The iPad mini hit the shelves on Nov. 2 and has seen a overwhelming initial response with the online pre-orders being sold out within a few hours. To keep the iPad mini competitive with other 7-inch tablets, Apple had to keep the price low and the Retina Display did not feature in the tablet; however, rumors now suggest that the next version of the iPad mini will be equipped with the Retina Display.

It is not even a month that Apple launched the much-awaited iPad mini and rumors have started to surface that Apple will launch the next-gen iPad mini 2 by the second half of 2013.

If the rumor surrounding the Retina Display for iPad mini 2 is to be believed, then the purported tablet will have an even sharper display which currently the Retina iPad features.

The iPad mini features a 7.9‑inch LED-backlit Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology with 1024 x 768 pixels resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi). Speculations suggest that the iPad mini 2 will sport a higher 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution display with Retina Display.

"AU Optronics, which is one of Apple's suppliers of 1024 x 768 panels for the current iPad mini, expects to begin mass producing 2048 x 1536 resolution 7.9-inch displays by the second half of 2013," repoted SlashGear.

It should not come as a surprise if Apple launches the iPad mini 2 with a Retina display. The technology is already with the company and it will be a matter of implementing it to the next generation of iPad mini. The iPad mini also packs in Apple's A5 processor and a possibility exists that Apple may include a faster A6X processor in the iPad mini 2 just as the Retina iPad.

The iPad mini has enticed many smartphone enthusiasts in just a short period of time, but has also faced criticism for not possessing the Retina Display.

If the iPad mini features a Retina Display, will it be the perfect 7-inch tablet in the industry? What do you think?