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

lkrupp said:
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.
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Not saying I support the price tag by the OP but...

R&D? on the fifth generation?
Marketing? Not needed
Warranty costs? Maybe?
 
The iPad mini was always the perfect size, IMO. Especially for ebook reading, but also in general. You can easily one-hand it. I no longer have my iPad mini 2, but it was awesome as a portable streaming device.

Instead of keeping the chin and button, they should make a pro version.
 
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B4U said:
Except they are going to charge $699 for the Mini 5...
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Oops! Lol. Sad, but true. We want the updated specs of those two with a lower price. Unfortunately, the 2019 version of Apple won't allow that.
 
otternonsense said:
I hope they won't go into full penny-pinching mode 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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Notice the use of “cheaper”. Had they used “less expensive” I would be more optimistic. ;)
 
thealkimist said:
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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Face ID probably not, but pen support, I think definitely.
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Which pen do you think it will support? I can’t see Apple letting a low cost lower quality screen be compatible with the new Apple Pencil. So do you think they would make the new mini work with the old pencil? The mini is really to small for me to work on, but there are times I could see my using one. My kids have the first and third gen mini’s.
 
Veinticinco said:
It’s laughably predictable isn’t it?

Either do an updated Mini justice or let it retire in peace.
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Mac mini, same case after 4 years,
iMac same external design after 10 years.
So much for innovation.

What does it make you think that they will change the case?
 
imo Apple has three overall options for the new mini 5:
  • move downmarket at maybe $249-279 with a smaller version of the $329 9.7”, so likely non-laminated display and maybe 264ppi;
  • Stay midmarket at basically the current price with the current amazing 326ppi laminated display; or
  • Go upmarket with a full-on Pro version at around $649 or so.
In any case, it’ll be at least an A10, and if the new 9.7/10” has an A11, so will the mini. Definitely Lightning jack and Pencil support (very likely Pencil 1, I think).

We have no idea which would be most in demand and satisfy the most customers, but Apple does.

Spoiler: not the Pro
 
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If Mini5 has a laminated display, I will buy it at launch, but if it gets a downgrade to the Mini2 chassis/screen, I think I will pass for now, as in truth, Mini4 still holds up well for what I use it for (pretty much a companion to my 11” Pro), thus, at this stage, it is not really worth sacrificing the better quality screen for a bump in processor speed/memory. Now if the current performance of Mini4 was poor, maybe I would be willing to sacrifice the laminated display. The only real negative about my aging Mini4 (used daily since launch day in 2015) is that the battery life is not what is once was.

Ultimately though, I still really, really want to see an iPad Pro Mini. After giving up hope of the Mini being updated, I purchased an iPad Pro 11”. I like the Pro a lot, but still think that the comfort of the Mini form factor cannot be beaten (would sell my 11” Pro if I could replace it with a Mini Pro)
 
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I have two Mini 4s that I use for aviation. They are the perfect size to mount on the yoke of an airplane to display FAA approach plates and charts. If the Mini 5 has a laminated screen, I'll buy two. If it is a downgrade from the 4, I'll be keeping my Mini 4s.
 
DesertNomad said:
I have two Mini 4s that I use for aviation. They are the perfect size to mount on the yoke of an airplane to display FAA approach plates and charts. If the Mini 5 has a laminated screen, I'll buy two. If it is a downgrade from the 4, I'll be keeping my Mini 4s.
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Just out of curiosity, why would you replace the 4s at all? Future-proofing/battery life/faster overall operation?
 
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.
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Two words: Form Factor. Not everyone wants a standard or larger device. The Mini is perfect for on the go activities that a cell phone isn't that good and a huge tablet is too cumbersome.
 
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PickUrPoison said:
Just out of curiosity, why would you replace the 4s at all? Future-proofing/battery life/faster overall operation?
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Future-proofing and speed. They are 64GB units and each are only used for a few aviation apps - mostly ForeFlight. They are feeling a bit slow these days as ForeFlight keeps growing new features.
 
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I use a Mini 4. If I could write a wish list to Apple:

1. Same size (7.9”, 4:3) laminated screen.
2. Shrunken bezel with Face ID.
3. Updated processor.

I’d pay $500. In other words, it’s the Mini! Make it smaller and better.
 
RevTEG said:
Which pen do you think it will support? I can’t see Apple letting a low cost lower quality screen be compatible with the new Apple Pencil. So do you think they would make the new mini work with the old pencil? The mini is really to small for me to work on, but there are times I could see my using one. My kids have the first and third gen mini’s.
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Easy to answer: Of course the new pencil because it is more expensive
 
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RevTEG said:
Which pen do you think it will support? I can’t see Apple letting a low cost lower quality screen be compatible with the new Apple Pencil. So do you think they would make the new mini work with the old pencil? The mini is really to small for me to work on, but there are times I could see my using one. My kids have the first and third gen mini’s.
Click to expand...

Hard to say - in order to keep the cost down it's plausible they may stick to the first one.
 
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