Will we see an 8GB iPad mini? Unlikely

Next week, Apple is holding a media event where it is expected to unveil the long-awaited iPad mini. Thanks to Apple's cloak of silence, nothing official is known about this device.

There is one thing I would lay money on, however, is that we won't see it offered with 8GB of storage.

The biggest question mark over the iPad mini is price. There's a lot of speculation that the base model will be offered for $250, the same price as the fourth-generation 32GB iPod touch. This base model, the rumors and pundits seem to assume, will come with 8GB of storage.

That's just not going to happen. Not convinced? Here are some things to think about.

Firstly, Apple does not provide any current generation iOS device in an 8GB model. The only iOS device that Apple sells in the 8GB option is the iPhone 4. For the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, and the iPad 2 and iPad 3, the starting capacity is 16GB, while for the fifth-generation iPod touch, the capacity starts at a bountiful 32GB.

Secondly, there are two reasons why Apple has chosen to kick 8GB aside for 16GB. The price difference between 8GB and 16GB of storage is negligible. Even the iPod nano -- which isn't an iOS device, and as such doesn't run downloadable apps -- comes with 16GB of storage.

16GB is the new sweet spot.

The other reason is that as Apple has made the shift to Retina displays, the size of iOS apps has increased, making 8GB feel awfully cramped and awfully quickly.

Finally, why would Apple offer the iPad mini in four different storage capacities when all the other iOS devices come in one, two, or three storage options? It doesn't make sense that Apple would offer this device in a larger range of storage options than it does for other iOS devices.

Image source: Nickolay Lamm/InventHelp.