Rumour: Apple places order for 10 million iPad Minis

Apple has supposedly ordered 10 million iPad Minis to be manufactured.

Rumours have flown around for months regarding the smaller version of the iPad, dubbed the iPad Mini. It has now been reported that Apple has placed an order for 10 million of the unannounced tablet.

Apple's component suppliers in Asia, including Taiwan, said they have received an order to make 10 million iPad Minis in the fourth quarter, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is around double the amount Amazon placed for its Kindle Fire tables in the same quarter.

The large amount which Apple has demanded indicated that the iPhone 5 maker expects sales to be strong, despite strong competition from Android rivals. Apple is responding to the success of the cheap Kindle Fire and newer entries such as Google's Nexus 7 by Asus.

If the whispers are to be believed, Apple will announce the iPad Mini this month to go on sale shortly afterwards.