What New Product Did Apple Just Order 10 Million of in Prep for Holiday Season?

It seems the moment one Apple rumor is put to rest a new one quickly fills the void. This latest rumor is of a mini tablet that the company appears to be putting a large amount of faith into.

The iPad mini, as it is being called, is like many a rumored Apple product in that it has not been formally announced. But the Wall Street Journal is reporting the company has ordered 10 million of them ahead of the holiday season. WSJ notes suppliers in Asia saying this is twice the number of orders placed by Amazon's Kindle Fire.

This, WSJ writes, shows Apple's confidence in high demand for the still rumored product.

Here's what WSJ reports analysts saying of the iPad mini:

“It makes sense for market leader Apple to extend its dominance in tablets with a smaller tablet,”said Capital Securities analyst Diana Wu.

[...]

“iPad mini will be a big hit if Apple prices it below $300,” said RBS analyst Wanli Wang.

WSJ sources speculate the mini would be a 7.85-inch tablet -- the current iPad is 9.5 inches long. AllThingsD has more from an expert regarding the device:

Tokepa analyst Brian White, who’s been travelling around Taipei talking to component suppliers, says the mini — or whatever Apple chooses to call it — may even be slicker than the new iPad.

“Apple did not skimp on the aesthetics of the much anticipated ‘iPad Mini,’” White says. “In fact, we believe the ‘iPad Mini’ could outshine the new iPad in terms of how the device feels in a consumer’s hands.”

Watch this report regarding the iPad mini from International Business Times:

When will new Apple device actually be announced? Fortune reported a source saying invites would go out for this week for a mid-October announcement and a November launch date.

CNET recently reported that even with the iPad mini not even being an officially announced device yet, accessories for it are already "coming soon." A $24.99 screen protector by Zagg is one of them.

In August, Apple announced its long-awaited iPhone 5. Within only a few days after its launch, Apple sold 5 million of the device.

Related:

• Here Are the iPhone 5's Three Biggest Problems (and How to Fix Them)
• The Interview With an iPhone 5 Buyer That's So Mind-Numbing You'll Think It's Staged
• We Know You're Wondering What Happens When You Shoot a .50 Caliber at an iPhone: This Guy Shows You

(H/T: Business Insider)