Apparently there are not many people like me who were really hoping for an upgraded iPad mini. I love the size of the mini and was hoping for upgraded specs, maybe a "pro" type model. I have the smaller iPad Pro and thought I would love it but all it does is collect dust because I found that the size is just not as convenient for me. I am starting to give up hope that Apple will keep the mini line going. Dang.
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Disappointed in "new" iPad mini optionD
- Thread starter jekjones1558
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I was hoping for a new iPad mini also. Given that nothing new was released, I went ahead and ordered the mini 4. $379 (using Apple Store government discount) for the 128GB model isn't bad at all, and I don't really need a powerhouse since I won't be using it to play games or anything. Still, I hope this isn't a sign that Apple's gonna drop the 7.9" tablet size.
I just don't think that's how they're marketing the device. They have probably found that it fits best in the budget category, and want the customers looking to spend more on a nicer device move up to the Pro line in one of those screen sizes.
Apple held firm on the prices on the 128gb in the US but upped the price at least here in Canada by $50. So $549 now. Terrible.
Was hoping for a spec bump but may pick up a 16gb refurb for almost $200 less.
Was hoping for a spec bump but may pick up a 16gb refurb for almost $200 less.
In the US, the pricing on the 128GB iPad mini 4 yesterday was $499. Today it's $399. So, if my math is correct, that's a $100 price drop.
Sorry, meant that the US held firm on the starting (and now only) price of the Mini, but yes, increased the storage. Instead of staying at $499 in Canada,which was the 32gb, its now 549$ for the 128.
I would think pricing for the Mini 4 would be a bit more reasonable than that, after dropping the mini 2.
It's not a premium device, nor upgraded outside of storage, but it's gained a more premium price that is 100$ more then the new IPad.
Yeah here in the UK the 128gb iPad 9.7 almost the same price as the mini. I just think they're preparing to kill the mini.
It's a pretty strange setup now with the mini being the only 128GB-only device and priced a bit at a premium.
I'm in Canada as well, if you are looking for a mini 4, there's some good refurb options. $439 for 64GB, $469 for 128GB and $559 for 64GB Cellular.
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I have the same feeling, which I think is unfortunate.
If they were going to keep the size, they likely would have given it the same treatment as this new 9.7" iPad and maybe priced it below the $329 9.7" price. I hope we're wrong though.
Unfortunately I think that is how Apple views everything - bigger is better. It's wrong headed thinking though. I prefer the 21" iMac w/ an extra monitor to one giant 27", but the 21" is the red headed step-child. You can't upgrade RAM and CTO options are weaker.
My hands prefer the 4.7" iPhone but it too is the bastard cousin in terms of features.
The iPod nano is limited to 16GB RAM -- if Apple is only going to sell one model then why not 64 given its price (fully understand Apple doesn't even acknowledge the iPod's existence anymore, just saying if they are going to bother to sell it why not make it useful).
And then we get to the iPad Mini which hasn't had a real update in 3 years. It's a great device for reading, browsing, as a remote control, casual gaming. It's also the most holdable iPad. It's not a 9.7 substitute, it's it's own device if Apple would market it that way. But, like the rest of it's smaller screen alternatives, it just dumbs it down, sets a lower price and pretends its just a value device not realize some people want a small, but full featured device.
Yes, I think this signals the end for the mini as they are positioning the new iPad as the budget device and are keeping around a higher priced mini option for those that really like the form factor for now.
I was hoping for a Mini 5 with A9 (or better), true tone screen and Apple Pencil support but I won't hold my breath...
I was hoping for a Mini 5 with A9 (or better), true tone screen and Apple Pencil support but I won't hold my breath...
Same here. I would have welcomed a different mini option. My mother is a senior citizen who LOVES her iPad Mini. It's the perfect size for her to use for everything and throw in her purse. I was really hoping to upgrade her again original Mini. But paying more and getting a 128 GB device feels like overkill. I'm going to see if I can grab an iPad Mini 2 before they are all sold out.
I'm actually kinda debating whether to pick up a refurbished 16GB Mini or the 32GB 9.7" in a bit. I went iPad 2 --> Mini --> Air 1. Thinking about possibly going back to the mini form factor.
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An iPad Mini Pro would be awesome IF...
Equipped with: A10 quad-core processor, Quad Speakers, Pencil Support, P3 Display, haptic home button, keeping the dimensions the exact same as the mini 4 (so I can keep the Smart Cover colors.) Getting tired of Apple upgrading the models enough to where I have to buy new smart covers, (it's a pet peeve.)
Equipped with: A10 quad-core processor, Quad Speakers, Pencil Support, P3 Display, haptic home button, keeping the dimensions the exact same as the mini 4 (so I can keep the Smart Cover colors.) Getting tired of Apple upgrading the models enough to where I have to buy new smart covers, (it's a pet peeve.)
The rumored 10.5" with small bezels sounds okay, but the mini would be absolutely fantastic in that design. They could make the screen slightly larger (8.5"?) while retaining the same form factor if they eliminated some of the bezel. It would be the best iPad form factor by far. Shame I don't think it will ever happen.
I think Apple is going to watch the sales of the new iPad vs the Mini 4 very closely now. Being the new iPad is just $329, if they keep the mini line with the 32gb model, it would logically be priced at $299.
Personally I'd hope they keep the mini line. Half the people I know with iPads have minis. Plus since the Pro was released, the iPad lineup has seemed disjointed. Except for the mini 4 now only coming in 128gb, Apple seems to be fixing that.
Personally I'd hope they keep the mini line. Half the people I know with iPads have minis. Plus since the Pro was released, the iPad lineup has seemed disjointed. Except for the mini 4 now only coming in 128gb, Apple seems to be fixing that.
I'm disappointed that aside from the iPad mini 2, the CPU is always behind.
I wouldn't mind paying $499 for an iPad mini 128GB with a more up to date CPU (even if it's the iPhone one).
I wouldn't mind paying $499 for an iPad mini 128GB with a more up to date CPU (even if it's the iPhone one).
That's interesting.
2012: Original iPad mini, launches with 1 year old A5
2013: iPad mini 2, launches with current A7, making it an effective iPad Air in a smaller form factor
2014: iPad mini 3, essentially added Touch ID and gold colour, keeping A7 and letting it fall behind the A8X in iPad Air 2
2015: iPad mini 4, matches the laminated display of the Air 2 and gets the 1 year old A8
Besides 2013, it's essentially always been on a 1+ year old A series SoC.
This fall will be really interesting (assuming the iPad Pros are updated) to see what happens to the mini. I think they'll either:
1) let it sit stale like they do with the iPod touch (sadly I think this is what they're going to do)
2) update it to the A9 or A10, no design change and leave it as is for another 2 years (I wouldn't mind this)
3) give it the iPad 9.7" treatment - back to the iPad mini 2 dimensions, drop the shine on the chamfered edge, A9 SoC, and maybe hit a $199/249 price point calling it just 'iPad' like the 9.7. (This would result in the cleanest lineup I think - two choices of iPad and two choices of iPad Pro. Also I think could potentially drive a lot of sales going into the holiday with a $199 iPad option).
4) discontinue the mini line entirely (could be a possibility since they really didn't give it any change when they updated the 9.7" iPad, though given how they still sell iPods that can't even access Music I don't think they'll axe it)
5) I guess if I try to cover all options - a last one would be they give it the iPad Pro treatment, and it gets the new design that the upcoming 9.7 and 12.9 inch Pros get along with all new features. Definitely a possibility. Heck maybe even a decent one given that they've positioned the mini 4 to be a premium product compared to the iPad 9.7". Hmmmm
Yeah, I'm really hoping for the Mini Pro treatment, but I don't think it's coming. The Mini2 was the perfect buy when it first launched (same power as the larger size, just the stupid irrelevant color gamut-gate), and I wish they would go back to that. I would absolutely buy the next model at the same price as the larger size if they did that. The form factor is perfect for me.
A lot of people here seem to think that the Mini is going to be discontinued simply because it's gone 18 months without an update, but other Apple products have gone just as long or longer, including the Air 2, which was at the time Apple's flagship tablet. Based on holiday sales figures that I've seen over the last couple of years (since the Mini 4 was released) the Minis have remained popular and account for a significant portion of iPad sales, so even if they just offer minimal upgrades every couple of years, I think it makes sense to keep the Mini in the lineup. I disagree with those who argue that plus sized iPhones have eliminated the need or desire for smaller iPads.
I agree. I think most likely is that they'll keep it but not get around to updating it very frequently. Kind of like the iPod touch.
Definitely agree with your last point. While I think larger phones in general have likely affected tablet sales, I think there's excellent use cases for the iPad mini. Heck, I have an iPhone Plus and iPad Pro and still feel myself wanting to pick up a mini just for reading.
There are reports that point to a mini Pro iPad coming, and I definitely don't think the mini 4 is the end of the line for the form factor.
Especially if the 10.5" pro is to the mini what the 12.9" pro is to the 9.7" iPad Pro (i.e. a resolution and poi that makes split screen apps exactly 2x an iPad mini screen) then there is every reason to have the iPad mini Pro around as well.
After owning all sizes and models of iPad I have always returned to the mini form factor. I just love using it more and thus, despite the arguments otherwise, end up using it for more things, both productive and consumptive, than I have with any other iPad.
For me personally, and I think for a lot of people, a 7.9" Pro would be an instabuy. That said, the A8 (and A8X for that matter) have sown themselves to be one of the generations of SoC with real longevity and staying power. Besides the occasional safari tab reload when using the browser heavily, I haven't noticed any real slow downs, and I use a lot of diverse stuff on this thing.
Anyway, I do think a 7.9" Pro will happen alongside the next round of iPP updates. Be interesting to see how they do it though. I think they will leave the 9.7" the way it is, introduce its clone in the 7.9" screen size and then give the new 10.5" and 12.9" the A10X.
Especially if the 10.5" pro is to the mini what the 12.9" pro is to the 9.7" iPad Pro (i.e. a resolution and poi that makes split screen apps exactly 2x an iPad mini screen) then there is every reason to have the iPad mini Pro around as well.
After owning all sizes and models of iPad I have always returned to the mini form factor. I just love using it more and thus, despite the arguments otherwise, end up using it for more things, both productive and consumptive, than I have with any other iPad.
For me personally, and I think for a lot of people, a 7.9" Pro would be an instabuy. That said, the A8 (and A8X for that matter) have sown themselves to be one of the generations of SoC with real longevity and staying power. Besides the occasional safari tab reload when using the browser heavily, I haven't noticed any real slow downs, and I use a lot of diverse stuff on this thing.
Anyway, I do think a 7.9" Pro will happen alongside the next round of iPP updates. Be interesting to see how they do it though. I think they will leave the 9.7" the way it is, introduce its clone in the 7.9" screen size and then give the new 10.5" and 12.9" the A10X.
It's pretty clear the iPad mini is the biggest victim from the iPhone 6 Plus launch. I would not expect the mini to get any updates. The chance of the mini receiving a "Pro" treatment is zero. The Pro line is marketed as a "super computer" tablet with a keyboard that fights the Surface.
Removing the 32GB storage option from the mini and leaving just once choice - 128GB - says it all. Apple is trying to maintain a high margin on the stragglers and niche business users who still need to buy a mini for whatever reason. If consumers were interested in mini size tablets, Apple would keep the 32GB size as a gateway product.
Removing the 32GB storage option from the mini and leaving just once choice - 128GB - says it all. Apple is trying to maintain a high margin on the stragglers and niche business users who still need to buy a mini for whatever reason. If consumers were interested in mini size tablets, Apple would keep the 32GB size as a gateway product.