The iPad mini tablet may start at $329, not $250

The base price for Apple’s iPad mini tablet, widely expected to be announced Tuesday, could be set at $329, according to a report.

That would be significantly higher than the $250 price tag that was rumored last week and far more than Google and Amazon’s base $199 price for their respective 7-inch tablets.

The 9 to 5 Mac tech news site, citing unnamed sources, said two other Wi-Fi-only versions of the tablet will also be available, going for $429 and $529. Additionally, the rumored tablet is expected to also be available in cellular-connected versions. These are expected to start at $459 and go up to $559 and $659.

A roundup of iPad mini tablet rumors [Photos]

The latest report contradicts last week’s speculation that the iPad mini would start at $250 for an 8-gigabyte model.

The iPad mini, which may be officially dubbed iPad Air, is widely expected to be announced at an invitation-only event that Apple has scheduled in San Jose on Tuesday morning.

The device is believed to include a 7.85-inch screen and look a lot like the iPhone 5 with a coated-aluminum backing. Additionally, the device may include two speakers and the new Apple Lightning dock connector. The iPad mini is expected to be light and thin.

ALSO:

Review: Beats Pill brings the volume, style [Video]

Calling all techies: Thwart robocalls, win $50,000 from the FTC

Apple breaks ground on $68-million data center in rural Orego