A7X-Based iPad and iPad Mini Expected to Launch in 4Q 2013, Lower-Cost A6 iPad Mini to Follow in 2014

[Markiie]

No. iPad 3rd gen, sadly is starting to lag... =/

I'm with you..... tmine is getting to the point where its unbearable.......... Is that bad?

 

[fertilized-egg]

Sacrifice the 2" screen real estate (which, as an owner of both the ipad 4 and the mini ipad, is not THAT big a deal...the resolution hurts more) .

The 2" doesn't sound a lot but it's a 50% jump in total display size. 29.6 sq. inches vs 45 sq. inches. To me that's a very big deal and the reason I dumped Mini more so than the resolution.

Apple could drop the price of the older Mini and increase the price of the new Mini. However given how old the A5 chip is now, I don't know if they'll do it. Then again it's very possible the iPod Touch will keep using the A5 chip and a cheap Mini will be a big seller.

 

[smoking monkey]

Really? And accurate on stuff that most people wouldn't have predicted?

I reckon he's been about the only one who has been pretty good with his predictions. IN December/January he predicted no new Apple Products for the first 6 months apart from the Air and released a road map of releases. So far it seems he is pretty much bang on.

 

[topper24hours]

The screen is by far the most expensive component. Unless Apple has excess inventory of the A6X, it makes sense for them to switch all of the Retina iPads over to the A7X, to benefit from economies of scale on the new manufacturing process. The A7X may even be cheaper for Apple to produce than the A6X due to the new manufacturing process.

I expect both to feature the A7X. However, i agree on price:

iPad Retina - $499
IPad Mini Retina - $399
IPad Mini (original, to be replaced 1Q 2014) - $299

Like Silence suggested, we may see lower yielding (I.e., lower clock speed) A7X parts in the Retina Mini. Not every chip off the production line will yield the desired speed at a given amount of power.

No.

Apple is REALLY trying to be competitive in the lower-priced market (hence, 5C). I would make a gentleman's wager that they do NOT raise the price of the mini, when it is already the most expensive tablet in that size category.

 

[fullauto]

So we've been hearing all this stuff about a new form factor for the full size iPad, and a fingerprint scanner for the iPhone 5S. Does anyone think it would be likely that the new iPads get the same scanner?

Hopefully, at least on the 5.

 

[smoking monkey]

I believe iPad and iPad mini will be introduced this Tuesday along with Mac updates. Unless apple is doing another event in October like last year, then I see this event as the last one for the remainder of the year.

I'll eat my iPad 2 if that happens!! I simply can't see it happening, BUT... it could happen and I'd love it to happen. Hope you are right, although it still won't mean an immediate release. Just like the iMacs last year we waited ages after the announcement.

I think they'll do another event with MBP, MP and iPads. Why wouldn't they? They'll have some awesome product to show off.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

this event is so important for apple, there is no way it's anything BUT iPhone.

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The funny thing about all these apple leaks is that it's so hard to think apple has anything special up their wizard sleeves. I was hoping that the rumored 13" ipad would be launched, doubt it now

 

[topper24hours]

So we've been hearing all this stuff about a new form factor for the full size iPad, and a fingerprint scanner for the iPhone 5S. Does anyone think it would be likely that the new iPads get the same scanner?

I find it HIGHLY likely. Arguably, there is a MUCH better usage scenario on iPad. Phones are personal, whereas.. it is very typical to have multiple users on a "family" iPad. If a simple thumb swipe can load individual prefs/profile/mail/apps/etc., that would be a slam-dunk for Apple!!

 

[SILen(e]

No.

Apple is REALLY trying to be competitive in the lower-priced market (hence, 5C). I would make a gentleman's wager that they do NOT raise the price of the mini, when it is already the most expensive tablet in that size category.

iPad Mini @ 299$, iPad Mini Retina @ 399$ (Even Google raised the price of the new Nexus 7 with higher resolution display AND Apple needs a device to replace the aging iPad 2 at the 399$-pricepoint) and iPad 5 @ 499$.

 

[Steelseries]

I don't see a lower cost A6 ipad mini in 2016. The current iPad Mini will be the lower cost model.

 

[WhiteIphone5]

I'll eat my iPad 2 if that happens!! I simply can't see it happening, BUT... it could happen and I'd love it to happen. Hope you are right, although it still won't mean an immediate release. Just like the iMacs last year we waited ages after the announcement.

I think they'll do another event with MBP, MP and iPads. Why wouldn't they? They'll have some awesome product to show off.

I highly doubt it. I think this is their last event.

It's already fall!
Obviously they will introduce the products but not ship till early next year.

I'd be surprised if they do another event, but it can happen. I just don't think so.

 

[dav465]

It has been confirmed that no iPads will feature in the 10th sept event.
Jim dalrymple pitched in with "nope", when asked.

 

[pezj]

Is it just me or does this rumor make apples lineup way to big and confusing. I miss the days of jobs keeping things simple.

You had an iPod touch, an iPhone, or an iPad.

Now it's mini this, retina that, mini with retina, mini retina Verizon, mini retina pro verizon LTE

Feel like I'm buying an HP or Dell

Glad some of those are fictitious.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

they'll probably have another event for sure to roll out their mac pro and refresh their lineup.

although i'm SHOCKED, the retina hasn't been refreshed yet. the back to school season is already over, what is apple doing.

 

[b3ats]

I think it's ridiculous that Apple was almost the first to market with the iPad and similarly with retina screens on the iPhone, yet it now plays catchup each and every year.

Wish they'd bring back the innovation and stop waiting to see what everyone else is doing!

 

[juanmanas]

Can Macrumors stop with this incessant pandering to Ming Chi Kuo? He has been wrong more than he's right. And he conveniently "revises his predictions" after other analysts and organizations release information.

Predictions are just predictions, and are normally revised. If he was releasing certain information, he would call it facts or news.

He has a good track record

 

[rainbowsofwhite]

Kuo doesn't know $#! t.
What happened to the MacBook Pro?
No one cares about the iPad, we want some solid Retina MacBook Pro dates please!

....ok, I've calmed down now....sorry about that.

Yay, iPad

 

[taptic]

I doubt Apple will offer a lower-cost iPad mini with an A6 processor. I would expect them to offer a retina iPad mini with the A6X processor and drop the price of the current iPad mini. Just as they did with the iPad 2.

Yeah, I don't expect everything to get a lower price option. The iPhone is one thing... I just hope they don't spread to iPads, and Macs.

 

[ampfonseca]

I predict a lower price greyscale mini with optional clock, calendar, and maps. It will run on 4-AAA batteries (not included) and be available in Alabama and Mississippi, only.

The prediction is almost correct, the only difference are the batteries. The mini will run on a slightly shorter version of AAA batteries (normal AAA won't fit), they will be available from apple from 29.99USD each pack of 4 units. They will last less than the typical AAA batteries also.

 

[KPOM]

so basically the iPad 5 will come in two sizes, and with otherwise identical specs...
So now why would anyone pay $150 more for 1 extra inch of screen space??
I smell a massive price increase in the ipad mini2....or a price cut in the big size ipad.

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i believe if you look at his past track record, hes been very accurate.

But he doesn't appear to have any inside info. He's just been a better guesser. He also predicted I'd be writing this from a Haswell iMac or MacBook Pro right now.

 

[topper24hours]

The prediction is almost correct, the only difference are the batteries. The mini will run on a slightly shorter version of AAA batteries (normal AAA won't fit), they will be available from apple from 29.99USD each pack of 4 units. They will last less than the typical AAA batteries also.

*confused*
I've heard a LOT of haters make a lot of really stupid Apple jokes, but this is the first time I've heard ANYBODY take a jab at their battery technology... You know they pretty much set the industry standard, right??

(#troll fail)

 

[Virginaustralia]

I doubt Apple will offer a lower-cost iPad mini with an A6 processor. I would expect them to offer a retina iPad mini with the A6X processor and drop the price of the current iPad mini. Just as they did with the iPad 2.

What he said but just make the retina one at the current price. simple as that. I want to be able to sell my mini and upgrade to the retina without paying more for the extra feature that makes me want to update it in the first place

 

[lolkthxbai]

Wow, just wow. If this is true, I might be getting an iPad mini sooner than I thought! I always hesitated getting an iPad because of its size but even then when the iPad mini came out I knew I could wait a little longer until it got a retina display to really complete the iPad experience. Honestly, even without it, the iPad mini is a great device. But this would just make it that much better. And that processor bump would be nice too.

 

[Fairchild]

Here's what I think will happen:

Ipad mini refresh in COLORS, no retina, with a6 processor and 1gb ram, 16/32/64 launched at iPhone event. Price starting $299-329

Ipad 5 with new form factor, a7, 2gb ram, white/black/champagne 32/64/128 launched at late fall event (nov?), along with refreshed MacBook Pros, iMacs, and the new Mac Pro, + Mavericks official release. And one last thing: Apple TV 4 with apps, voice and maybe motion control (starting at 149-199 for 16gb), all just in time for the Christmas rush.

Ipad mini with retina display, a7 (scaled down for better battery life), 1gb white/black/champagne 32/64/128, starting at 329-399 (they will make us pay for that retina because they know how many people will have to have it!)
Launched spring 2014, izgo display, possibly minor form factor change.

Big question is what is going to happen to iPods. Their sales have dropped off dramatically. I suspect the iPhone 5c will render the touch almost redundant. They will scale back the price a bit as they move to discontinue. The classic will be discontinued. The iwatch will pick up the slack sometime in the spring or early summer, while the smaller iPods will be kept in place for the exercise and music playback enthusiasts and their big selling point will be streaming iTunes radio and continued standard iTunes functionality.

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they'll probably have another event for sure to roll out their mac pro and refresh their lineup.

although i'm SHOCKED, the retina hasn't been refreshed yet. the back to school season is already over, what is apple doing.

Back to schoolers were on a budget, and what better time to clear out as much old stock at the educational price. Christmas is when people are more likely to splurge for new products I think.

 

[Zmmyt]

I find it HIGHLY likely. Arguably, there is a MUCH better usage scenario on iPad. Phones are personal, whereas.. it is very typical to have multiple users on a "family" iPad. If a simple thumb swipe can load individual prefs/profile/mail/apps/etc., that would be a slam-dunk for Apple!!

multi user accounts on the ipad would be great.