All iPads won't be a retina mini till fall 2013..because A7 won't be ready for iPad 5 till then

[batting1000]

Unless you are just being pedantic, your iPhone 5's screen isn't 2048x1536.

Yes, but my point is the A6 chip can run a Retina display. The person I quoted said it couldn't.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yes, but my point is the A6 chip can run a Retina display. The person I quoted said it couldn't.

So you were being pedantic.

 

[batting1000]

So you were being pedantic.

Who cares? I was just pointing out that the A6 can run a Retina display.

 

[Epiphron]

i agree that the ipads need differentiation.

if the ipad mini gets retina, expect a major upgrade for the big ipad. if an ordinary consumer sees an ipad mini retina for $320 and a big ipad retina for $500, its a no-brainer to get the mini. The only thing going for/against a big ipad is weight/size

 

[mentaluproar]

Think it will use an A6 instead of A5X. the X models are used for the larger iPad's bigger retina display screen.

You can have retina without an X series SoC. Retina is not defined by total pixels, but by dpi and viewing distance. With a smaller screen at the same viewing distance and equal DPI, there would be fewer pixels to drive, so a non-X processor is not out of the question.

 

[HeyGreggie]

i agree that the ipads need differentiation.

if the ipad mini gets retina, expect a major upgrade for the big ipad. if an ordinary consumer sees an ipad mini retina for $320 and a big ipad retina for $500, its a no-brainer to get the mini. The only thing going for/against a big ipad is weight/size

this is what i'm saying. Basically I'm going to wait until March and if they dont announce something regarding the ipad mini 2, i'll just go and purchase a mini. No big deal

 

[daywiz]

This has been thoroughly debunked in countless other threads. The iPad mini has a higher components cost than the 7" tablets.

The "X" models are needed for retina displays. Physical size of the display is irrelevant to the GPU. A retina mini with the same resolution as a regular retina iPad needs the same GPU power.

Looks like they are going ahead with the 28nm process after all. Testing it with the A5, it also now seems like they are going to apply that technique for the A5X which is mostly going to make the cut for the ipad mini.

According to my reading and research into the topic, I think they will utilise the A5X with a 28nm process, making it the modified A5X ( or A6X for the mini)

Here's the potential benefit of switching to 28nm compared to the 45nm process they used in A5X.

1. Nearly 2x times higher speed
2. Upto 60% less active power consumption
3. 45% reduction in SoC size

Now considering tweaked Die-shrunk A5 chip as an example (2 means square):

1. A5 on 45nm -> 10.09 mm by 12.15 mm - 123 mm2
2. A5 on 32nm -> 8.19 mm by 8.68 mm - 71.1 mm2 (41% smaller)
3. A5 on 28nm -> 6.00 mm by 6.00 mm - 36 mm2 (50% smaller than 32nm)

Similarly A5X

1. A5X on 45nm process -> 163 mm2
2. A5X on 28nm process -> 81.5 mm2 (50% reduction)

Looks like there is substantial benefit switching to 28nm after all. Add this to an IGZO display, and utilizing the existing PowerVR SGX543MP4 or switching to the more powerful PowerVR SGX554MP4( from ipad 4), The new ipad mini with retina could basically be a generation old, but still be competent enough. It might also explain the slightly thicker back casing we saw in the pics on the rumour mills for the supposed mini retina.