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Compal Expected to Assemble iPad Mini 5 Launching 'Later in 2019'

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Taiwanese manufacturer Compal Electronics is expected to be a supplier of the so-called iPad mini 5 when the tablet launches later in 2019, according to DigiTimes. This would likely entail final assembly of the device.

ipad_mini_4_2017_roundup_header-800x583.jpg
iPad mini 4​

Rumors suggest Apple will release the new iPad mini as early as this spring, likely alongside a new seventh-generation iPad with a slightly larger 10-inch display. Apple's plans to release a new iPad mini have been reported by Ming-Chi Kuo, Mark Gurman, DigiTimes, and the China Times.

Apple has debuted new iPads in March for three consecutive years, including the 9.7-inch iPad Pro in 2016, the fifth-generation iPad in 2017, and the sixth-generation iPad in 2018, so there's a good chance that Apple will unveil the iPad mini 5 and the new 10-inch iPad in a little over a month from now.

Kuo said the new iPad mini will feature an upgraded processor and a lower-cost panel, but few details are known beyond that.

The current iPad mini 4 was released in September 2015. The tablet features a 7.9-inch display with 326 PPI, A8 chip, 2GB of RAM, Touch ID, 8-megapixel rear camera, a Lightning connector, dual speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is available with 128GB of storage for $399 (Wi-Fi) and $529 (LTE).

Article Link: Compal Expected to Assemble iPad Mini 5 Launching 'Later in 2019'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/31/compal-ipad-mini-5-later-in-2019/
The drumbeats are coming consistently and faster now for the mini - seems like its going to happen and make alot of people happy (if they don't put a A9 in it - god help us). Good to see Apple doing this.

yossi said:
I never understood why the Mini was more expensive than the 9.7?"...
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This one is easy. Because back when the Mini 4 was created there were no "cheap" iPads - it was that long ago - they were essentially all high end iPad's (the Pro's of today) with the high end components / prices including the Mini 4, so its price has fallen some but not that much. We'll see what the Mini 5 gives us.
 
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otternonsense said:
I hope they won't go full penny-pinching again and use the old chassis (but seeing Cook's track record, I'm sure that's exactly what they'll do)
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My bet is on it being thicker, lower quality screen for the same $399. And this new 10 inch iPad rumor will have similar crappy parts for $499.

Apple wants us to feel compelled to buy an iPad Pro. There’s no way they will give us what we want— a full-featured iPad Mini with a sub $500 price.
 
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If this iPad has a display similar to pro (as in, no gap between the top surface and the underlying display, like the entry level iPad), and it supports pencil. I will be very tempted with this!
 
w_aldo said:
So an air gap, then?
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Bingo! That's exactly what it sounds like. If that's the case I'll pass on it. I have one iPad like that, still sitting around and I hardly use it because I just can't stand the screen. Feels like i'm going to break it just by pressing on something.
 
tkukoc said:
Bingo! That's exactly what it sounds like. If that's the case I'll pass on it. I have one iPad like that, still sitting around and I hardly use it because I just can't stand the screen. Feels like i'm going to break it just by pressing on something.
Click to expand...

This just solidifies the existence of the iPad Air 2. Can be picked up for an excellent price, faster than the current Mini 4, no air gap, just a trade off with the size.
 
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I think it will be a low cost model, but as long as the SoC is ok (A11 or A12) I'm fine with that, as it has to be an entry level. The display won't be great maybe, but if it is similar to the current iPad 9.7 I don't see any problems
 
The excitement builds... knowing that no matter what is released there are going to be three basic comments
1) who wants this? update the Mac Pro!
2) they cheaped out, I want a fully featured iPad mini Pro at half the cost!
3) its too expensive, I want just a basic device.

The minority will say, just what I have been waiting for!
 
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The iPad mini 4 tech specs listed miss the key one (for me): 4:3 aspect ratio (2048x1536, 326ppi).
The 4:3 aspect ratio optimizes the iPad for document and map reading, as opposed to the new trio of Apple phablets -- all with elongated 2.16 aspect ratios.

My take:
As long as Cook keeps the 4:3 aspect ratio, I will entertain replacing our two mini 4's.
If not, Apple will get nothing, nada, zip upgrade from us, as our iPads are working fine for their intended purposes -- digital tools while traveling abroad.
 
My Mini 4 is my only iPad and I love it. It’s plenty fast and does everything I want. I would consider a Mini 5 only if it had a larger display with smaller bezels, perhaps more ram and a pro level cpu. I know it won’t have Face ID or pen support but it would be lovely if it did.
 
Sasparilla said:
This one is easy. Because back when the Mini 4 was created there were no "cheap" iPads - it was that long ago - they were essentially all high end iPad's (the Pro's of today) with the high end components / prices including the Mini 4, so its price has fallen some but not that much. We'll see what the Mini 5 gives us.
Click to expand...

Actually they weren't high end iPads back in the day. The high ends came with the most recent iterations of iPad. Back then it was just a simpler tablet line; the iPad and iPad mini. We never saw a refresh with the mini probably because they were working harder to slow down the further decline in iPad sales, by introducing more compelling iterations of a tablet.
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bingeciren said:
My Mini 4 is my only iPad and I love it. It’s plenty fast and does everything I want. I would consider a Mini 5 only if it had a larger display with smaller bezels, perhaps more ram and a pro level cpu. I know it won’t have Face ID or pen support but it would be lovely if it did.
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Face ID probably not, but pen support, I think definitely.
 
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himanshumodi said:
If this iPad has a display similar to pro (as in, no gap between the top surface and the underlying display, like the entry level iPad), and it supports pencil. I will be very tempted with this!
Click to expand...

Probably won't happen, what would be the purpose of buying a Pro if the mini had all of those features? Apple is making sure there is a large enough gap between the iPad product lines (pro and regular iPad). Now, if they made an iPad Pro Mini, that would be tempting to buy.
 
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I have the first mini with retina display (iPad mini 2, right?) and an iPhone SE, and love 'em both. But I would much rather have an SE upgrade than an iPad mini 5. Wishful thinking, I know...
 
yossi said:
I never understood why the Mini was more expensive than the 9.7?" They need to drop the price to $249.
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Always interesting to read posts like yours. How did you arrive at that price? Do you know the total cost to build this device? What do you consider a fair profit margin for the device? How about R&D, marketing, warranty costs? Or did you just pick a number and post it? And of course you can buy an Android tablet for $50 should you desire to.
 
terpsbball2002 said:
Probably won't happen, what would be the purpose of buying a Pro if the mini had all of those features? Apple is making sure there is a large enough gap between the iPad product lines (pro and regular iPad). Now, if they made an iPad Pro Mini, that would be tempting to buy.
Click to expand...

I'd be all over an iPad Mini Pro. But I'm going to pass on this Mini 5, if those rumors are true.
 
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