When Apple released the iPad mini it took some criticism for its $329 entry-level price as its Android rivals were able to hit the $199 and $249 price point. Apple still sold more iPad minis than its competitors, and now according to a new report Apple plans to sell even more by releasing an iPad mini with a cheaper price.

A new report from Citi Research claims that Apple will launch an iPad mini well below the current $329 16GB Wi-Fi model currently on store shelves. If there's one way Apple can ensure that the iPad mini keeps selling so well, it is by offering it to customers at price that is lower than the previous iPad mini and at the price points of smaller Android tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD.

Apple is expected to launch an iPad mini 2 with Retina Display in the fall along with the iPad 5. It appears as if Apple is going to possibly keep the current generation iPad mini available at a very attractive price below $250. We've seen Apple make this move in the past with iPhone and iPad. It provides a way for Apple to silence the critics with a cheaper and more competitive price point and will allow Apple to sell an iPad mini 2 with an improved Retina Display for the same price of the current generation.

Apple still sells the iPad 2 it introduced in 2011 right alongside the iPad 4, the main differences between the two mostly are price and Retina Display. We can probably expect the same when Apple unveils the iPad mini 2 with Retina Display, if this report from Citi Research's Glen Yeung is correct:

"Supply chain checks by Citi's Asia-Pac Technology Team suggest a mix shift surprisingly toward Apple's older iPhone4/4S, And with our expectation of a low-end iPhone slated for September launch, followed by a sub-$250 iPad mini, we expect this trend to persist."

It would make perfect sense for Apple to use a formula that it is already successful and familiar with.