Apple’s suppliers have already started  production of the smaller version of iPad according to Wall Street Journal reports.

“The smaller tablet will have a 7.85-inch liquid-crystal display with a lower resolution than the latest iPad, which was released in March, two of the people said. The screen on the current iPad measures 9.7 inches diagonally, a size that hasn’t changed since the first model was released in 2010. ” said the report.

Steve Jobs was always strongly against a smaller tablet, much have changed since then, Galaxy Nexus, Kindle Fire and other impressive products have strengthened the 7-inch tablet ecosystem and a mini iPad givees iPad a chance for a more affordable price point compared to the standard, 9.7 inch iPad.