According to Japanese Apple news site Macotakara, a “reliable Chinese source” says that Apple is currently working with LCD suppliers to get a 5-inch panel with a pixel density high enough to be able to call it a Retina Display.
This could be the iPad Mini we’ve heard about. According to the same source, the device could be arriving sometime next year and could have either a 1,600 by 960 pixel or 1,280 by 960 pixel resolution display (either of which would be a first for an iOS device).
Apple is not known for dealing with a large number of various sizes for building their products, unlike competitors such as Samsung. Apple is known, rather, for going the very parallel route as far as their device sizes are concerned. Knowing this lends significance to the possibilities that the iPad Mini is indeed more than a simple rumor.
Unfortunately, that’s where it will have to stay for now. Still, it is quite possible that VoIP and messaging app users may yet be using a brand new Apple product with their services in 2013.