Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Fate of the iPad Mini? Air moniker on the way out?

east85

east85

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 24, 2010
1,343
495
With the rebranding of the iPad Air as another iPad Pro it seems that the Mini will either be rebranded as iPad or just discontinued completely. They really didn't give it any updates or attention during the keynote, so that's something to consider. [edit: As pointed out the iPad Mini was updated 6 months ago, so this isn't atypical] What do you think the fate of the mini will be after considering the news in this keynote? Is the Air moniker on the way out?
 
Last edited:
i cant see the mini disappearing personally. Apple would surely want to market and cover all bases. all sizes and options. is where the revenue is. they usually have their largest updates around autumn. i suspect we'll see a new one then maybe. they already had an armful of new stuff last night. cant do it all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: east85
the mini will the be the next pro without the pencil and keyboard
 
Last edited:
east85 said:
With the rebranding of the iPad Air as another iPad Pro it seems that the Mini will either be rebranded as iPad or just discontinued completely. They really didn't give it any updates or attention during the keynote, so that's something to consider. What do you think the fate of the mini will be after considering the news in this keynote?
Click to expand...

Did Apple say that the iPad Air is now the iPad Pro ?
 
sjleworthy said:
i cant see the mini disappearing personally. Apple would surely want to market and cover all bases. all sizes and options. is where the revenue is. they usually have their largest updates around autumn. i suspect we'll see a new one then maybe. they already had an armful of new stuff last night. cant do it all.
Click to expand...

This seems like the most logical approach as you've pointed out. I don't think the mini will be out either, but I think a potential rebrand is possible.
 
617aircav said:
Did Apple say that the iPad Air is now the iPad Pro ?
Click to expand...

Did they say the 9.7” iPad is now the 9.7” iPad Air? They didn't have to, the superior hardware did it for them.

I think if there's one thing I've picked up from this keynote it's that the air branding is on the way out.
 
I'm finding it hard to see how people would pay for the Mini 4 given its now the same price as the Air 2... if it at least had the A8X/A9X then it'd be an easier sell. I suppose some will still buy it though due to wanting a smaller size.
 
  • Like
Reactions: east85
joeblow7777 said:
The Mini got a full update just 6 months ago. No one was expecting it to get anything new for it so soon.
Click to expand...

Good point. I can't remember which iPad but I do remember one update that was pretty close to the 6 month mark on the 9.7” but that was very atypical.
 
east85 said:
With the rebranding of the iPad Air as another iPad Pro it seems that the Mini will either be rebranded as iPad or just discontinued completely. They really didn't give it any updates or attention during the keynote, so that's something to consider. What do you think the fate of the mini will be after considering the news in this keynote?
Click to expand...

Mate they won't be dropping the iPad Mini. It sells well for Apple and they did just update it. Just look at the iPod Touch which most likely sells less then the Mini does and Apple updated that.

No I suspect this year it will get a spec bump, Touch ID 2, Apple A9 with 2GB RAM and with a bit of luck they will ditch 16GB for 32GB. I may get one if they do these things. The A9 will make it a very powerful tablet.
 
sjleworthy said:
yes. but what's a re-brand? just a name change. the device is the same.

like the ipad pro 9.7 or ipad air 3 - same thing, different name. who cares? ;)
Click to expand...
Yeah it is quite trivial, though I think the slow death of the air branding would mark internal marketing shifts in the company to maybe indicate their potential interest in killing say, the MacBook Air, which has mostly been outdone by the rMB and still has yet to get a retina display. The air moniker was very much Apple for a long period, seeing it finally go is trivial yes, but of interest to me..

I'll be paying attention this autumn regardless.
 
neteng101 said:
I'm finding it hard to see how people would pay for the Mini 4 given its now the same price as the Air 2... if it at least had the A8X/A9X then it'd be an easier sell. I suppose some will still buy it though due to wanting a smaller size.
Click to expand...

Really good point here. I don't think it would make sense to buy one until an update bumps it above the Air 2. It's a weird price tier to put the Mini 4 for the time being, but if it's only there for 6 months that's not too bad.
 
neteng101 said:
I'm finding it hard to see how people would pay for the Mini 4 given its now the same price as the Air 2... if it at least had the A8X/A9X then it'd be an easier sell. I suppose some will still buy it though due to wanting a smaller size.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that they didn't just drop the price of the Air 2 $50 less, or even do just $50 price drop on the Mini 4, despite how new it is, just to maintain a slight price difference between them. I've always like the Mini form factor, but right now there's little reason to buy a Mini 4 over an Air 2.
 
  • Like
Reactions: east85
joeblow7777 said:
I'm surprised that they didn't just drop the price of the Air 2 $50 less, or even do just $50 price drop on the Mini 4
Click to expand...

I think the better option might have been to change the baseline storage options - 32/128GB for the Mini 4 starting at current prices, Air 2 at $50 more than Mini 4 but with 32/128GB options and the 128GB costing the same $150 more differential to upgrade. With those sort of prices and starting at 32GB, I think its a far easier sell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back