iPad mini I was just thinking...

[thedeejay]

If Apple does release a 4.7/5.5 inch iPhone (which I'm sure they will), either both this year or one of them this year and one next year - will it not cannibalize iPad Mini sales? Personally, I've never wanted an iPad Mini until recently but I think I've changed my mind to hold off for iPad Air 2 because I will be getting the iPhone 6 whichever size it is (4.7 or 5.5). So my train of thought was, why get a screen that's just a tad bigger? Anyone else think this?

 

[Altimax98]

No I don't think it will. I have an HTC One M8 along with my rMini and it's just fine. While the sizes may be closer, they are not competing segments. One is mobile and pocketable while the other isn't. Although on paper it's only 2" or so difference, the difference in screen space is much larger

 

[carjakester]

Nobody buys an iphone to use as a tablet so no i dont think so.

 

[raccoonboy]

Yeah, If they can make Iphone 6 battery last 10 hours of heavy usage then maybe it might jeopardize Ipad sales.

 

[madgibbon]

I have a Nexus 5 which has a 5 inch display and a rMini. The rMini has significantly more screen than the Nexus. Plus no phone can come close to the battery life of the rMini.

 

[AustinIllini]

I have a Nexus 5 which has a 5 inch display and a rMini. The rMini has significantly more screen than the Nexus. Plus no phone can come close to the battery life of the rMini.

Same here. What people don't get is how much bigger an 8 inch screen is than a 5.5 inch screen.

 

[Amplelink]

Same here. What people don't get is how much bigger an 8 inch screen is than a 5.5 inch screen.

Yup. It's substantially bigger and just feels bigger. Plus, there are a good number of tablet-specific apps out now, so using a big iphone wouldn't cut it in some cases.

 

[Mechayoshi]

People that want tablets will still get tablets. My note 3 is big but it's not like using a full tablet.

 

[joshdammit]

Nobody buys an iphone to use as a tablet so no i dont think so.

That's because it has a 4" screen, currently. 5.5" is a different story entirely.

 

[Robster3]

That's because it has a 4" screen, currently. 5.5" is a different story entirely.

Still doesn't compare to a tablet.

 

[ron7624]

I guess I'm just about to have to agree with everybody in the form answering your question +1 : agree

 

[carjakester]

That's because it has a 4" screen, currently. 5.5" is a different story entirely.

if you read the OP we aren't talking about the current iPhone.

 

[BenTrovato]

It might or might not - no one knows until it happens. The cannibalizing methodology has gone by the way side a few years ago. Markets change. It's better to cannibalize your own products and reap those rewards rather than hang on to a sinking ship while other companies swoop in.

 

[rui no onna]

It might or might not - no one knows until it happens. The cannibalizing methodology has gone by the way side a few years ago. Markets change. It's better to cannibalize your own products and reap those rewards rather than hang on to a sinking ship while other companies swoop in.

Agreed. Besides, mark up on iPhones are bigger than the iPad Mini's anyway.

 

[AustinIllini]

Still doesn't compare to a tablet.

5.5 is a big phone. They tried to invent the word "phablet" to classify these devices, because they really are neither. The iPad Mini is the smallest tablet I would find useful.

 

[Mechayoshi]

Have you guys even used 5.5+ phones? Yeah it's big but it's still not on the level of the mini. Especially if you only use the desktop versions of websites. 7.9> 4-5.5

 

[Shanghaichica]

No I don't think that it will. I have an iPad mini and a galaxy note 3 (5.7). The difference in screen size is a lot more noticeable than it seems on paper. The note 3 is great as a large phone but is not a tablet substitute for me, even a small tablet replacement.

 

[joshdammit]

if you read the OP we aren't talking about the current iPhone.

And if you read what I quoted, you'd see I was responding to somebody who is referring to the current iPhone.

 

[apolloa]

If Apple does release a 4.7/5.5 inch iPhone (which I'm sure they will), either both this year or one of them this year and one next year - will it not cannibalize iPad Mini sales? Personally, I've never wanted an iPad Mini until recently but I think I've changed my mind to hold off for iPad Air 2 because I will be getting the iPhone 6 whichever size it is (4.7 or 5.5). So my train of thought was, why get a screen that's just a tad bigger? Anyone else think this?

No. I have a Nexus 5 with a 4.95" screen and currently a Nexus 7 tablet with a 7" screen, I have ordered a ipad Mini. And trust me, a big screen phone is NOT the same experience as a tablet even at 7 or 8" in size.

The only phones that may do this are the phablets with I would consider to be the 6" devices. People will still buy tablets just the same.

 

[Jessica Lares]

It's not JUST a tad bigger. It's very easy to think that there is not a huge difference between screen sizes, but there is.

Take example going from a 15" screen to a 13", huge difference. On the 15" you can efficiently multitask at least two apps, on the 13" you can't. 1280x800 is miles away from 1440x900.



If you were to blow up the iPhone, Note 3, and Kindle Fire 7" to be the same height as the iPad Mini, this is how it looks like:



The experience on the bigger screen will be better, but we're not getting into the territory where it's easy enough for developers to backport iPad apps into that size. the guys who make handwriting apps will, but you're not getting the iPad version of Spotify or Evernote.

 

[maflynn]

will it not cannibalize iPad Mini sales?

I'd say it will have some impact on sales. Just look at the people here who have mentioned they have a note 3 and no longer need a small tablet.

Will it be enough to make a measurable impact on Apple's sales of minis? I have no idea, but there will be people who choose not to buy a mini if they buy the larger iPhone.

 

[briannaharbor]

It will have an impact on sales, but like not really, kinda sorta, maybe?

 

[thedeejay]

I'd say it will have some impact on sales. Just look at the people here who have mentioned they have a note 3 and no longer need a small tablet.

Will it be enough to make a measurable impact on Apple's sales of minis? I have no idea, but there will be people who choose not to buy a mini if they buy the larger iPhone.

I think this was what I was getting at. Personally I know I'm in for the next iPhone. I was thinking about the rMini but changed my decision to the Air because felt it's "just a bit" bigger so might as well get the air. Who know if that's what other people will think but regardless there's always a market for Mini.

 

[sracer]

I think this was what I was getting at. Personally I know I'm in for the next iPhone. I was thinking about the rMini but changed my decision to the Air because felt it's "just a bit" bigger so might as well get the air. Who know if that's what other people will think but regardless there's always a market for Mini.

Apple could add something (like an active digitizer) to the rMini. That might be enough to differentiate it from a larger iPhone.

 

[The Doctor11]

I don't think it will really hurt the iPad mini sales much at all. Don't think will improve them but won't hurt them either.