iPad 2 release price was same as iPad 3/4 prices. Obviously Apple considered forthcoming retina displays when setting prices for iPad 2 and Mini.
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All iPads Big Bang in iPads next year
- Thread starter Jeans89
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iPad 2 release price was same as iPad 3/4 prices. Obviously Apple considered forthcoming retina displays when setting prices for iPad 2 and Mini.
I'll admit, the thin side bezels are nice and pose no problem in holding the mini. Thinning the top and bottom bezels would be cool with me.
So they are supposed to fit the same screen and processor as in the full sized version in the Mini for $100 less?
Miniturization generally costs more, not less. Not to mention with that lineup they'd severely cut into the sales of the more expensive model. Not going to happen.
I agree with you. The current overpricing of mini was done in order to be able to launch next year an iPad mini2 with a better screen and chip without a price increase. That is going to be a huge product.
I agree with you. The current overpricing of mini was done in order to be able to launch next year an iPad mini2 with a better screen and chip without a price increase. That is going to be a huge product.
Spot on! Very consistent with Apple product launch strategy. Make the first version under-spec, then launch the next version at the same price with the full specs.
I'm doubting the SoC is the biggest power drain. That's going to be the display and if IGZO based panels make it that'll come with around a 40% reduction in power. Apple could fab the next SoC at 28nm I believe and reduce consumption further. Wasn't TSMC's 20nm process rumored for Quad Core SoC?
I beg to differ. The technology for 2048x1536 technology is here but with a weight and cost penalty. Ipad 3/4 weight 1.44 lb, Nexus 10 weight 1.33lb. And these 3 are the only tablet has display resolution that is equal to or exceed 2048x1536 in 10 inches +- panel size. so if you put that technology in Ipad mini, you are looking a ipad mini that is at least 1.1lb as compare to today 0.68 lb. A new panel may allow Apple to cut the back light to one (from two in Ipad 3/4) and the size of battery. But it will cost a bunch more. Ipad mini gross margin is already "significantly lower than apple's corporate average" per Apple management conference call a couple weeks ago. I don't see that they can produce one next year at 329 price point even if technology is there. Most likely they will keep the 329 price point for the current Ipad mini but add a premium model at a higher price... Taking any other resolution is no go since it will impact the 275,000 tablet apps that Apple is so rely on in selling Ipad. And why NFC in a tablet? It make sense in a smartphone but not sure I understand now one use NFC in a tablet (do you swipe a tablet a few inches from a NFC enable sales terminal?).
Why does everyone think a 7" ipad retina screen is technologically impossible...we have a 5" retina screen, a 10" retina screen, a 13" retina screen, a 15" retina screen, etc TODAY, why is a 7" so impossible in a couple of months or year from now? I know it might make the ipad mini a little thicker but so is the ipad 3 and 4 and plenty of people bought those.
Well if they make it thicker then I'm sure it's possible.
But you have to take into account all viewpoints.
Let's assume they do not increase the thickness OR weight of the device.
The battery in the mini is nearly 1/3rd the size of the 4th generation iPad.
The device is over 2mm thinner.
It's half the weight.
To fit in the retina they need to also fit in the A6X which may or may well cause extra heat issues (especially since apparently the 4th gen iPad gets quite warm so imagine how warm a smaller package would get).
I'm not saying that it is not possible, or not going to happen, why would anyone NOT want it to happen?! I just think that it seems fast! I hope they do put it in, because then $329 is a fantastic price!
I wonder how they will differentiate the mini and the 9.7 though apart from a faster processor next year then.
It's just human nature. Heard the same basic thing about every new tech, like 1080p, then OLED, and 4k.
The only reason the iPad 3/4 weigh more is because when the iPad 3 was release, Apple was hoping that IGZO display technology would be widely available. At the time, yields were low and they had to resort to using Samsung's older PLS display technology. The reason a 2nd light bar was added was because the pixels were so condensed that a single light bar would not provide the brightness needed.
For reference: http://appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/07/apple_leaning_towards_dual_led_light_bars_for_ipad_3s_retina_display.html
Basically the display used in the iPad 3/4 was a Plan B device. The power sucking display is also the reason why the battery had to be larger, hence why the iPad 3/4 are thicker and heavier.
With IGZO now in full production, Apple will be able to provide a Retina display for the iPad Mini in 2013. It is merely a matter of when. The benefits of IGZO include thinner bezels, cheaper cost of production and power savings (using up to 20% power of traditional panels). Since the display uses the greatest amount of battery life, IGZO should allow Apple to produce a Retina quality display while not sacrificing battery life.
For reference: http://9to5mac.com/2012/09/01/sharps-igzo-displays-on-display-at-ifa-berlin-better-touch-sensitivity-smaller-bezels-galleryvideo/
Devices such as the HTC J Butterfly are already using IGZO technology and are able to pack a 1080P display in a 5" package. This equates to 440 PPI, well beyond any Apple product so far.
For reference: http://www.slashgear.com/htc-j-butterfly-5-inch-1080p-smartphone-unveiled-in-japan-17252317/
That device is already available in Japan and will probably be announced in the US on November 13th during a HTC/Verizon event.
Basically, the technology already exists to create the iPad Mini Retina. As to what SoC it will be paired with or when it will be released, it will be up to Apple.
My predictions are for a Spring/Summer 2013 release for the iPad Mini Retina with the following prices.
Current iPad Mini: $329
iPad Mini Retina: $399 (Probably with a A5X processor on a shrunken die)
iPad 4: $499
The iPad 2 will be discontinued due to the move to the Lightning connector.
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Yes, the technology might exist but Apple is about high yields in production. They need to be able to sell millions of iPad mini retinas per month, not a couple of thousand like LG....
If the news I am reading is true, then Sharp (who produces the IGZO displays) already has plans to go full production on IGZO displays this year.
For reference: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/money/story/sharp-aims-near-full-output-display-plant-20121111
My prediction is that we'll see a Retina Display iPad Mini next year for sure, and that it'll have a A6 chip and 1GB RAM.
I don't think there's anyway it'll be $329 though. I think Apple will continue to offer iPad Mini 1 for the current price, and the Retina iPad Mini will go for higher.
Originally I'm was thinking it would be $399 and take the place of the iPad 2 which would be discontinued.
But I'm not sure if Apple can add BOTH Retina and the A6 chip for that low of a price. So I'm thinking it will be closer to $429 or $100 more than the iPad Mini 1.
That makes it similar to the cost difference between iPad 2 and iPad 4.
I think at $429, they would probably continue selling iPad 2 for $399 and it would make sense that iPad Mini 2 would cost more than iPad 2 'cause you get Retina, A6 chip, 1GB RAM and all miniaturized.
I don't think there's anyway it'll be $329 though. I think Apple will continue to offer iPad Mini 1 for the current price, and the Retina iPad Mini will go for higher.
Originally I'm was thinking it would be $399 and take the place of the iPad 2 which would be discontinued.
But I'm not sure if Apple can add BOTH Retina and the A6 chip for that low of a price. So I'm thinking it will be closer to $429 or $100 more than the iPad Mini 1.
That makes it similar to the cost difference between iPad 2 and iPad 4.
I think at $429, they would probably continue selling iPad 2 for $399 and it would make sense that iPad Mini 2 would cost more than iPad 2 'cause you get Retina, A6 chip, 1GB RAM and all miniaturized.
While Apple is ok for the moment with the mini as it is....they are not content with it staying that way...they certainly want it to go to retina, but keep the cost and weight down...I know this as I know someone who is in the display group.
But, they won't shift to the better screen until they get that cost down and the efficiency of the display up.
My prediction is that Apple will sell millions of Minis, and next year, no matter what they upgrade on it, they will sell millions more.
I win. Give me a cookie.
I win. Give me a cookie.
Thanks for that stephewc. What's the best guess on weight for the iPad and iPad Mini with IGZO?
The only way we're going to see a Retina iPad mini next year is if it uses a dedicated resolution (somewhere around 1600x1200) and if the A6 chip can handle the display without taxing the battery too much or causing thermal issues. I don't think it can, if it could, I'd imagine they would have used it already.
We'll probably need to wait for A7 to see Retina in a mini. That could happen next year, as the next iPhone will probably use it, but whether Apple would skip the A6 altogether is questionable.
My guess is that we see one more year of the non-retina mini. It gets an A6 update and comes in multiple colors while the A5 version is EOL'd.
Early 2013 could bring a redesigned full sized iPad that borrows from the mini's design.(smaller side bezels, anodized aluminum back etc.). This could be announced alongside the A6 mini or they could just skip A6 altogether, but I bet we see colors.
We'll probably need to wait for A7 to see Retina in a mini. That could happen next year, as the next iPhone will probably use it, but whether Apple would skip the A6 altogether is questionable.
My guess is that we see one more year of the non-retina mini. It gets an A6 update and comes in multiple colors while the A5 version is EOL'd.
Early 2013 could bring a redesigned full sized iPad that borrows from the mini's design.(smaller side bezels, anodized aluminum back etc.). This could be announced alongside the A6 mini or they could just skip A6 altogether, but I bet we see colors.
I know it would, but don't you think that it DOES make sense, to make a noticabely higher quality screen than wait till the technology is available to make it 2x and deal with complains until it is.
I'm curious, now that Apple had made a "me too" 7" if they don't make a "me too" Surface-like convertible. Personally I'm not a fan - too heavy for one, but reviews seem to be positive. Seems overkill for consumers & biz is not a fan of 8, so unsure, but curious just the same.
The short answer is, they can't. iOS is not designed to scale at anything other than 1x or 2x. If they did scale it, there would be visible artifacts. If they didn't, apps would have to run in a box inside the screen that would be very much like iPhone apps are scaled to the ipad, except it would be for EVERY app.
Mak47's hypothesis sounds pretty reasonable to me.
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I highly doubt this. They would rather sell you an ipad and a MacBook than one in-between device. I'm also not convinced this category of super-tablets is really going to be more than a small niche. Microsoft has been trying to launch the full-computer-tablet for well over 10 years, but the market has clearly said they prefer tablet appliances over tablet computers.
I'm betting that IGZO display will be a game-changer and allow for much more beautiful displays, thinner and lighter form factor. Just look at the screen of the iPhone 5 to see how nice the iPad will be.
If they just take 200 grams off the iPad 4 - now that's worth an upgrade!
If they just take 200 grams off the iPad 4 - now that's worth an upgrade!