High Resolution and 3D Interactive Mockup of Apple's Rumored 'iPad Mini', and Possible Physical Models and Parts

[MacAgnostic]

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As has been previously noted, the 7.85-inch iPad offers 66% of the surface area of the current 9.7-inch iPad and almost 40% more surface area than competing 7-inch tablets. This size comparison shows it head-on next to a current iPad.

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Unfortunately, as we were putting together these renderings, additional leaks and mockups have appeared that call into question several elements of our rendered design.

Apple.pro has posted photos of a dummy design of the rumored iPad mini -- presumably designed from case manufacturer specifications.

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This shows an iPad mini with a steeper taper on the edges. Our design assumed Apple would preserve similar lines to the current iPad, while this is more in line with the iPod touch design.

In a separate example, another design prototype shows off similarly less-tapered edges:

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While your design correctly shows the display ~19% smaller, it also shows the camera and home button similarly smaller.
I would expect the home button to be a similar size to the iPhone 5's and the camera the same size as the iPad 2's.


I'm a bit confused about your steeper / less tapered statements.
in any case, I personally find the iPod Touch's taper very uncomfortable.

 

[MareLuce]

This looks great but I am still trying to figure out why I need a 4 inch iPhone and a 7.85 inch iPad mini.

My mini will go in my purse for when I'm on the go and surfing, reading, taking notes, creating docs, and simply want more real estate.

Bigger screen size = better experience, as long as it's small enough to fit in my purse, and light enough that it doesn't bruise my clavicle .

A side effect is I might not have to buy a Mophie Juice Air for my next iPhone.

 

[citi]

that has to be the dumbest comment I've ever seen on this site.

IF this mini/maxi whatever is read, there's zero grounds for anything. it's the same design patent after all.

THat would you would think that comment is even funny enough to post sarcastic is just . that 8 folks actually rated up the comment is a WTF?

I guess you never watched the coke zero patent commercials.

 

[apolloa]

Apparently you also don't understand currency conversion either. The proportions are still the same, so my argument still applies. My point was that everyone expected it to sell for much more than where they priced it.

So far as I remember, it had little competition when it came to market, save for the Kindle readers which are better anyway for reading but that's the point of E Ink. I guess you can claim you are correct, but I also find it incorrect for you are to somehow make out Apple offered a bargain by not pricing the tablet at as much as people thought.

You mean like the really expensive £99 Apple TV ?

Well I guess so, but it is the only failed product they make also. I do believe many call it a 'hobby' device? Still it's not an iPad. Is it a bargain? Well maybe but you can stream content through your PS3 and 360 just as easily plus play games for £59 more (in the 360's case)

You are so clever and witty... You must be king of the kindergarten playground.

No, just picking out the huge wholes in your utterly ridiculous argument. And I guess I could go to kindergarten only I'm not American and have never lived there so that would be kind of difficult..

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Oh dear, looks like somebody doesnt know what tax/VAT is.

iPad 3 64gb + cellular = £521 in the US, WITHOUT tax.

iPad 3 64gb + cellular = £549 in the UK, WITHOUT tax.

No doubt you'll cry about the extra £28 as well, in which case I'd suggest doing some research on currency exchange rates and fluctuation.

Nope, I just use XE converter, not my problem America has daft tax laws. And considering I cannot buy an iPad tax free I cannot see what relevance it has to my comment, I don't know many people who buy iPads VAT free?

 

[neilw]

This is a good point.

There were previous rumors that Apple *would* release a tweaked iPad at the same time, to get the whole product line onto the new dock connector at once. Things seem to have gone quiet on that front, while everyone focuses on the details of the mini and the new iPhone.

But I wouldn't be shocked to see a full iPad lineup tweak in October.

In general, it'll be interesting to see how Apple handles the dock connector change.

 

[apolloa]

Actually I'd take that wager about brand recognition of Apple v. Google, I'd say it's a toss up, especially since Apple in the last several years has been so incredibly visible due to the former celebrity CEO, the escalating stock price, the media frenzy around new products .

Anyway, I more wanted to comment on the last paragraph above: I think Apple will have a 7.85" tablet, I think it will be relatively price competitive (<$300 starting price) and I believe it will be a whole new market segment for Apple that's highly lucrative (short and long term), with +escalating+ sales over a long period (especially if it's available late Oct/early Nov? They won't be able to make enough to cover demand for Christmas).

Just my $0.02, I guess we'll see how it plays out over the next 2-3 months

We will see but when you look at the pricing structure for the iPod range then I fail to see how Apple can price it cheaply. Also Apple has never priced anything cheaply, well compared to it's competitor's it hasn't.
It's also not really a new market, we have the Nexus 7, we have had the Kindle Fire, and we have already had 7" tablets from HTC and tons from Samsung, we also have a lot of 7" Chinese tablets running ICS.

It's not a market Apple can create, it's one they have to enter, 7" tablets have existed across the various price ranges too for a while.

 

[Nightarchaon]

an iPad mini, just in time to be completely outpriced and outmatched in the market at both the low and high end by the Windows 8 tablets, with Android tablets sweeping up the crumbs

iPad has gone from innovative, to stale in only 3 product cycles, if the next iPad isn't a macbook air with separable keyboard running mountain lion and capable of running iOS apps as well as full mac apps then the windows 8 tablets are going to look amazing value for money for users.

i think the mini is apple figuring out that Windows 8 tablets are going to decimate iPad sales in the same way samsungs Galaxy range has decimated iPhone sales

My plan, Windows 8, Full intel tablet, hackintosh build.

 

[calvol]

I really wish they would get rid of that circular home button. It is so dated and potential moisture damage point.

Yeah, but Apple boys really like their home button!

 

[striker33]

Nope, I just use XE converter, not my problem America has daft tax laws. And considering I cannot buy an iPad tax free I cannot see what relevance it has to my comment, I don't know many people who buy iPads VAT free?

AMERICA has daft tax laws? Are you serious?

You also converted our taxed price straight to the US price, then compared it directly to the US un-taxed price, which makes even less sense.

I think I've heard it all now.

 

[nemaslov]

some people have lots of extra time on their hands. Rather than making up what something should look like, it would be more productive to design and create something original. But it's still fun to look at.

 

[apolloa]

AMERICA has daft tax laws? Are you serious?

You also converted our taxed price straight to the US price, then compared it directly to the US un-taxed price, which makes even less sense.

I think I've heard it all now.

Eh? I went here:

http://store.apple.com/uk/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/new_ipad

And converted it directly to US here:

http://www.xe.com/

And made the point that the price OTHERS (not you) were using in their comments were cheaper then the UK's RRP, which they are. And yes it is MY opinion America has daft tax laws, sorry you find that hard to believe but yes I have an opinion on it.
So unless you can state the percentage of tax per American state I need to take of my quotations to make them meet your validation then my comment stands.

Thank you..

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'm not sure I buy this. Steve said there is a laptop and a phone, and nothing in between. The iPad was supposed to fill that void perfectly, not part of that void leaving out a randomly sized smaller version.

I feel that the 7 inch iPizzle is more reactionary than revolutionary. Amazon kicked some but, and now Apple is trying to squeeze into the space Amazon "created." I know created is a strong term, but Amazon filled a gap that Apple left in their creation of the large-ish iPad.

Apple has many products that cover a wide range of sizes and prices. You can get an iPod from $50 to $400.

I see nothing wrong with expanding their iPad line too.

Can you imagine if Apple's only laptop was the 15" MacBook Pro?

$1800 starting price... yikes.

 

[calvol]

i think the mini is apple figuring out that Windows 8 tablets are going to decimate iPad sales in the same way samsungs Galaxy range has decimated iPhone sales

My plan, Windows 8, Full intel tablet, hackintosh build.

Apple's innovative spirit has been replaced by design conservatism to preserve sales growth, while competitors have lept forward with new and bold designs, e.g. the Surface-- a brilliant idea, running on ARM chips, and will be a iPad killer if it approaches 15+ hours battery life. Apple's best advantage is the "ecosystem", but it will be interesting to see how it is threatened by the Win8/WinMo systems given their advantage in Office integration. The iPhone 4SS (siri-stretch) is another example of how Apple's design leadership has been outpaced by better products with curved glass, edge-to-edge screens, and superior display technology, such as the S3 and Nokia N9.

Also, it's abominable how slow Apple is in hardware upgrades on their Desktop side. Ivy Bridge has been out six months now, and still waiting for upgrades to iMac/MacPro/Mini products. I have one Apple product, a 2010 MacAir, and may go the other way next upgrade, because I'm O/S agnostic.

 

[Dangerous Theory]

MacRumors, you're like that guy whispering the ending of the movie to his friends in the cinema.

That makes you and I the guys that purposely listen in and spoil it for ourselves.

 

[apolloa]

Apple's innovative spirit has been replaced by design conservatism to preserve sales growth, while competitors have lept forward with new and bold designs, e.g. the Surface-- a brilliant idea, running on ARM chips, and will be a iPad killer if it approaches 15+ hours battery life. Apple's best advantage is the "ecosystem", but it will be interesting to see how it is threatened by the Win8/WinMo systems given their advantage in Office integration. The iPhone 4SS (siri-stretch) is another example of how Apple's design leadership has been outpaced by better products with curved glass, edge-to-edge screens, and superior display technology, such as the S3 and Nokia N9.

Also, it's abominable how slow Apple is in hardware upgrades on their Desktop side. Ivy Bridge has been out six months now, and still waiting for upgrades to iMac/MacPro/Mini products. I have one Apple product, a 2010 MacAir, and may go the other way next upgrade, because I'm O/S agnostic.

We shall see come the 12th..... but I tell you this, if the next iPhone doesn't have an A6 SOC then I'm certainly going to have to think about paying top price for over a year old tech...

 

[brewcitywi]

Mini

I know that the iPad mini rumors were hotly contended all year, and I'm much more likely to always stay with the larger screen.

But, for work, if pricing starts at $249 or $299, I'd get 2 for our sales staff. I think it's a powerful entrance price for business.

 

[trip1ex]

Wow so like the iPad mini is a touchscreen but smaller than the iPad. I think I get it now.

 

[WilliamLondon]

Price. You'll be able to buy two for the same price as one of the tricked out big iPads.

Size! Some may buy it for price, but for me and many others size is the most important feature of this rumoured new iPad.

This misunderstanding keeps cropping up all over this site, for some reason people can't imagine that the size of the product may be the most appealing feature, and price may have absolutely nothing to do with a decision to buy. I've seen people arguing about it, refusing to believe that size is important to people.

I can't imagine those folks (who can't understand the size appeal) in a (fictional of course) world where there existed three iPad offerings, all the same price, all the same features, where the only difference between the three of them is size - how would one choose which to buy? I think it would actually baffle some folks if they were asked to choose one in a world where price wasn't different.

Size matters!

 

[dkersten]

an iPad mini, just in time to be completely outpriced and outmatched in the market at both the low and high end by the Windows 8 tablets, with Android tablets sweeping up the crumbs

iPad has gone from innovative, to stale in only 3 product cycles, if the next iPad isn't a macbook air with separable keyboard running mountain lion and capable of running iOS apps as well as full mac apps then the windows 8 tablets are going to look amazing value for money for users.

i think the mini is apple figuring out that Windows 8 tablets are going to decimate iPad sales in the same way samsungs Galaxy range has decimated iPhone sales

My plan, Windows 8, Full intel tablet, hackintosh build.

You realize that the lower end and higher end Windows 8 tablets use completely different chip architecture and a completely different operating system right? You make a lot of claims and no device has been released yet. Hell, Windows 8 doesn't even have a release date yet

 

[bigpics]

that has to be the dumbest comment I've ever seen on this site.

IF this mini/maxi whatever is read, there's zero grounds for anything. it's the same design patent after all.

THat would you would think that comment is even funny enough to post sarcastic is just . that 8 folks actually rated up the comment is a WTF?

Somebody's suffering from a little "irony deficiency anemia" this morning.... ...time to get on a multi-vitamin regimen....??

It was my fave clever much-in-little post of the day.....

 

[dotme]

...the iPad 3 16GB is £399 sterling, or converted that's $634.82, yeah HARDLY your $499 you get it for....

Sorry, but your math is off.

UK price includes 20% VAT. Back that out, and you're closer to £332, which is $528, not that far from $499 - and who knows what UK import tax is. That may also factor in.

 

[charlituna]

Eh? I went here:

http://store.apple.com/uk/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/new_ipad

And converted it directly to US here:

Which means you converted the price with tax included. The UK has a standardized VAT tax so it is added into the ticket prices. You need to take like 20% in taxes off that price and then compare.

 

[Rocketman]

I would like to see the iPad Mini mockup in an adult hand. A single hand holding it from behind.

I would also like to see it as it will be positioned in an auto partner's cockpit.

Rocketman

 

[bigpics]

We shall see come the 12th..... but I tell you this, if the next iPhone doesn't have an A6 SOC then I'm certainly going to have to think about paying top price for over a year old tech...

iOS (which is derived from OS X which is derived from NeXT which is derived from Unix) is based on approximately 35 year old tech.

And they're delivered by trucks - 120 year old infernal combusty tech.

Still not buying??

 

[WilliamLondon]

an iPad mini, just in time to be completely outpriced and outmatched in the market at both the low and high end by the Windows 8 tablets, with Android tablets sweeping up the crumbs

iPad has gone from innovative, to stale in only 3 product cycles, if the next iPad isn't a macbook air with separable keyboard running mountain lion and capable of running iOS apps as well as full mac apps then the windows 8 tablets are going to look amazing value for money for users.

i think the mini is apple figuring out that Windows 8 tablets are going to decimate iPad sales in the same way samsungs Galaxy range has decimated iPhone sales

My plan, Windows 8, Full intel tablet, hackintosh build.

I've heard all this before - what does it matter if this actually does happen? I'm not switching to Microsoft products, I'm quite happy with Apple and its products, so what impact would this actually have on me? About as much as the latest Windows Phone did? And the Zune? And the Courier?

If Microsoft does come out with a winning tablet, good on them, but predicting doom and gloom for everything Apple as a result of that (extremely unlikely) situation is more wishful thinking on the part of some.

Stop paying attention to competition and pay attention to the products, whichever company produces the ones that make you happy, because if your favourite company sells more than mine, it doesn't make you a better person than me.

I like this iPad mini rumoured product - it exactly fits my requirements for a tablet (where size is a major factor). If Microsoft do one that sells more, I won't like this (rumoured) product any less, and I won't feel any worse for buying it because following all the crap in life is a waste of energy.