Component Suppliers Say Apple Has Ordered Parts for 10 Million 'iPad Minis' in 4Q 2012

[Zunjine]

Steve always went on in keynotes about entering new parts of the MP3 market and crushing them (iPod, iPod Mini/Nano, iPod Shuffle), which, of course, they did. I could see them doing the same here. As many have said, the price is what's going to be interesting, considering the new iPod Touch starts at $299.

Agreed. Tablets are far more similar to MP3 players than to smartphones in that regard.

When Apple launched the iPhone it was into a market with many established players and a lot of strong routes to market, mostly via the networks. The iPad, however, like the iPod, was the first widely popular device of its kind - the first of the modern tablets based on a mobile OS rather than a desktop OS.

So, unlike with smartphones where Android has been able to take a huge chunk of the market largley through just being everywhere, the iPad has remained the only real show in town. If Apple goes after the lower end of that market with the same zeal with which it attacked the MP3 player market we could see the iPad being to tablets what they iPod was to MP3 players.

 

[3N16MA]

1. iPad mini rumors

2. Some MR members claim "it will never happen."

3. More and more evidence builds that it will.

4. Same people say "it will never happen."

5. Apple sends out invite for keynote.

6. Apple unveils new smaller iPad.

7. People who said it will never happen now say "Apple is doomed."

8. iPad mini sells million in the first week and is a success.

9. Those same people keep quiet.

 

[TMay]

Very elitist. And I would argue that of all the Kindle Fire, Nook, and other tablet purchasers that don't have an iPad could EASILY afford an iPad but chose to either a) not spend that much b) the iPad didn't solve any MORE "problems" than they needed. IE - they bought the right product for their use case.

Another common example is that I know several parents who have iPads - but bought Kindle Fires/etc for their kids NOT because they couldn't afford them but because a smaller screen and having something they were less concerned with having to replace if it broke was more attractive.

Price is important. But it's not only because of affordability. And those that really thinks that their iPhone or iPad is beyond the means of those that buy other phones or tablets are, in my opinion, deluding themselves.

There were lots of disappointed kids last christmas. They got Kindle Fires instead of iPads.

The Kindle Fire was considered a great gift to give for Christmas, but sales dropped pretty significantly after. Still, it was a foot in the door for Amazon.

 

[Nungster]

iHope - for retina display and A6.

Most likely not. This is supposed to compete with Kindle and Nexus 7 on price and why would they make it better than iPad?

iHope it is at the same price point as Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 for iDomination

 

[bkushner]

I have an ipad 3 and am struggling with the idea of owning the mini as well. I need it to serve a purpose. We shall see.

 

[RobertMartens]

249$

I'm going to have to insist that you put the $ sign in front of the number. It is US $ that we are talking about after all.

BTW $249 is exactly where I would set the price too.

But then again, I'm a gemini and we don't believe in the iPad mini.

 

[archurban]

I imagine a surprisingly low price for being Apple. If there's something Tim Cook knows his **** about, it's this. I'd go as far as to say that the low price will be the main attraction of the mini. I think Apple really wants to kill the lower end in the tablet business, and that they'll try to do it with an agressive pricing strategy to the point of being a device selling with their lowest profit margins yet. They'll have one device precision targeted for this, and they'll try to leave absolutely no room to compete. $199-$250 perhaps?

no. apple can't do it. it has been proven through the history. they never compromise the price point. do you think that new ipad $499 is even cheaper? NO. you can buy laptop. apple is not amazon, google. so don't expect. I am sure that apple will fail, learn some harsh lesson in the end like if apple do something, everything will be just successful ********.

 

[bbeagle]

no. apple can't do it. it has been proven through the history. they never compromise the price point.

They most definately have. The iPad 1 was only $499 - well below the $800-$1000 what people thought the entry price would be.

I'll give you that Apple USUALLY doesn't compromise on the price point, but in certain situations they will. I think they need to price the iPad mini to $199 to gain any traction at all - and I think Apple knows this.

 

[RobertMartens]

Most likely not. This is supposed to compete with Kindle and Nexus 7 on price and why would they make it better than iPad?

iHope it is at the same price point as Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 for iDomination

What do you mean it is supposed to compete with...


Apple doesn't make products to compete with...


They make products that they think should exist.

BTW Steve clearly thought that this one shouldn't

 

[darkslide29]

249$

I predict $299.

The iPod Touch 32gb is $299. The iPad 16gb is $399.

Apple likes to do specs in $100 increments.
Balance the two out by increasing the screen size of the iPod Touch without retina to keep the increase minimal (+$100) and not including the 32gb that the iPod Touch has, but instead dropping it to 16gb like the iPad 2 (-$100), comes out to $299.

It would be sweet if it is $249 though, but at that point would it completely cannibalize iPod Touch sales? The iPod is completely portable and serves a different purpose, of course. But it'll still be tough to swallow a $299 purchase, when the new iPad Mini is cheaper. Just talking your average consumer here.

 

[Fairthrope]

Price will be everything.

If not priced competitively - even if a better device, they won't sell as "hot" as a full sized iPad.

Do you have figures in mind?

How much it should cost, and how much more it could cost more than Kindle Fire or small Galaxy Tab 'because it's Apple'?

Is being iProduct still allow Apple to charge a little extra?

 

[archurban]

1. iPad mini rumors

2. Some MR members claim "it will never happen."

3. More and more evidence builds that it will.

4. Same people say "it will never happen."

5. Apple sends out invite for keynote.

6. Apple unveils new smaller iPad.

7. People who said it will never happen now say "Apple is doomed."

8. iPad mini sells million in the first week and is a success.

9. Those same people keep quiet.

no, you're wrong in this time. 7inch market has been already very competitive. there is no space apple could compete with them. the most important thing is price. if apple couldn't sell it $199 or $240, ipad mini will fail big just like apple TV. time is changed. it's not if apple do something, everything will be successful. ipad mini will fail. I am sure about this.

 

[darkslide29]

They most definately have. The iPad 1 was only $499 - well below the $800-$1000 what people thought the entry price would be.

I'll give you that Apple USUALLY doesn't compromise on the price point, but in certain situations they will. I think they need to price the iPad mini to $199 to gain any traction at all - and I think Apple knows this.

A lot of the people who thought it would be $1000 also predicted that it would run OS X. However, I agree with you that it was still a compromise/very competitive pricing since it took a full couple of years before other companies could match Apple specs for the price.

It is just so tough to bring the iPad Mini to $199 or even $249, given that the intro iPod touch is $299.
I think it was an interesting decision to intro the iPod Touch at 32gb $299, and not have a 16gb option. Then with the iPad 2 at $399, it makes pricing the iPad Mini really tough. They almost priced themselves into a corner. And by that I mean, no matter what price they choose, there will be nay sayers.

The iPad Mini will have a bigger screen than the iPod Touch, but not retina. And it will probably have half the storage at 16gb. It seems $299 is a nice price to have the consumer choose between a bigger (non-retina, iPad 2 res) screen on the mini, or retina and more storage on the iPod Touch.

It would be great if it was $199, but a whole $100 less than their iPod Touch sounds difficult. Heck, I don't even want an iPad Mini, it isn't for me because I have a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPad. I can't imagine another "in between device". But at $199, that puts it into impulse buy territory for me! I might actually get it and make it fit my life. Anyone else? I'll sell my Logitech Harmony remote and replace it with this somehow.. or Keep the iPad 3 at home all the time and only travel with the Mini.. Or.. I'll certainly get rid of my kindle, e-ink or not I'll use the mini instead. Or.. I don't know but $199 I will make it work. $299? Ehh..

It will be interesting to see what the final price is, because I fully expect their people to have done a ton of research and figure out what the right price is for best profit/sales balance.

 

[TC25]

No, apparently you should. I was making fun of your incredibly stupid, sad, childish joke about the iPad naming.

Wow, what are the odds. I was making fun of your incredibly stupid, sad, childish response to my post.

 

[RobertMartens]

7. People who said it will never happen now say "Apple is doomed."

I disagree. How do you know it is the same people. It could be their brother hacking into their account. It might be the same people but you just don't know.

BTW It ain't gonna happen, (did you get an invite?)

 

[apolloa]

Still don't believe it, not till invitations are sent out. Timings wrong, pricing wrong, market place wrong etc etc.

I could be wrong. But one thing I know I won't be wrong on is that it will be too much money and I'll stick with a Kindle Fire HD on my Chrimbo list. One iOS device is enough anyway and my iPhone 5 fills that gap nicely. Also already have an iPad 3 in the house.

Are people on here still proclaiming it will cost a lot less then an iPod Touch?

 

[o0jelly0o]

Do you have figures in mind?

How much it should cost, and how much more it could cost more than Kindle Fire or small Galaxy Tab 'because it's Apple'?

Is being iProduct still allow Apple to charge a little extra?

iProduct = quality. So yes, they can charge more. Kindle fire is made out of plastic, this will be made out of aluminum most likely, and feel, and look amazing.

 

[RobertMartens]

ipad mini will fail big just like apple TV.

Now wait one minute, when did the Apple TV fail? I thought they sold 4 million last year.

 

[henrystar]

iSkeptical

So YOU!! are responsible for the falling stock price!

 

[RobertMartens]

But one thing I know I won't be wrong on is that it will be too much money

Are people on here still proclaiming it will cost a lot less then an iPod Touch?

If you were wrong and they did sell it for $249 and it did sell for less than the iPod touch, hypothetically speaking, of course, I ask you, would you buy it?

 

[Keniutek]

People that were saying "smaller iPad would be stupid", "no way Apple acts like other dumb companies", etc. where ya at?

 

[GoldenJoe]

Apple would be fools to sell for that price. It would all but kill their high-end iPad market, unless it was far inferior to the new iPad. I can't see Apple coming out with an inferior product just to sell to the low-end market. It's not in their DNA.

I see them releasing a high-end quality iPad with a small screen, and charging accordingly.

This. You are in for a great disappointment if you expect apple to undercut the iPod.

 

[darkslide29]

Apple would be fools to sell for that price. It would all but kill their high-end iPad market, unless it was far inferior to the new iPad. I can't see Apple coming out with an inferior product just to sell to the low-end market. It's not in their DNA.

I see them releasing a high-end quality iPad with a small screen, and charging accordingly.

I have always thought this too. This is the reason they never cared for and never did sell a "Net Book" or whatever that sub $500, sub $300 laptop fad (I say 'fad' loosely) was. They could have entered it if they wanted to. Instead, they went straight to creating and dominating the ultrabook market at $1000 ish.

 

[RobertMartens]

People that were saying "a smaller iPad would be stupid", "no way Apple acts like those other dumb companies", etc. where ya at?

Over here, what can I do for you?

 

[JS82712]

no, you're wrong in this time. 7inch market has been already very competitive. there is no space apple could compete with them. the most important thing is price. if apple couldn't sell it $199 or $240, ipad mini will fail big just like apple TV. time is changed. it's not if apple do something, everything will be successful. ipad mini will fail. I am sure about this.

Quoted for possible future entertainment purpose.

If the iPad mini has at least one or two key features that really stands out (such as Siri on the 4S), it will sell like hot cakes; on the other hand, if it's just a downsized iPad with same ol grid of icons and 0 innovation, then it'd be a disappointment, but certainly not a failure.