iOS 7 Beta Suggests Non-Retina A6-Powered iPad Mini in Development

[gmanist1000]

Honestly I'm hoping for a much lighter version of the 9.7 iPad.

The real enticing reason for me getting a Mini in the first place is how light it is, and if the 9.7 iPad is drastically lighter, I'll be more than pleased.

 

[MN7119]

NO RETINA = NO iPad Mini for me. That simple!!!!!

 

[pgiguere1]

Release the kraken!

but seriously the way apple positioned ipad mini as underpowered than the full ipad is a bit disappointing. I know its all about marketing and product positioning, but still the ipad mini can be as productive as the full ipad.

I'm pretty sure their marketing is actually the exact opposite.

They also made that part very clear in the keynote.

You may agree or disagree with Apple's statements, but that's still how they position the iPad mini in their marketing.

 

[Georgij]

If it won't be retina, I hope they will at least make the display mounted to the glass, and fingerprint resistive glass.

And imo iPad mini isn't ready for a retina. iPad 3 didn't have enough GPU to perform with x4 pixels as good as iPad 2 did, and had to be bigger to carry a better battery. iPad mini retina will most likely come next year when there would be enough horsepower for a little battery cost to do so.

 

[iSteve-O]

Still stuck at 1024x768 resolution. What is this, 2010?

 

[pgiguere1]

The sad part is that iOS 7 looks like crap on a non-retina display. On iOS 6, this would no doubt be a very capable device, but with iOS 7 (which will be what it ships with)… not so much.

Oh I'm not saying it's not sad the new iPad mini won't have a Retina display.

I'm just wondering why is it sad that it's probably going to sell more than the Nexus 7 still.

 

[Rogifan]

Isn't it possible that the iPad 2 goes away and we get two mini's - a cheaper one without retina and one with retina? If the low cost iPhone rumors are correct Apple won't be selling any iPhones with 30 pin connectors. I'd assume they want to get away from that on the iPad too.

 

[Sirious]

I hope this article is incorrect! I am waiting so bad to hand down my larger iPad and buy an iPad mini with retina display

 

[WilliamG]

And sadly, they will still sell more than the new Nexus 7. Sucks to be an Apple fan sometimes.

That's the problem, really. I'm a huge Apple fan, but even I own a 2013 Nexus 7 which - aside from quality control issues, is a fantastic little tablet.

Sometimes I wonder about Apple. MacBook Pros are lagging behind in tech; the MacBook Airs are hugely lagging behind in resolution and to some degree - weight; Apple's displays are outdated now (wife just got a new 27" PLS 1440p monitor because her Apple Cinema Display 24" just wasn't cutting it anymore in terms of glare/tech and the 27" Thunderbolt is not good enough these days); and let's not forget - the tablets SERIOUSLY need an overhaul.

Come on, Apple! Blow us away all over again! We're WAITING!

 

[iekozz]

Come on Apple, if you're not doing a retina version, then at least up the resolution... The new nexus 7 screen is far, far better then the 1024x768 screen you have now.

At next ipad mini event: we now have a screen with x % more color gamut. Looks amazing! btw, here's one of our competitors tablets. With such a screen that everything is so small. blown up phone apps look ridiculous.

Don't go there Apple.

 

[pgiguere1]

Honestly I'm hoping for a much lighter version of the 9.7 iPad.

The real enticing reason for me getting a Mini in the first place is how light it is, and if the 9.7 iPad is drastically lighter, I'll be more than pleased.

I'm in the same situation.

Not to mention if the iPad mini had a Retina display in the near future, it would probably be thicker and heavier too, like the iPad 3 was compared to the iPad 2, to accomodate a larger battery and more backlight LEDs.

That would make the form-factor gap between the mini and full-size iPad even narrower, and at that point I'd much rather have a SoC that's two generations in advance.

 

[Anti-Lucifer]

You guys crack me up - it's so simple:

JUST DO NOT BUY THE NEXT IPAD (NON-RETINA). Simple fix!

It's the mentality of owning the latest and greatest is why apple is making a ton of money. Just enjoy what you have or be glad you don't have (saving money along the way) - wait until the retina comes out and then you buy.

Think about it: before any retina ipad was ever released, there were no retina ipads. And there were no tablets to begin with either until 2009. You survived then, and you'll survive now.

GET A GRIP!

 

[tech4all]

I won't be buying an iPad Mini until it has a retina display.

You could get a Nexus 7 that's been 'retina' since it debuted last year. Unless your one of those folks here who thinks Android is their arch enemy and is 'evil.'

And sadly, they will still sell more than the new Nexus 7. Sucks to be an Apple fan sometimes.

That's just sad if the Nexus 7 will have a beautiful display an entire year before the Mini gets one in 2014.

Apple knows they could under spec any device they sell, charge a premium for it and it will sell in record numbers. But what's really sad is that some people are so loyal to Apple, that they'll buy anything from them even if the competition is better. I understand some might really prefer iOS, but it's obvious some here think they work for Apple or are part of their military unit or something and will stick to the at any cost.

How is it sad? A tablet is more than a display. More than hardware in general in fact.

Well the Nexus 7 out specs the mini in pretty all ways. Display, RAM, processor, graphics, storage (for the price), etc. The software is subjective. When it comes to mobile, Android wins hands down IMO. I'd love to consider iOS, but, when Apple makes a big deal that the 8-limit tab limit on Safari is no more, I just shake my head and keep using Android.

 

[Codyak]

No retina, no buy.

 

[pgiguere1]

Well the Nexus 7 out specs the mini in pretty all ways. Display, RAM, processor, graphics, storage (for the price), etc. The software is subjective. When it comes to mobile, Android wins hands down IMO. I'd love to consider iOS, but, when Apple makes a big deal that the 8-limit tab limit on Safari is no more, I just shake my head and keep using Android.

While the OS choice (iOS vs Android) is indeed subjective, what sets the iPad appart from other tablets is its content. There's undoubtely way more tablet-optimized apps and content for iOS than Android, and that is not subjective. Not everybody's a specs whore, some people who aren't tech-oriented may buy an iPad simply because their favorite magazine is available on it while it's not on Android.

 

[ValSalva]

No reason there can't be both a retina and non-retina iPad Mini at the same time. The non-retina one can also see an update.

It can wait until the spring though. But a whole year would be too long for Apple with the new Nexus 7 out. The Nexus 7 could be lousy but it can still boast a 'better' display

 

[gmanist1000]

You guys crack me up - it's so simple:

JUST DO NOT BUY THE NEXT IPAD (NON-RETINA). Simple fix!

It's the mentality of owning the latest and greatest is why apple is making a ton of money. Just enjoy what you have or be glad you don't have (saving money along the way) - wait until the retina comes out and then you buy.

Think about it: before any retina ipad was ever released, there were no retina ipads. And there were no tablets to begin with either until 2009. You survived then, and you'll survive now.

GET A GRIP!

Also consider the fact that the Nexus 7 already has a 1920 x 1200 display, and the Mini won't have one for even longer.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Can someone tell me if a retina ipad mini would have a higher ppi than the new nexus 7? That is if it has the same 2048x1536 resolution, but on the 7.9inch display..

A retina mini would have a higher ppi than the nexus 7. That's part of the reason why it's so hard to be required to double pixels

Edit: Additionally, a retina mini would require significantly more total pixels, because the screen is so much larger.

 

[DJTaurus]

Come on Apple, if you're not doing a retina version, then at least up the resolution...

Devs wouldn't like new changes less than a year after iphone's 5 screen.

 

[Tankmaze]

I'm pretty sure their marketing is actually the exact opposite.

Image

They also made that part very clear in the keynote.

You may agree or disagree with Apple's statements, but that's still how they position the iPad mini in their marketing.

come to think of it, yeah you're right. it sort of like Apple's "playbook" where they show value in the product, like ipad mini is not like any other 7" tablet out there.

just like when they introduce the iphone in 2007 with full web browser capabilities vs the wap browser many still use back in those days. but no 3G in the first iphone.

the current ipad mini is basically just a shrunken ipad 2, and apple could do a better job with the spec like even though using A5 chip but at least have 1 GB ram, etc.

but this is the cost for the Rev A product where they can test the water and create better product in the next revision, ie original ipad -> ipad 2, iphone -> iphone 3G.

so yeah, my point apple should use A6 chip in the first place for the mini.

 

[MN7119]

Don't get me wrong, I love Apple products and have many of them. However, lately it seems that Apple is not listening to its customers and instead of delivering what people want they are just dumping whatever they feel is good as an updated version. I have been waiting and waiting for a MBA with retina display and Apple keeps pushing the old and obsolete screen on us. Another option would be the MB with retina display but you get it with either the 5,400rpm old HD or extremely expensive SD that do not have the storage I want. Now the iPad mini. As many people mentioned even Kindle, Nexus, etc.. have better screens than the iPad Mini. Why is that Apple insists in launching an “updated” version of the device with the same crappy screen? I am ready to spend my money on new Apple products but won’t buy them just because Apple calls them “new”. I guess the innovation at Apple died with Steve Jobs. Wall St responded to that by blowing AAPL stock price but Mr. Cook seems to not listen to them.

 

[wizard]

Kuo's track record involves repackaging pubkically available information.

Kuo has no more of a track record than I do. Really what effort does it take to look at Intels release schedule and say there are no MBP releases until September? The only thing Kuo has going for him is his ability to exploit the gullibility of the Mac Rumors staff.

 

[BornAgainMac]

It is better you know now than found out when they launch it.

 

[Michael Goff]

A retina mini would have a higher ppi than the nexus 7. That's part of the reason why it's so hard to be required to double pixels

So they would give the retina mini a higher ppi count than the main iPad? That doesn't sound like something they'd do.

 

[pgiguere1]

Can someone tell me if a retina ipad mini would have a higher ppi than the new nexus 7? That is if it has the same 2048x1536 resolution, but on the 7.9inch display..

Sure.

2013 Nexus 7 = 323 PPI.
Retina iPad mini = 326 PPI.

So technically yes, but not noticeably so.

If it's a panel as good as the one in the iPad 3/4, its main advantage over the Nexus 7 would be color accuracy more than anything else.