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All iPads Anybody still going to buy the Mini 3?
- Thread starter stretch80
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Everything you are saying resonates very well with me. I too think Apple nailed the form factor of the Mini at 7.9 inch in a 4:3 aspect. The size to me is very useful for the Web, PDF's, etc, etc, etc... Personally, I'd love to see Apple shave off some weight to make it even easier to handhold than it already is. Maybe next year!
I know everyone has different needs and things they value. For me, it's mostly about the display and the Mini's display falls well short of the mark for me. Personally, I'm moving on from the Mini after using them extensively for the past 2 years.
It's going to be tough to find a replacement for the Mini. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm planning to give the Nexus 9 a try (already pre-ordered). If the Air 2 turns out to have 2G Ram, I may decide to go "bigger" and get it.....although I really prefer a smaller tablet! Tough choices!
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Everything you are saying resonates very well with me. I too think Apple nailed the form factor of the Mini at 7.9 inch in a 4:3 aspect. The size to me is very useful for the Web, PDF's, etc, etc, etc... Personally, I'd love to see Apple shave off some weight to make it even easier to handhold than it already is. Maybe next year!
I know everyone has different needs and things they value. For me, it's mostly about the display and the Mini's display falls well short of the mark for me. Personally, I'm moving on from the Mini after using them extensively for the past 2 years.
It's going to be tough to find a replacement for the Mini. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm planning to give the Nexus 9 a try (already pre-ordered). If the Air 2 turns out to have 2G Ram, I may decide to go "bigger" and get it.....although I really prefer a smaller tablet! Tough choices!
Well, Many of you will think I'm crazy but I ended up ordering an Air 2 and then returned it to Apple store and getting the Mini 3. I even had the Mini 2. I guess I wasn't ready to give up the Mini's size. Plus I don't get too crazy with gaming or other things that require higher performance. The touch ID and size was enough to keep me.
As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters. 
I'm quite happy with my new 32GB Mini 2 that arrived on Tuesday.
I'm quite happy with my new 32GB Mini 2 that arrived on Tuesday.
As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.
I'm quite happy with my new 32GB Mini 2 that arrived on Tuesday.
Very true! Enjoy your Mini 2 as well!
I've ben debating back & forth on if I should upgrade my original Mini or not. Like you, I didn't think the Mini 3 was worth it. But I did find the rMini2 64gb wifi/cellular for $449. Should I go for it? Amazon is offering up $236 for a trade in so I'm happy to take that.
Part of me just wants to hold out for the Mini 4, if there is one. The other part of me thinks Apple is going to kill this line.
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Not true. Refurbs but that hardly matters.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...pad-mini-2-wi-fi-cellular-for-att-64gb-silver
http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...ad-mini-2-wi-fi-cellular-for-att-128gb-silver
Only you can determine if you'll be happy with that model. If you need/want it and the cost is right for you, do it.
Agree with this. Moreover, unless Touch ID is really important to you, you can get the mini 2 for $100 less or a refurbished Retina mini for even greater savings and not have to sacrifice on performance or a majority of features.
As a Retina mini owner, I can tell you it is an awesome tablet, but this year's mini really didn't bring it like the iPad Air 2.
The only reason to get a Mini 3 is if you need a lot of storage. That's about all the difference there is.
i really wanted to buy the mini 3 this year. but i'm so disappointed in the "upgrade", that i can't buy it. i really thought they would stop making it inferior after last year...
gonna vote with my wallet. i want it to stay on the shelves to make them realize they made a mistake. sadly its probably going to sell well anyway.
gonna vote with my wallet. i want it to stay on the shelves to make them realize they made a mistake. sadly its probably going to sell well anyway.
Same here. Quite disappointed. I instead ordered a Mini 2 32GB and saved some money.
I wonder if it's possible that Apple would release an iPad mini 4 next yr early like say May or June?
I seriously was going to order the iPad mini 3 but I don't want gold and I'm not paying an extra $100.00 just for touch ID. Apple thinks everyone will just get the iPad Air 2 but I don't want that big of an iPad. So my only choice is the Mini 2 w/ Retina (new or refurb) or waiting it out till Oct 2015. Both of these are not great options.
I seriously was going to order the iPad mini 3 but I don't want gold and I'm not paying an extra $100.00 just for touch ID. Apple thinks everyone will just get the iPad Air 2 but I don't want that big of an iPad. So my only choice is the Mini 2 w/ Retina (new or refurb) or waiting it out till Oct 2015. Both of these are not great options.
It's pretty sad how last year the iPad Air 1 and mini 2 were pretty much neck and neck. Now it's obvious which tablet Apple likes better. Also every aspect of the air 2 is an upgrade and yet with this we get Touch ID for the mini and that's all?
The big appeal of the mini 3 that I think we miss - memory price reduction. Now a 128 costs what a 64 used to cost etc, that is the big thing for me. I would be tempted to go for a 128, but likely will wait it out till the mini sees 2 gig ram, be that one or two years. My a7 mini is still super fast for all I use it for and can still (as far as I'm aware) run every app on the App Store.
I was in the market for tablet. Wans waiting for mini upgrade. Since upgrade was not that dramatic, I just bought iPad rMini 32gb from target and called it a day.
I was just looking at the refurbished mini 2's and you can get 64 or 128s for a good deal. The same model as my mini 2 (64GB Wifi & LTE) is nearly $300 less than brand new a year ago. However, a new mini 3 with the same spec is also $100 less than an equivalent mini 2 from a year ago.
In retrospect, it seems like iPad 2 owners probably got the most use out of their device if they bought it at launch. Personally, I rarely hit the right stride on buying Apple products. I bought an iPad 3 at launch, and even though I love the tablet and my family still uses it, I felt unloved by Apple with the bait and switch that occurred with the iPad 4. I still have to carry around a 30 pin cable to make sure we have a charger for the iPad 3.
I feel like getting the mini 2 at launch gave me a full year of using the same tablet Apple is selling now without Touch ID and Apple Pay. I think that is the big upgrade with the mini 3, and for some consumers that is a huge benefit. I get Apple Pay when I upgrade my phone, which will be more convenient for me.
Just picked up a Geek Squad certified open box Mini 2 in Silver 16gb for $230... Nope, not gonna get a 3 here.
Mini 3 is a pathetic "upgrade." It simply isn't an upgrade. All they did was add the gold color! Once they were released, however, the refurb Mini 2's had a great price drop. Picked up a 32 GB Mini 2 refurb for my wife for $299. That's a great price! 
The major advantage of the mini was probably its weight.
Now that we have the iPad Air 2, the only thing that iPad mini has over iPad Air 2 is a smaller screen size.
Now there may be a market for a screen size that is larger than iphone 6 plus but smaller than iPad Air 2 but I doubt its a big market.
I believe Apple made those tablets just for people who are too stingy to pay a $100 in price difference, because those who wish for a smaller screen are probably e-book readers and they are simply better off with the Amazon Kindle.
Even people who got kids are better off with Amazon Kindle because its only $150 while ipad mini (original, cheapest iPad) is still $250.
Now that we have the iPad Air 2, the only thing that iPad mini has over iPad Air 2 is a smaller screen size.
Now there may be a market for a screen size that is larger than iphone 6 plus but smaller than iPad Air 2 but I doubt its a big market.
I believe Apple made those tablets just for people who are too stingy to pay a $100 in price difference, because those who wish for a smaller screen are probably e-book readers and they are simply better off with the Amazon Kindle.
Even people who got kids are better off with Amazon Kindle because its only $150 while ipad mini (original, cheapest iPad) is still $250.
The mini is more portable. Some people will prefer that over the larger air. Granted I've only used the original iPad Air but it just isn't as comfortable to carry around as the mini.
The mini I can put in my bag without question. When I had the air I would have to think about where I was going and if I thought I needed to take it/would be worth taking.