s iPhone 4S announcement earlier this year, rather than the iPhone 5.

In his note, he added that Applewas unlikely to discontinue the current-generation of iPads next year when the iPad 3 should be released. Instead, the Mac maker will continue to sell the iPad 2 at a reduced price.

“We believe iPad 2′s price could drop to the $349 to $399 range with Apple offering a single 16GB model,” he said.