I think what some people wanted was an A11 mini with non-laminated display for $100 less. The jump from A11 to A12 isn't that great for most applications.
The A10 came out last year on the basic iPad. A bump to the A11 would not be unexpected and keep the $329 price tag. Apple dropped the laminated display from the basic iPad when they discontinued the Air 2 and dropped the price from $500 to $330 in 2017, so doing the same thing for the mini was a hope.
Maybe Apple found itself backed into a corner with no non-laminated chassis in production for the mini and the choice was use what they had or engage in some expensive retooling. In that case I guess Apple did the best it could do.
Which is again, those who wanted it are very Dell thinking and non Apple. I was surprise when they back track with non-laminated display. It was a world of difference. And Apple has always been about quality, and non laminated Display sucks.
It is the same as people calling for $200 iPhone. There is a pricing level and structure ( along with margin ) that when you go lower you have a very steep decline in quality. And yet most newer ( iPhone era ) Apple fans doesn't seems to understand.
But then most consumer buying iPad are not normal nerds and geeks, I am sure the Mini will still sells like hotcakes.
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