Apple Introduces New 7.9-Inch iPad Mini Starting at $329

[baleensavage]

Firstly, the pricing. Customers new to Apple are going to have a hard time choosing which product to buy. Who would buy a $399 iPod Touch over an iPad 2 at the same price? Better yet, who would buy the same iPod Touch over this new 'iPad Mini'?..

I would. Others have said it before, and I'll repeat it. The markets for iPad and iPod touch are very different. I have an iPod touch that goes with me everywhere I go in my pocket. There's no way I am carrying around an iPad, not even a mini, it's just to big to be a pocket device. I would never go jogging with an iPad to listen to music and I would never carry an iPad to take casual photos. But for browsing the Web or watching a movie, the iPad is a much better choice. Apple knows this and they don't want you to choose an iPod touch or an iPad, they want you to buy both. Heck, they want you to buy one of each for each of your family members. And people will, because they are used for different things.

The iPad mini sales might chip into the full sized iPad sales a bit, but I suspect that the iPad mini will be more like a gateway drug for many and they'll end up getting a full sized iPad in addition to the iPad mini. It's all about the ecosystem. No one wants to buy all their apps all over for each of their devices. Once Apple gets you in the door, whether its with an iPad mini or an iPod touch, they've got a long-term customer.

 

[kamalds]

I hope it has 1GB RAM

512MB ram. Yep lower than Galaxy S2 released 2 years back.

 

[milo]

I disagree. I think sales will go through the roof because the premium is more than justified. Most people want a tablet to get a great tablet experience, not to get the same experience they get on their phone, just on a slightly bigger screen.

No question there are advantages, the build quality is top notch and people like the OS. A premium is justified, I'd just argue that most people would be willing to pay one in the range of 50-80, not 130. Sure it will sell OK, I just think the potential was there for sales through the roof but the higher price will put a damper on that. Although with supply constraints it may not matter, they may be able to sell them as fast as they can make them in the short term then drop the price after the holidays. But I'd rather see them start with the "right" price from day one (or make the device actually worth $329).

 

[iKaushal]

Long overdue.....now it comes....the ipad mini.

However I'll skip this one and wait for next iteration with retina display ...till then my obsolete ipad 3rd gen will serve me well

 

[Nomadski]

Have been interested in an iPad mini concept for over a couple of years, to compliment my main iPad, but the UK pricing was a major shocker. Totally expected it to line up against Nexus, Fire etc in sub £200 bracket. As it is its £20 cheaper than an iPad 2.

iPad 2 it is then.

 

[everything-i]

Now, I'm not about to buy either of these and am here mostly to see what people's take on the mini were, but I have to query this.

From Pcpro's July 2012 review (a UK magazine I've trusted for 10 years) - (and bearing in mind their full size A-list tablet at this point is the Ipad and this review was made before the announcment of the mini. Don't want this well respected magazines review foolishly accused of anti apple bias!)

"Summary:

The Nexus 7 isn’t a budget tablet in anything but price. It’s fast, it has a perfectly good screen, and it’s built to a quality rarely seen from such a cheap device. Android’s Jelly Bean update brings its own advancements, and for the first time we can look at an Android tablet as a whole package and say: it all works. The fact that we’re saying that about a £199 device is remarkable."

Read more: Google Nexus 7 by Asus review, specs and battery life | Tablets | Reviews | PC Pro http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/tablets/375886/nexus-7/2#ixzz2ADnnKkUj

To say crap build quality just isn't true. The Nexus 7 was an Asus tablet that Google rebranded - one that had been aimed at a higher price point.

As to weight - 304g to 340g. 36g difference. the weight of a dart. 'Ultra light'? There's next to nothing in it!

FYI: I've an iphone 4, a Sony Xperia Play, a Mac Mini, macbook 13" at home and a work hp laptop. Android, Ios, OSX, Windows...I'm no great buyer of new kit, I tend to use things until they don't work, but in this instance, I'm feeling if I want a light tablet, the Nexus 7 has no downsides - though perhaps I'd like a better camera, I don't understand the premium this time round, maybe time will tell.

Try looking at some of the Nexus forums rather than reviews, the review machines were of course perfect copies. There are lots of people on their second or third device because of build quality issues and even more with devices exhibiting poor finish. The good copies are fine but there seem to be an awful lot of bad ones about, the one I had chance to use didn't look too good but I now understand that mileage may vary. Also consider that the weight is 36g less on a device with a 35% larger screen, I think that is pretty significant. However, as I said in my original post the iPad mini will suit some people and the nexus will suit others. Everyone has to make up there own mind based not just on price points but other considerations such as screen size, quality, weight, price and ecosystem. Its a fool that just goes with one device over another without taking a balanced view and a spec sheet does not paint a complete picture. Even the aspect ratio of the screen is a major factor depending on what the primary uses are going to be. According to early reviews the new mini is super high build quality so it remains to be seen if the price premium is worth it.

 

[synyster11]

When people say "Wait till we see the sales figures, and that will shut everyone up" it blows my mind. It feeds into the exact crap that people say about apple people being sheep and buying anything they release. Then on the other hand people saying "This is the start of the downfall..." is equally retarded. If they sell a large number MORE than a previous or similar product they currently sell, then I would say it's a major success. People are locked into itunes and people like gifts and new toys, so yes.... they will sell.

For what it is, it's overpriced. They will sell millions of them... But that does not make it a good buy. I like my apple products, but this one is an obvious skip for me and I think many other people. Some of you guys defend these product releases like you had a part in building the thing yourself. As if your blood and sweat went into it.... I never did understand that.

 

[nagromme]

For what it is, it's overpriced. They will sell millions of them... But that does not make it a good buy. I like my apple products, but this one is an obvious skip for me and I think many other people. Some of you guys defend these product releases like you had a part in building the thing yourself. As if your blood and sweat went into it.... I never did understand that.

It’s $80 more than a Nexus 7, does much more, and has better media availability, not to mention being less cheaply-built and having a 1/3 bigger screen in a similar hand-held size, and offering complete backup-and-restore right down to the last preference setting, even if you need to swap your unit or buy a different model years later (compared to Android where you lose a lot in transition). All that’s well WORTH $80 to many people—it IS a good buy. The value someone will get from all those iPad apps and bigger screen is massive.

The decision is more: what size do you want? If you don’t want a 10” iPad, this is a good choice. If you do, get the 10” and skip this. I don’t need an 8” tablet myself, but having seen them, I understand the appeal. Get the size that suits you.

 

[Westside guy]

Hahaha. Computer Science Fail!

Not really. Unlike you I actually make my living doing computer science (although being a Unix guy, my Windows knowledge tends to be hit or miss).

I had a first-generation iPod Touch that had 128MB of available RAM and a slower processor than the 256MB Froyo phone I bought three years later. In actual use, the 3-years-older Touch was noticably faster and more responsive than the phone (not to mention much more stable).

There are lots of obvious reasons why. The most obvious are the phone had all the mandatory crapware AT&T forced on it, plus Froyo's memory management absolutely sucked. But the point is - going by specs, that phone should've run circles around my iPod Touch, yet the opposite was true.

You can't just compare specs and think that tells you the whole story.

 

[joegolo]

Comparing the new 32GB Nexus 7 to the 32GB Mini, the Nexus has a far faster CPU, a slightly better GPU, a standard USB port, a higher resolution screen and thus a far higher PPI, but yet costs over $180 less. Sure, the new iPad Mini will be a hit.... People will also surely love the new crApple maps app on iOS 6, which will work even better since the wi-fi mini will not a have a GPS, unlike the Nexus 7, and passbook will work great, especially with no NFC capabilities, again, unlike the Nexus 7. What a failure of a product Apple has excreted...

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but there is no 32GB Nexus 7. They're 8GB at $199 and 16GB at $249. This is part of the problem with Apple NOT releasing a low cost 8GB model. Just to be able to say iPad Mini Starting at $249 would've been a huge marketing point.

 

[wikus]

If u feel this way why are u even on a Apple forum? Sometimes I think you guys get paid by android. I seriously hope so. I could understand. If not your just a sick person with nothing else better to do. You may need to rethink your life. Moderators need to start checking IPs.

LOL @ paid by.... Android!

I've got 4 MacBooks at home, coming off of 2 Mac Pros and a few other apple devices. Just because I criticize iOS doesnt make me anti-apple.

 

[synyster11]

The decision is more: what size do you want? If you don’t want a 10” iPad, this is a good choice. If you do, get the 10” and skip this. I don’t need an 8” tablet myself, but having seen them, I understand the appeal. Get the size that suits you.

I get what you mean, but that would only make sense to me if it was the same specs as this new iPad. It's not that much cheaper than something that "IMO" is MUCH better. You want the smaller iPad you also have to choose a screen that is going to look nothing like it's big brother. And that sucks...

 

[jasvncnt]

complete backup-and-restore right down to the last preference setting, even if you need to swap your unit or buy a different model years later (compared to Android where you lose a lot in transition).

Just curious..what do you mean by the bold part?

 

[nickn]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but there is no 32GB Nexus 7. They're 8GB at $199 and 16GB at $249. This is part of the problem with Apple NOT releasing a low cost 8GB model. Just to be able to say iPad Mini Starting at $249 would've been a huge marketing point.

Technically, as of today, you are right, as there is no 32GB version officially for sale yet. A Staples store recently started selling 32GB versions to customers at $249 though, so that is proof enough they exist. All of the rumors point to a release in the next few days, and Google has announced an event on the 29th, so I think my post is valid.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/19/3528014/nexus-7-32gb-available-staples

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I have the iPad 3 just sold. Not at a loss, no worry. I am trying deciding between the iPad 4 and iPad mini. Price is not a deciding factor as I have the money from the iPad 3.

What I like about the iPad mini
- the weight - its only half the iPad. This is a main main factor for me. My iPads always felt to heavy to hold them for a longer time in one hand. Therefore I put them on my knee and so on.
- its not that much smaller
- CPU speed is no issue for me, I don't run any games

What I don't like
- it isn't a retina display. Not sure if I could look at that screen after using the retina for the last 6 month.

Still undecided....

 

[chr1s60]

Just curious, I am considering buying a mini as a gift for someone, is the Nov. 2 only the ship date or will it also deliver/be in stores that day? That seems to be the way Apple usually does things, but I haven't heard anything about in store availability.

 

[Tigger11]

So you are saying it is technically impossible to make a retina iPad mini. Right. We'll see it in the next iteration.

That is not what I said. What I said is that 7 months after coming out with the iPad 3, they can't shrink the iPad 3 screen over 30% and make it cheaper the iPad 3 screen and make millions of them a month. All of that has to happen for them to sell the iPad mini with a retina display cheaper then the selling price of the iPad 3. How mad would you have been if the Ipad Mini was priced at $499, $599 and $699?

I don't care about the price. I think it's fine. But if they're going to aggressively wave the Retina flag, as they're doing with most their products now, they can't sell a product without it and then rave about how well the screen looks. That's hypocritical and cheapens their product.

You would have cared about price alot if the iPad Mini cost as much or more then the full size iPad, and thats what it would have taken to make it Retina, and we would have had 1/2 as many units available to buy. They sold lots of iPad 2, after coming out with the Retina with the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4 (and people like you said they wouldnt sell any because it didnt have a retina screen and noone was going to buy a non-retina iOS product from Apple now) . They will sell alot of iPad mini's without retina, and then hopefully in a year they will be able to sell a Retina mini at the same price after they have worked out production issues and got manufacturing cost down to a reasonable number.

 

[kas23]

That is not what I said. What I said is that 7 months after coming out with the iPad 3, they can't shrink the iPad 3 screen over 30% and make it cheaper the iPad 3 screen and make millions of them a month. All of that has to happen for them to sell the iPad mini with a retina display cheaper then the selling price of the iPad 3. How mad would you have been if the Ipad Mini was priced at $499, $599 and $699?




You would have cared about price alot if the iPad Mini cost as much or more then the full size iPad, and thats what it would have taken to make it Retina, and we would have had 1/2 as many units available to buy. They sold lots of iPad 2, after coming out with the Retina with the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4 (and people like you said they wouldnt sell any because it didnt have a retina screen and noone was going to buy a non-retina iOS product from Apple now) . They will sell alot of iPad mini's without retina, and then hopefully in a year they will be able to sell a Retina mini at the same price after they have worked out production issues and got manufacturing cost down to a reasonable number.

Actually, I don't think I would have cared if they were the same price as the full-sized iPad. It all has to do with preference. Some people, like myself would prefer to have a smaller, lighter iPad. For me, smaller is better. Easier portability and use while lying down.

Just because its smaller shouldn't mean it's cheaper or less valuable. Look at the iPhone. It's more expensive than the new full-sized iPad. Nobody complains. An extra large jacket sells for the same price as a size small.

But instead of making a real premium product, Apple laid an egg for a lower price. I see this as Apple's first foray into the garbage territory previous only occupied by the likes of Asus, HP, Acer, and Dell.

 

[adnoh]

So people are waiting for the mini refresh to bring retina...

...but what if it never gets retina to keep regular iPad sales up?

Also in 2012 - new ipad is now retina, new 15 MBP is now retina, new 13" MBP is now retina and our brand new product...the ipad mini...not retina *face palm*

Also the iphone5 - "bigger screen is better, 16:9 is the way forward"...so for our brand new product...the ipad mini....we will shrink the screen and stick to 4:3 *face palm*

 

[Lost Rider]

You're right. The vast majority wants to wear the same uniform and be just like everybody else.

Someone here once used a nice signature: "When did 'think different' become 'conform always'?"

The real difference between Android and iOS is rather simple, but goes very deep: Android is all about openness and freedom. iOS is all about restricting the users and locking them into Apple's Walled Garden ecosystem.

Personally, I'm not so shallow where I need my phone or tablet's GUI "customized" to represent my individuality beyond the wallpaper or screen saver with my own photography work. Haven't had a need for anything I couldn't find an excellent App for on iOS either. Inside the Apple Garden Walls, life is good and trouble free.
I much prefer to focus on just using the synced across the board iDevices for my needs and expressing my uniqueness in far more tangible ways.



I can't wait for my Mini!

 

[raptorstv]

Have been interested in an iPad mini concept for over a couple of years, to compliment my main iPad, but the UK pricing was a major shocker. Totally expected it to line up against Nexus, Fire etc in sub £200 bracket. As it is its £20 cheaper than an iPad 2.

iPad 2 it is then.

good luck without Siri!

----------

So people are waiting for the mini refresh to bring retina...

...but what if it never gets retina to keep regular iPad sales up?

Also in 2012 - new ipad is now retina, new 15 MBP is now retina, new 13" MBP is now retina and our brand new product...the ipad mini...not retina *face palm*

Also the iphone5 - "bigger screen is better, 16:9 is the way forward"...so for our brand new product...the ipad mini....we will shrink the screen and stick to 4:3 *face palm*

damn... 4:3 ratio... NO THANKS APPLE!

 

[shurcooL]

damn... 4:3 ratio... NO THANKS APPLE!

Seriously? You want 16:9 on your tablet?

Have you tried doing anything other than watching 16:9 movies on a 16:9 tablet? It sucks both in landscape (too short) and portrait (too narrow).

 

[dmelgar]

I'd like to know this myself. I don't see a time so maybe it starts at 12:00 AM?

Also, the preorders are for both the wifi & cellular, though cellular will take an extra two weeks to ship, right?

I'd like to know what time preorders start as well.

I hope its not 12am midnight pacific. I got up unintentionally for the iPhone 5 pre-order right at 3am eastern, couldn't get an order through until 55 minutes later and by then the initial stock was sold out. Couldn't believe they'd sell out that fast at 3am.
I don't want to repeat the exercise for the iPad mini. I doubt there'd be much of a rush, but there are rumors of display shortages already.

 

[vartanarsen]

Who in their right mind would now buy a Touch when they can buy this for $30 more?
I thinks this mini effectively has killed the Touch

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Not really. Unlike you I actually make my living doing computer science (although being a Unix guy, my Windows knowledge tends to be hit or miss).

It's fun to make assumptions about people isn't it? I have a degree in computer science and work in a *nix datacentre environment of roughly 1000 physical servers with many more virtualised.

I had a first-generation iPod Touch that had 128MB of available RAM and a slower processor than the 256MB Froyo phone I bought three years later. In actual use, the 3-years-older Touch was noticably faster and more responsive than the phone.

I'm not disputing that at the period when Froyo came out Android was nowhere near as smooth as iOS and iOS applications even when running on more powerful hardware.

I'm disputing the reason you gave as to why it was slower. Whilst there is some overhead due to Dalvik, this was not the cause of most of the speed issues seen in the earlier versions of Android.

Earlier on, Google was much more focused on bringing a complete feature set to Android rather than optimisation of the operating system itself and the framework on which applications are built.

From the very beginning Apple was much more focused on user experience, including all their lovely fluid UI transitions and animations (in my opinion at the expense of features)

The recent releases of Android have all but caught up to iOS in terms of fluidity of the user interface and user input.

Another thing to consider is that it is likely your Android phone was doing a lot more at any given moment due to an almost complete multitasking environment. This was almost completely absent from iOS at the time you are talking about.

You can't just compare specs and think that tells you the whole story.

As I just mentioned, I agree 100% with this statement.