Alleged Leaked CAD Image Suggests 'iPad mini 5' Will Just Be a Specs Bump

[bflowers]

If its just a spec bump then why even update it after all these years?

Because a lot of us would love a mini as a 'kids tablet' and want current processing power in the smaller form factor and price point. Right now the price difference compared to old processors coupled with screen size difference between the Mini4 and base model iPad makes buying a mini a bad investment.

 

[oldmacs]

They should put 4GB ram and an A12 in.... After all.. they probably won't update it for another 4 years so may as well make this one count

 

[MacOH21]

My kids’ iPad Mini 2s still run fine for things like Minecraft and music playing. Heck, even GarageBand is useable. Sure, a newer iPad may be faster, but the existing ones still work great for kids.

 

[Heineken]

That's the challenge with the Mini (perhaps more than the other iPads). The reasons why people buy the Mini are perhaps more diverse than for the other form-factors. So what the Mini 5 is (if it is released) will be sure to disappoint a large group of fans.



I'm puzzled by this logic. There is obviously interest in the iPad Mini and it has a base of people who use it and enjoy it. Why must a device cater to everyone or be discontinued?

I'm interested in iPad mini, but if it stays the same with old touch id and huge bezels then just let it die.

 

[SoN1NjA]

What's the disappointing part about it? Nothing here says that size or price will change.

It's been rumoured that the new iPad mini and iPad will be low cost offerings ― not to mention that keeping the same design would indicate that

 

[Falhófnir]

I know there seems to be quite a lot of demand for a 'mini pro' - I guess at least this will be 75% of the 2017 pros brought to the mini form factor (just missing ProMotion and smart KB) the power should be virtually on par if it's an A11 and it's a no brainer to give it pencil support. Maybe more 2018 Pro features will filter down over time (this seems to be reaffirming Apple's commitment to continue offering a smaller tablet option).

 

[thejadedmonkey]

As long as it keeps the headphone port and touch ID...

 

[Wags]

hey, we will not change the iPad mini design at all.
Let’s make sure we have an actual iPad mini 5 CAD.
iPad mini 4 copy, paste, rename to iPad mini 5.

Do you honestly think anyone in Apple would bother to do this?

Could see it. Apple looking for quick easy ways to increase sales. Mac Mini was pretty much spec bump.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

Touch ID and bezels preserved, no problem for us, as we love the small 4:3 profile and their old-school gestures.

We own two mini4's, originals at 64GB, and probably will upgrade to the 5's if there are no gotchas.
[Others may not appreciate the appeal of the original minis -- we certainly do.]

 

[max.ine]

It’s impossible to please some of the users on this forum. I think you guys have your expectations for Apple set unreasonably high.

 

[velocityg4]

People have been saying all they want is a modernised Mini so isn't a spec bump what people have wanted all along?

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Falhófnir]

I'm interested in iPad mini, but if it stays the same with old touch id and huge bezels then just let it die.

And what about everyone that would be perfectly happy with just a chip bump? Or those who want the line to continue so future iterations might actually bring a redesign with more of the features they want to see?

 

[Delgibbons]

Serial tech leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (@OnLeaks) claims to have received an alleged CAD rendering of Apple's so-called "iPad mini 5," rumored to be launching in the Spring.

Hemmerstoffer has yet to share the image, but assuming the leak is legit, he says it suggests there will be no major design changes to the next-generation iPad mini, save for a "relocated mic, centered on the upper back panel."

Suggestions that the new iPad mini will look virtually the same as the last model is likely to disappoint some fans of Apple's smaller form factor tablet who may have been hoping for an iPad Pro-style redesign with Face ID and an edge-to-edge display.

However, today's development is in line with multiple reliable sources that claim Apple will release a new version of the iPad mini with affordability in mind, suggesting only upgraded internal specs and a lower-cost display panel in a similarly sized chassis. The 7.9-inch tablet is also expected to continue to have a Lightning connector, Touch ID, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

​

On the upside, details gleamed from an iOS developer beta could hint that Apple's new iPad mini will feature support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard.

Rumors have suggested both a new iPad mini 5 and an updated iPad will launch in early 2019, and we've seen signs of them in iOS 12.2 and through registration with the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Based on recent years, it's natural to speculate that Apple will announce the iPad mini 5 at its rumored March 25 event, however reports claim Apple's event will be services-focused, suggesting any hardware updates may come in the form of a press release or at another event further down the line.

Article Link: Alleged Leaked CAD Image Suggests 'iPad mini 5' Will Just Be a Specs Bump

Can't innovate my ass

 

[fakeycakemaker]

I’d be all in on a mini with Pencil support.
The dream would be Pencil 2 with magnetic attavhement/charging, but we all know that won’t happen.
A standard mini with pencil input would be amazing for note taking. Gimme!

 

[Baymowe335]

If its just a spec bump then why even update it after all these years?

Because they are bumping the specs.

 

[enc0re]

As a Mini 4 user, I'm hoping for a smaller, thinner, lighter Mini 5 with the same screen size (minus a notch of course). And I'd happily pay more. Seems like I'm the sort of customer Apple used to serve.

If it's a processor bump and possibly a worse screen, I don't see the point in upgrading from a Mini 4.

 

[tkukoc]

This was obvious, not sure why people thought there was going to be a redesign. iPad Mini and SE should have had spec bumps last year to set people up for IOS 13. That is all this is about. This is how Apple works.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Based on what I've read, the iPad mini has never been a content creation product like Apple is trying to position the larger iPad and iPad Pros. By keeping only doing a spec bump, it will encourage those that use it for children, flying, commercial uses, to purchase it without the need to buy new cases or holders. Seems like a wise move to generate sales.

 

[thadoggfather]

I expected this... didnt the mini5 shell leak some time ago in its physical form?

LAME!

it better at least have a headphone jack and P3 display / 2nd gen touch ID / pencil (gen1) support

 

[JLD94]

Ok, so let's just say the mini 5 is a spec bump which is probably a good thing if it's going to keep the price down, an entry level tablet even though a lot would like to see a design change.

But why is no one really talking about the new 10 or 10.2?? Why would they go to the effort to change the screen size? Especially if it's going to be al la 10.5 pro design, smaller bezels but still home button? I don't really get that decision. I would imagine eventually you would be moving away from this design in the near future anyway, so why spend the money to change it for a year or two?

Could it be that possibly the new mini 5 will keep the same design and become the price leader at $299 or $329, and the new ipad would be similar design as pro, face id with thicker bezels than pro, older processor, less ram....but have a price increase to $449, or $499 to fill out the pricing gap between ipads and pro's? Just trying to figure out why they would change the screen size unless they planed to keep the design around another 4-5 years....which doesn't make sense to me either.

 

[dgdosen]

By adding "smart keyboard" support, wouldn't they also need to add, say, a smart connector? Isn't that more than a minimal spec bump?

Changing the internals to add a smart connector seems like a significant enough change that you'd be hamstringing yourself to keep everything else the same.

There's alot of customers devoted to an updated mini. I'd think it would be hard to disappoint them, but it seems like Apple is going out of their way to do it...

 

[apolloa]

Now..... I WOULD say rubbish on this leak claiming no design change bar a spec bump, BUT, this is EXACTLY what Apple has done with the Mac Mini, all they did was change its colour and perform a spec bump, nothing else changed about the external design.
So I won’t be surprised if they do the exact same with a new Mini. May have to look at it once it’s out..

 

[dgdosen]

It’s impossible to please some of the users on this forum. I think you guys have your expectations for Apple set unreasonably high.

I think that's par for the course when you set your pricing unreasonably high...
[doublepost=1550586893][/doublepost]

Now..... I WOULD say rubbish on this leak claiming no design change bar a spec bump, BUT, this is EXACTLY what Apple has done with the Mac Mini, all they did was change its colour and perform a spec bump, nothing else changed about the external design.
So I won’t be surprised if they do the exact same with a new Mini. May have to look at it once it’s out..

I'd think a mac mini is different in that there's not much of a UX with the physical hardware...

 

[Heineken]

And what about everyone that would be perfectly happy with just a chip bump? Or those who want the line to continue so future iterations might actually bring a redesign with more of the features they want to see?

Can't please everyone.

 

[kemal]

I want devices wirh high end SoC and without FaceID.