Leaked images show how the new iPad Mini stacks up against the iPad and the iPhone

The iPhone 5 is all set for its grand launch today. But Apple may have another trick up its sleeve and we may just see some major announcements regarding the iPad Mini being made today as well. Pictures of the pocket-friendly variant of the popular tablet were first leaked on a Chinese website which offered various hands-on shots of the iPad Mini as well as a shot showing the comparative sizes of the iPad, the iPad mini and the iPhone.

iPad Mini images leaked online

If the leaked pictures are anything to go by, the iPad Mini loses a dress size from its full-sized big brother and comes with an 8-inch screen as opposed to the 10-inch display on the bigger Apple tablet. The smaller iPad would not only be more portable than the original iPad but it will also allow the company to compete against devices like the 7-inch tablets from Nexus and the budget tablets offered by Amazon. Despite the late Steve Jobs’ aversion to smaller tablet devices, Apple seems to have changed its stand on petite tablets in the face of the burgeoning competition in the segment.

Industry experts believe that the iPad Mini could boast of the same kind of processing power that the iPad 2 comes with which should be more than sufficient to power the pint-sized tablet. The iPad Mini is also rumored to be 3G network compatible allowing users to access the internet on the go. Even if Apple does not make any announcements regarding the iPad Mini at the iPhone 5 launch, we could well see the tablet arrive in stores before Christmas.