Apple Removes Original iPad Mini From Apple Online Store

[joecool99]

about time...

apple needs to stop offering OLD hardware!
last 2 generations of the same product is enough!

 

[c0ppo]

My Mini gen 1 works quite well in 8.3. Much more snap and smoothness than 8.1 or 8.2 and Airdrop works in a more consistent manner.

I do agree with that. On 8.3 iPad mini 1st gen works better then on 8.0/1/2. But still it lags like crazy, and in my use case scenario, it's useless.

 

[poe diddley]

Reading all the various responses about "finally" and so forth makes me laugh a little. My mini is just about 2 years old and other than Safari, mine works flawlessly. No other app I use gives me even a hiccup. iOS 8's Safari is what made my device less than what it was before. Nothing else. Which is sad, really, because it shows me that their plan to phase out the mini actually began with iOS 8. Give the users a version of the most commonly used application that requires about double the memory than the devices have, and they'll think their tablet is just "old" and buy another. When in reality they could have easily made it work just fine. iOS 7's Safari worked like a dream on this pad. Claiming that it "slows down developers" is just what they want the customers to believe. Apple used to be far more caring about its entire user base, not just whoever has the newest whatever. The fact that so many people have bought into this concept to the point that it actually seems like some of you believe it's actually "outdated tech" is hilarious. I love apple but it seems more and more like the iOS line has shorter useable product life every couple years only because of the OS updates, not because of incapable hardware as many people have claimed here.

 

[matthewhuk]

Always so generous with their discounts at Apple!

 

[sshambles]

You only learn once (the hard way) that when you upgrade with an old device, that it's not worth using again due to its incapabilities. iPad 3 runs, but it's dial-up speed slow now. Time for an upgrade. I wonder if the Air 3 will have a smaller battery than the Air 2, which was already smaller than Air 1. I really hope not.

 

[ron7624]

Apple has quietly pulled the original iPad mini from the Apple Online Store this week and removed other references of the tablet from its website, as noted by 9to5Mac. The nearly three-year-old iPad mini was announced in October 2012 as a smaller 7.9-inch version of the iPad, but the tablet has since been succeeded by the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3, the latter featuring a Retina display, Touch ID and 64-bit A7 processor.

Apple dropped the price of the first-gen A5-based iPad mini to $299 in October 2013 and further discounted the tablet to $249 in October 2014, but the device was a hard sell given the iPad mini 2 starts at $299 with newer features. The original iPad mini remains available in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store for between $209 and $409 depending on the specific model and storage capacity.

The original iPad mini remains available in limited quantities through authorized third-party resellers such as Amazon, although likely only until leftover stock is depleted. Apple's remaining tablet lineup for sale includes the iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 2, and the company is widely rumored to introduce a larger 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" targeted at professional users later this year.

Article Link: Apple Removes Original iPad Mini From Apple Online Store

This device changed my life. I bought it 1 minute after it went on sale on line and it was my constant companion till I bought the Retina model the next year. I enjoyed this device to the fullest. White text on black background kinda sucked, especially when one of my fav sites was set up that way, but still - I loved the concept and used the stuffing out of it.
Thank you Apple for creating the perfect size for an iPad for me. This device is held in high esteem by me.
You couldn't give me one right now, but at the time it was a life changer.
Am I sad they are DCing it? Absolutely not, tech marches on

 

[MH01]

About time, it really did not fare well with updates to the OS.

Hopefully we see an update soon to 2GB ram.

 

[nia820]

Didn't even know they were still selling it.

 

[Matheew944]

People who value performance over design will usually choose the odd-numbered A-chips (or "S" devices) while those who love the new designs will not mind the marginal improvements on even-numbered A-chips.

I value better battery life, and the 6+ battery life is amazing, I can say that because I have one, otherwise, the 5s battery u have to recharge twice a day! I tested an 5s I dont like it

 

[Matheew944]

So, Apple has done this heavily rumored move. Next update, would be another huge drop of various devices.
What I guess is A6 might be dropped with A5 as well.
There is another thing I take care about. Apple didn't release the roadmap of their hardware, even in this wwdc. This is interesting because Intel releases their roadmap more often than Apple. And through roadmap, users could expect the performance Intel will deliver, in the upcoming one or two decades.

The A6 has more RAM than A5, A5 have 512GB and A6 1GB

 

[cocky jeremy]

Are you nuts ? Have you seen the price differential between the mini2 and mini3 without only the TouchID different. Scrap the mini3 if you ask me and keep the mini2. In fact my mum bought a mini2 last week because why would you pay over €100 extra simply for a touch ID. Passcodes work fine.

If I wanted an iPad, it'd be worth it to me to avoid typing a passcode.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I value better battery life, and the 6+ battery life is amazing, I can say that because I have one, otherwise, the 5s battery u have to recharge twice a day! I tested an 5s I dont like it

If battery life is what you value most, then I'm sure you made the right choice with the iPhone 6+ and the even-numbered A-chips.

 

[NoWayBehind]

The A6 has more RAM than A5, A5 have 512GB and A6 1GB

Mhh.
Close enough ? 😀

 

[allanfries]

Used this iPad for almost a year, and found it underpowered compared to my current one. Apps closing unexpectedly most times. Often wondered why they didn't use the A6 processor instead of the 5. Great size!!
They sold a pile of this model.

 

[unplugme71]

I really hope I can find one new for $100

 

[Shirasaki]

The A6 has more RAM than A5, A5 have 512GB and A6 1GB

So, according to your statement, I guess next step, Apple will remove ALL devices without 1GB of RAM, then 32bit, which will be completed in iOS 10 and 11. In iOS 12, Apple may need to polish their system once again. Then in iOS 13, they drop all devices without 1GB of RAM.
Well...

 

[Jmausmuc]

iPad Mini 1 is the worst device I have ever bought. Never had a device become obsolete so quickly.
My first Macbook lasted me 5.5 years, my iPhone 5 lasted almost 2 and is now used by a friend. The iPad mini lasted less than a year until iOS8 came around and is now only used to test iOS9 which is no better as of now.

The fact they still sold that useless thing is unbelievable.
It really lowered my opinion of apple which has been decreasing since several years.


Apple is headed the wrong way and whoever hasn’t noticed yet soon will.

 

[benji888]

I think they should make a 4GB version of this without the camera on the back, and sell it for $100 to enterprise. For use in point of sale systems, restaurant menus, showcases, and other such single-app uses. For those simple apps, where all resources can be dedicated to that one app and no multitasking, it is plenty fast enough, 16GB is overkill.

Although I do think this is a great idea, I don't think 4GB flash is being made, but, this would be a way to use up some 8GB flash memory.

Personally, for typical consumer use, with all the basic apps incrementally increasing in size every single update (FB, Twitter, etc.), to where some are now over 100MB each, put a few apps in, some music, some video, books, this all adds up to 16GB not being enough for average user, Apple needs to step up to 32GB base or give us a memory slot to add more! (I cannot put all my apps on my iPad Mini 16GB, would like to put some video on it, but, no room 🙁 ).

__________

Too many reviewers bad mouthed the iPad Mini 1st gen. calling it "same as iPad 2" when it only shares 2 things with iPad 2: A5 processor and non-retina screen...it has many advantages over iPad 2 as it has all updated electronics around that processor, to where it is as capable as any late-2012 iOS device:

iPad Mini 1st gen, does these things iPad 2 does not:
• BT4 gives it AirDrop and all handoff/continuity features.
• cell models capable of LTE
• two speakers instead of one
• same battery life with a smaller battery (advantage of lower power consumption of physically smaller, more efficient screen, even though it's the same pixels as iPad 2)
• runs iOS 8.3 just fine and will run iOS 9, but without any split screen features.
• better mic
• better cameras
• iPad Mini 1st gen. is the thinnest and lightest iPad.

--• For those on a budget, iPad is out of reach, or for education, or for POS, the iPad Mini 1st gen. is just fine for a first iPad:

*You can still get the iPad Mini 1st gen. for less: on sale at various places, and on Apple's certified refurb. store (with new warranty) starting at $209 http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad/ipad_mini.

I've had my iPad Mini 1st gen. since Nov. '13, still works just fine.

 

[benji888]

My guess is that the mini 4 will get the A8 (not the A8X), and that they'll drop the mini 3 to $299 and the mini 2 to $249 in October.

They should only sell one iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Air 2

My thinking is that this is step 1...next step: drop iPad Mini 2, later this year when they introduce at least 1 new iPad, that will make all iPads & iPhones with TouchID (5c leaves later this year also).

New lineup guess: iPad Grande (12.9" screen), iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3.
OR: iPad Grande (12.9" screen), iPad Air 3 (called something else), iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3. Very maybe on iPad Mini 4, but, perhaps...if yes, probably A8X chip, not A9.

Yay! Soon my iPad Mini will become a collector's item and will be worth millions.

It will likely always be the thinnest and lightest iPad Apple has ever made.

You might have to keep it for decades before it's worth more than what you paid. When I finally get a home theater set-up, my iPad Mini will become my remote, get a new iPad at that point. I've decided to keep my iDevices, they hold up just fine, and why sell them for 1/4-1/3 what we paid for them?

 

[zOne31]

iPad Mini 1 is the worst device I have ever bought. Never had a device become obsolete so quickly.
My first Macbook lasted me 5.5 years, my iPhone 5 lasted almost 2 and is now used by a friend. The iPad mini lasted less than a year until iOS8 came around and is now only used to test iOS9 which is no better as of now.

The fact they still sold that useless thing is unbelievable.
It really lowered my opinion of apple which has been decreasing since several years.


Apple is headed the wrong way and whoever hasn’t noticed yet soon will.

I agree. It's kind of sad but I think ultimately greed and targeting investors more than customers will be the downfall for Apple. I find it strange that Apple still has the ability to have such a high profit margin on selling hardware. It's a service-driven world now. I don't know. I want Apple to succeed but I may find myself moving to Microsoft products especially if the W10 across all its devices takes off this summer/fall. I think with what Microsoft is trying to do (service and hardware integration), we may see Microsoft replacing Apple in a few years.

This is why I still don't buy first generation products. Yeah, the Apple Watch is cool but I knew it would be obsolete, especially if rumors of the Watch2 are true. Also why I will stick to the S-upgrade cycle.

 

[dampfnudel]

Any iPhone/iPad (including the iPad mini 4) released this year should have 2GB of RAM. Any iOS device released in 2015 with only 1GB is already obsolete and should be ignored, maybe with the exception of the ATV 4. If the iPad mini 4 or iPhone 6c only gets 1GB of RAM, stay away from it. Especially, the iPad mini 4.

 

[Jmausmuc]

Although I do think this is a great idea, I don't think 4GB flash is being made, but, this would be a way to use up some 8GB flash memory.

Personally, for typical consumer use, with all the basic apps incrementally increasing in size every single update (FB, Twitter, etc.), to where some are now over 100MB each, put a few apps in, some music, some video, books, this all adds up to 16GB not being enough for average user, Apple needs to step up to 32GB base or give us a memory slot to add more! (I cannot put all my apps on my iPad Mini 16GB, would like to put some video on it, but, no room 🙁 ).

__________

Too many reviewers bad mouthed the iPad Mini 1st gen. calling it "same as iPad 2" when it only shares 2 things with iPad 2: A5 processor and non-retina screen...it has many advantages over iPad 2 as it has all updated electronics around that processor, to where it is as capable as any late-2012 iOS device:

iPad Mini 1st gen, does these things iPad 2 does not:
• BT4 gives it AirDrop and all handoff/continuity features.
• cell models capable of LTE
• two speakers instead of one
• same battery life with a smaller battery (advantage of lower power consumption of physically smaller, more efficient screen, even though it's the same pixels as iPad 2)
• runs iOS 8.3 just fine and will run iOS 9, but without any split screen features.
• better mic
• better cameras
• iPad Mini 1st gen. is the thinnest and lightest iPad.

--• For those on a budget, iPad is out of reach, or for education, or for POS, the iPad Mini 1st gen. is just fine for a first iPad:

*You can still get the iPad Mini 1st gen. for less: on sale at various places, and on Apple's certified refurb. store (with new warranty) starting at $209 http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad/ipad_mini.

I've had my iPad Mini 1st gen. since Nov. '13, still works just fine.

Runs 8.3 just fine... Is this a joke? It’s unusable.

 

[BruiserB]

I think I found where Apple is dumping remaining inventory.

 

[Mullerman]

Mine hasn't worked properly since IOS8. Hence the its last bit of Apple kit I have bothered to purchase, knackered after 18 months use.

 

[loon3y]

iPad Mini 1 is the worst device I have ever bought. Never had a device become obsolete so quickly.
My first Macbook lasted me 5.5 years, my iPhone 5 lasted almost 2 and is now used by a friend. The iPad mini lasted less than a year until iOS8 came around and is now only used to test iOS9 which is no better as of now.

The fact they still sold that useless thing is unbelievable.
It really lowered my opinion of apple which has been decreasing since several years.


Apple is headed the wrong way and whoever hasn’t noticed yet soon will.

this, and there were people here actually defending the Mini and iPod 5th Gen,


i mean really? iPad 2 internals on a new product?


literally ******** on its fair weather consumers. they don't know how bad that product really was. Hell, I didn't at first, till it started crashing everywhere.