Let me get this straight, my dear Canadian friends.
You people came up with universal health care, ice hockey and ultra-low gun violence rates but cannot get a decent sale on an outdated, entry-level Apple tech? This is an outrage! 😛
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iPad mini 4 - the last mini?
- Thread starter chillip
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Let me get this straight, my dear Canadian friends.
You people came up with universal health care, ice hockey and ultra-low gun violence rates but cannot get a decent sale on an outdated, entry-level Apple tech? This is an outrage! 😛
ibookg409
Suspended
sracer
macrumors G4
When I bought my Mini 4 back in Nov 2016, I opted for the 32GB model because it was $175 off @ Best Buy at the time and it was only going to be a 2nd iPad behind my 12.9 Pro. Had I realized how well it performed (and still performs), I would've gone for the 64 or 128.
Best Buy currently has the 128GB iPad Mini for $299. ($100 off) That's an excellent deal IMO. Obviously there's no guarantees as to the future of the Mini line, but if you're thinking of upgrading, now seems like a good time.
nburwell
macrumors 603
I just picked up a 128GB Mini 4 in space gray at Best Buy for $249 brand new. Used a $50 GC I had. My wife's Mini 2 is still running okay, but she has a nice big crack on her screen, so I gave my newish Mini 4 to her.
Plus I feel better that we both have 4's since we'll still get iOS updates even after Apple stops supporting the Mini 2.
Plus I feel better that we both have 4's since we'll still get iOS updates even after Apple stops supporting the Mini 2.
My mini 4 has been great, but look at the performance of the 10.5 🙂
That sure is impressive. But to be honest, given the light tasks that I use my iPad for, portability trumps power.
I hope they introduce a new model, maybe they should do what they did with the 9.7" and make it more budget orientated. But it does look like it might be near the end of the road for the mini
First impressions of my new 10.5 makes me think bye bye mini. But who knows. I already know I won't pick my mini up again.... sadly 🙁
I've been lurking on these boards for a long time, and the continual comments from non-iPad mini users about how the Plus phones make it obsolete just astound me. Those of us who actually use the mini find it to be an amazing form factor, perfect for taking with us anywhere (e.g., actually fitting in winter jacket pockets). As much as I am dying to get rid of my mini and upgrade the technology, the 9.7/10.5 inch iPads simply are not even close in terms of portability (fact is, I went to the mini originally because the weight of the mid-size iPad in my hands over longer periods of playing games or watching entertainment got to a point where it hurt). And, as others have said, while the iPhone plus screen is significantly larger than other iPhones, the screen is still significantly smaller than the mini's screen and provides a very different experience in surfing and watching videos and the like.
And, for all those who talk about how the sales of the mini have been terrible (other than around Christmas), maybe that's cause Apple has effectively left it for dead for years? Come out with a new mini and then let's see how the sales are. Better yet, just limit the mini to one-generation old Pro technology and I'd still be head over heels. (Charge a premium if need be to maintain margins!)
And, for all those who talk about how the sales of the mini have been terrible (other than around Christmas), maybe that's cause Apple has effectively left it for dead for years? Come out with a new mini and then let's see how the sales are. Better yet, just limit the mini to one-generation old Pro technology and I'd still be head over heels. (Charge a premium if need be to maintain margins!)
mwhals
macrumors 6502
An interesting fact is that the iPod touch 6 128GB is on sale for $350 and has been on sale the last three weeks at various prices. Now the iPad Mini 4 is on sale. These are the two devices potentially on Apple's chopping block. I did buy the iPod touch 6 to have as a dedicated music device for the car. It is not just for children. Now I may need to get an iPad mini 4.
cdapple
macrumors newbie
I thought that, too, but the fine print doesn't mention anything about how the gift card must be spent to get the $150.
Here's part of the fine print disclaimer: Valid in store only 6/13/17-7/15/17. When you trade in any working Apple iPad Mini 2, Mini 3, Mini 4, Air, Air 2, iPad Pro get a minimum $150 Best Buy® gift card.
I’ve posted earlier that I liked the mini 4 for many of the above reasons. I lost it 2 weeks ago on American Airlines. Although I did order a 10.5 Pro from B&H and will adjust to the larger form factor, I would like to see the mini continued and upgraded if I wanted to go back. Perhaps, as with the 10.5 they could get a slightly larger screen, say 8.1 or 8.2 w/o expanding the case that much. I don’t think it would gnaw into 10.5 sales at all.
rui no onna
Contributor
Yep. I think the only mini that was released with current hardware was the mini 2 (A7) and that was likely out of necessity.
A6 couldn't handle 2048*1536. A6X is too power hungry and probably more expensive to manufacture than A7.
If they go with the same approach as the 2017 iPad, both 7.9 inch and 9.7 inch models will be 5th gen so that would be a clean transition
I am a satisfied Mini 4 user with 128 GB. Like many I fear it will be discontinued which is why I purchased it in early April. If I had been confident there would had been another Mini update in the near future, I would had waited until fall and hung onto my Mini 2 awhile longer.
I am not 100% convinced that the Mini will be discontinued, as I suspect Apple is seeing how the Mini 4 sells at its current price point before they make a final decision on its fate. However, in the long run, we may see the merging of the Mini form factor with the 9.7" screen as a shrunken down 9.7" with smaller bezel as was done with the Pro 10.5, or maybe something a bit smaller than 9.7" with a smaller bezel that replaces both sizes. That way Apple would maintain a single sub-Pro iPad model. I might go for the shrunken version as I could keep my portability with the bigger screen.
I am not 100% convinced that the Mini will be discontinued, as I suspect Apple is seeing how the Mini 4 sells at its current price point before they make a final decision on its fate. However, in the long run, we may see the merging of the Mini form factor with the 9.7" screen as a shrunken down 9.7" with smaller bezel as was done with the Pro 10.5, or maybe something a bit smaller than 9.7" with a smaller bezel that replaces both sizes. That way Apple would maintain a single sub-Pro iPad model. I might go for the shrunken version as I could keep my portability with the bigger screen.
kazmac
macrumors G4
I still love the iPad Mini 4, in fact I was a bit wistful when an Apple store sales person came up to me with one as she was telling me about Today at Apple.
I hope Apple does not discontinue it, but we'll see.
I hope Apple does not discontinue it, but we'll see.
OKLY
macrumors member
I'm hoping by the time Apple discontinues the iPhone 6, they will at least refresh the iPad Mini 4 with an A9 chip.
This is the only reasonable explanation I see also. Moreover, it protects the sales of the new 9.7" iPad.
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Yes. Someone posted a few screenshots not long ago to show this difference. It is pretty big.
koyoot
macrumors 603
iPad Mini 4 is more expensive only from 32 GB version of iPad 9.7. 128 GB is still less expensive than iPad 9.7.