Apple is developing a smaller version of the tablet iPad. The new device will be equipped with a screen size diagonally from 5 to 7 inches, says Digitimes with reference to the component manufacturers.

According to Mingchi Kuo, a senior analyst at Digitimes Research, a new tablet could go on sale in the first quarter of 2011. However, he will focus on reading electronic books. Price unit is less than 400 dollars. For comparison, the cost of younger models iPad with a screen 9.7 inches in the U.S. is $ 499.

It is expected that such a device could compete with the popular e-book reader, especially the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. The most common version of the Kindle is equipped with a 6-inch screen and sells for 259 dollars.

This "small" iPad may also occupy a niche between the original version of the device, issued on sale April 3, and the iPhone and iPod touch, which have 3.5-inch screen.