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iOS 7 Beta Suggests Non-Retina A6-Powered iPad Mini in Development
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It is well known that Apple seeds info to WSJ regularly (as well as Jim Dalrymple, David Pogue, and a few others). Despite what WSJ may say about Apple products from time to time, they know that it is a trusted publication that can disseminate their message to a broad audience very quickly.
As secretive as Apple tries to portray themselves as, they hand out information as it suits them. This is one such occasion.
Yeah, I am fairly confident that Apple will release a retina iPad mini this year. I feel like it's a fairly easy sell if they do get it out. I don't see the rationale behind a simple chip refresh while the new Nexus 7 is $229 and has a kick ass screen.
Apple would just look like they're price gouging customers if that were the case. $300 is already a lot of money for one of these devices, let alone for one with a mediocre resolution.
You may be right but I don't see how they can keep a Retina Mini at $329. Would you pay $399 for an Retina IPad Mini? I might. If so, then you might as well have a product in the $299 category.
Perhaps people misinterpreted my post. I am sure that Android offers these features but I want my Apple calendar, my Apple notes and my Apple contacts to sync with my Apple devices with relatively the same aesthetics. That's what I want and that's what I've chosen as works best for me. I also have moral disputes with Google and their practices these days which causes me to avoid their products.
Darn it, so annoyed if this is the case. I was totally planning to get a mini on the assumption that it was going to be a retina upgrade. I've stopped carrying around my iPad 3 because its so heavy .. if the next version is indeed not retina then I hope that the full sized iPad is considerably lighter as I'll prob go with that instead.
I know many people who have switched to the Mini because of its light weight. I love the retina screen and display size of my iPad 4, but the Mini is simply lighter. The Nexus 7 might be an attractive alternative, but I've had screens that size, and prefer the Mini's larger display.
Speaking of screen suppliers... I would imagine Apple expects to sell millions of Retina Mini's, and that's a staggering number of screen to produce. I'd love to see the manufacturing process, but haven't had any luck on YouTube. I did find videos showing the assembly procedure for iPhones, and was surprised to see that it was pretty much all done by hand.
The WSJ article stated that Apple's suppliers plan to begin production in the 4th quarter, so I wouldn't expect to see them on display until late in the year.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Apple's fan base -- at least how you describe it -- is same as it's always been 3% of Apple's marketshare. Everything above that is ordinary customers who buy what they like when they need or want it.
But as far as 99% of iOS users go, they are not going to switch to Android at this point if that is what you are implying. There is zero reason for them to do so, technologically or economically. They might not upgrade to the newest if there isn't a compelling reason, but that's it. I don't think Apple is ignorant of this as it has the tepid sales data for the iPad 4. Chip upgrades alone don't move product.
Michael Goff
Suspended
My point was more along the lines that Apple doesn't -have- to improve PPI to improve the Mini's screen.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
No, Apple is viewed as a "premium" brand so it can get away with charging more for its flagship products just like Lexus charges more than it's sister Toyota for the same options. Existing Apple customers are OK with that based on sales. However, I think Apple understands, just like other premium brands, that the downmarket is where growth is right now. So I would expect some lower priced, less featured offerings next product release round.
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I think you are thinking of the NYT which Apple has all but cut ties with. The WSJ is usually fairly friendly to Apple.
But isn't that the conundrum that Apple (and any other premium brand) find themselves in. How to go downmarket without diluting the brand?
That's the the reason Lexus doesn't sell a $20k Camry but sells a $40k ES350 although they are almost the same car.
If they start building cheap plastic phones like the competition, where does that leave the premium brand?
If they don't build cheap phones, they lose market share to the mass market who buy on price.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
No, not really. All the luxury car brands, for example, sell entry level cars at prices of the high end of non-lux brands (mid to high 30s). The 1 series, the C-Class, the IS, the A4, the Q50. Then their are the low end priced units: BMW:Mini, Merc:SmartCar, Lexus:Toyota, Nissan:Infiniti, Audi:VW.
Examples in dept. store retailing Neiman Marcus has CUSP, Saks:Off 5th, Nordstrom:The Rack
Examples in clothing designers Armani:Armani Exchange, Boss:Boss Orange, Ted Baker:Endurance, VF Corp makes both high end Seven jeans and discount store Lee Jeans.
None of the lower end brands or models have diluted the higher end ones. If anything it brings new customers into the brand and the higher end, higher prices models or lines become aspirational.
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Good point. But those brands don't compete with Hyundai or Target either. I think Apple did it right with the Mini but they can't go lower priced than that without diluting the brand.
chrisbru
macrumors 6502a
Those brands don't try to compete with Hyundai or Target. There is room in the market for all of those options for a reason.
The point is, that Apple will continue to do well in it's current price range, but would also benefit from adding some lower priced options. It wouldn't wipe out the competition in that range, but they could snag some more market share. More sales = good.
SockRolid
macrumors 68000
Interesting. Then the "5C" would be only for the US and Asian markets.
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Maybe. On the other hand, maybe the Retina iPad mini is the real reason why the base iPad mini (1st gen) is $329 instead of $299. If Apple wants to release a Retina iPad mini (2nd gen) at the same price points as the non-Retina iPad mini (1st gen), the extra $30 could help with their margins. Because the Retina iPad mini (2nd gen) will no doubt contain more expensive components.
Could Apple do that? Release a Retina iPad mini (2nd gen) starting at $329?
I doubt it. The more expensive screen and SoC might cut too deeply into the margin.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Target and Hyundai are not necessarily inexpensive or "cheap," but I agree with your point about Apple avoiding the extreme end of the low market. Apple doesn't seem to want to go there. It's more realistic that it will put some "more affordable" models alongside the traditionally priced flagship ones similar to how it eventually fanned out the iPod line.
Well, if they drop the price on retina Ipad Mini to $279, they'll sell the sh.t loads of it. I'm willing to pay $50 over for iPad Mini instead of a Nexus 7, a plastic cheap pos by Asus. BTW, Nexus 7 battery life is 9 hrs with everything either turned off or set at minimal and screen dimmed all the way down. That's cheating claim...in real life setting, Nexus 7 cannot pass 6 hrs vs 10 hrs from iPad Mini.
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What do you think of this scenario?
iPad Mini 2, retina: $299
iPad Mini: $199
Can this price scheme kick ass android cheap tablets?
I love to see retina iPad Mini 2 at $279 or less, but I'm okay at $299 too.
Brandon0448
macrumors 6502
Derp
I'm honestly surprised how many people were expecting a retina iPad Mini so soon. Why would apply redesign their mini after it has only been out for one year? They would have to increase the size and capacity of the battery just like they did with the full sized iPad to get the 10 hours of battery life. The Mini will simply get a spec bump while the full sized iPad will join the club with the Mini form factor. Get over it.
I'm honestly surprised how many people were expecting a retina iPad Mini so soon. Why would apply redesign their mini after it has only been out for one year? They would have to increase the size and capacity of the battery just like they did with the full sized iPad to get the 10 hours of battery life. The Mini will simply get a spec bump while the full sized iPad will join the club with the Mini form factor. Get over it.
I agree, but at the $330 price point they are going to have to do some sort of innovation. They can go downmarket with the current display, but I have my doubts that they will sell many retina iPad minis if they bump the price to $400. If they cut the non-retina mini's price by $50 and offer the retina at $330, they're gonna sell a ton of both.
Think about this: you can buy an iPad 3 for around $400 now and iPad 4s are going to be at that price soon. How many customers are going to pay $400 for a 7 inch display?
mtneer
macrumors 68040
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Yes, but if you look at a high end 3 series and a low end 5 series they are not too far apart in price either. They are also, like the mini and 10" iPad, different products. It's not just a matter of bigger should be more expensive. Also keep in mind, premium products like BMWs go up about 3% annually like clockwork. The iPad has NEVER gone up in price.
I don't think a $329 price point for a Retina mini is expensive. $400, yes, absolutely. But who's talking that price point? I haven't seen one established "insider" tech pundit suggesting that price point as a trial balloon. The wholesale cost difference between a Retina and non-Retina mini is about $20. So maybe Apple goes to $349. But my guess is that it will eat a little margin and keep the prices where they are hoping people opt for the larger storage size models which is where the profit is anyway.
but what about the report which stated that apple has reached a contract with samsung and now we can see a retina ipad mini by the end of the year. looks like i'll just have to wait and see it myself.
This is awesome. This way, the iPad Mini won't be ruined by Retina Display the way that the regular iPad did.
They still didn't manage to make an iPad as light and thin as the 2 with a Retina display. Maybe they will with the 5.
At the same time, it will be an awesome chance to get a 1st gen Mini at $199.
They still didn't manage to make an iPad as light and thin as the 2 with a Retina display. Maybe they will with the 5.
At the same time, it will be an awesome chance to get a 1st gen Mini at $199.
apple, you really need to make better displays for the ipad mini, it's OK with the A6 chip but we wanna see a better screen, the only reason why i'm not buying the new nexus 7 is because of the retina ipad mini rumors, apple please dont disappoint me.