http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/ipad...-ipad-mini-5-release-date-march-2017-3593689/
MacWorld seems to think that an iPad Mini Pro is on the way.
MacWorld seems to think that an iPad Mini Pro is on the way.
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iPad Mini Pro coming?
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The link the OP provided is a rumor. And isn't a rumor considered speculation, or vice versa? It Appears to me it's one in the same. As MacRumors goes, there hasn't been much of anything that I've seen for an iPad mini refresh. I would say at this junction, I don't believe we will see one.
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I be happy if Apple replace the A8 and put in an A10 and increase the RAM 4GB! Call it Mini 5!
Apple better have at least 4GB RAM inside the new Mini since memory is penny cheap! The difference between 2 and 4 GB modules is around $4.00 U.S. in 10000 bulk. So if Apple orders in the millions, it going be half of that or less!
Apple better have at least 4GB RAM inside the new Mini since memory is penny cheap! The difference between 2 and 4 GB modules is around $4.00 U.S. in 10000 bulk. So if Apple orders in the millions, it going be half of that or less!
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In my opinion, the difference between a rumour and simple speculation is that the former has something backing it up whether it's an alleged leak, or supposed statement from someone on the inside. So far everything about a new mini has been along the lines of, "it's been more than a year, and these are the 'pro' features that other iPads have, so let's put two and two together and say this is what's coming to the Mini". No basis, just a wish list.
Wow, if the number of threads here about the iPad mini is any indication of the actual market interest in a high powered refreshed tablet from Apple in this size range, than I think it is a no brainier that we are getting one.
Remember there were essentially zero rumours or evidence of an iPad mini 4 when it was announced alongside the brand new 12.9" iPad Pro 2 years ago. A lack of rumours with concrete sources behind them has no bearing one way or another, really, when talking about the iPad mini.
Heck, we haven't gotten very much at all about ANY iPad except for the bezelless 10.5" rumour. But I love the form factor, so don't mind repeating myself a little bit
I'm pretty confident/hopeful that we will get a mini update alongside the iPad Pro updates. I do believe it will be in the form of an introduction of an iPad mini with the "Pro" moniker. They will most likely put the current 9.7" iPP internals in it, A9 or A10 (depending on cost of scale considerations), 2GB RAM, 256GB option, 12MP camera, and give it Apple Pencil support. There won't be a Smart Keyboard though, doesn't make sense (Though likely it will get the Smart Connector if they've got ideas for future uses down the line). They release that and give us a matte black option, I upgrade instantaneously!
Then the iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2 (which are essentially the same hardware-wise, A8 vs A8X the only difference) will stay on at slightly reduced prices as low cost models with the iPP line seeing updates to processors, cameras, and most likely screen size and form factor. iPad mini 2 is dropped.
Remember there were essentially zero rumours or evidence of an iPad mini 4 when it was announced alongside the brand new 12.9" iPad Pro 2 years ago. A lack of rumours with concrete sources behind them has no bearing one way or another, really, when talking about the iPad mini.
Heck, we haven't gotten very much at all about ANY iPad except for the bezelless 10.5" rumour. But I love the form factor, so don't mind repeating myself a little bit
I'm pretty confident/hopeful that we will get a mini update alongside the iPad Pro updates. I do believe it will be in the form of an introduction of an iPad mini with the "Pro" moniker. They will most likely put the current 9.7" iPP internals in it, A9 or A10 (depending on cost of scale considerations), 2GB RAM, 256GB option, 12MP camera, and give it Apple Pencil support. There won't be a Smart Keyboard though, doesn't make sense (Though likely it will get the Smart Connector if they've got ideas for future uses down the line). They release that and give us a matte black option, I upgrade instantaneously!
Then the iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2 (which are essentially the same hardware-wise, A8 vs A8X the only difference) will stay on at slightly reduced prices as low cost models with the iPP line seeing updates to processors, cameras, and most likely screen size and form factor. iPad mini 2 is dropped.
- iPad Pro in 12.9", 10.5" & 7.9" (A10X, A10X, A10 respectively)
- iPad Air & iPad mini in 9.7" & 7.9" (A8X, A8 respectively)
whichever way they do it, and whatever they decide to call it, i cant see a single reason why they'd abandon the mini category. they'd be leaving a gap in their inventory and loosing out revenue to other firms when the consumer wants a mini sized tablet. and they can afford not to halt production. why would they possibly stop?
Hard to see a Mini Pro, as that would assume pen capability, and I think that's a bit too small for screen real estate for the apps that are geared for pen input. Also, Pro has keybarods; would you do a 3rd keyboard and "smart" connector for the smaller Ipad.
That said, if there's an updated or second choice for a smaller pen released at the same time, maybe that does work.
That said, if there's an updated or second choice for a smaller pen released at the same time, maybe that does work.
I bought the Mini 4 as soon as it was released. My money is ready for the next iteration. Apple knows that.
The lack of substantial rumours makes me think that there won't be a new Mini this winter/spring, but rather, in October or November in the gap between the next iPhone launch and the holidays.
There was no substantial Sept of 2015 either. It just popped up but yeah, possibly in Sept rather than the spring.
People keep saying there were no rumours prior to the Mini 4, but I remember seeing some. There's literally nothing about a new Mini right now except guesses.
I think, in general, we've seen leaks and rumors drop way off. Plenty of speculation, but very little rumors/leaks - at least on the iPad side. iPhone is a bit more slippery.
If the rumored 10.5" bezel-less ipad is the same physical size as the 9.7" perhaps a future bezel-less 9.7" ipad will become the new mini. I dunno. But I do hope the mini gets a pro version. In Apples quarterly report they admitted the iPad mini was selling better than the pros. So for those saying Apple will drop the mini cause it's not selling is false. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
The only reason why I could think that they might not focus more on the Mini is that having more sales than the Pro doesn't necessarily translate to more profit. iPad minis probably generate less profit per unit sold than any other iPad or iPhone.
iPad MINI 4 LIFE!!!!
Actually I have the mini 3, but anyway..
The mini is the iPad that has always made the most sense to me. I mean, I have the 12.9 iPP too and it's great but it's mainly for drawing using the pencil. Occasionally I use it as a laptop replacement to do some work, but if I didn't need to draw then I would have gotten a rMB. I find the 12.9 and even the 9.7 too big to use for long sessions of casual consumption. The iPad mini is so much more comfortable that it practically begs me to consume on it. The size is like that of a paperback novel, big enough to hold plenty of content on the "page" but small enough to hold comfortably in the hands (if anything it's still a tad too big because I can't palm it easily). If I need a bigger screen for whatever reason I'm fine using a MacBook or a TV. So a mini refresh would be extremely welcomed and I hope they don't stop coming any time soon, unless they somehow figure out how to make iPhones expand/fold out into iPad minis. I should also mention I tried an iPhone plus for several months but it got a big thumbs down as both a phone and a small tablet. The size was annoyingly big for one and small for the other.
Specific feature requests for mini would be of course updated SoC, quad speakers, water resistance, pencil support, wireless charging, 256gb+, and reduced weight.
Edit- and Touch ID 2. And maybe USB 3
Actually I have the mini 3, but anyway..
The mini is the iPad that has always made the most sense to me. I mean, I have the 12.9 iPP too and it's great but it's mainly for drawing using the pencil. Occasionally I use it as a laptop replacement to do some work, but if I didn't need to draw then I would have gotten a rMB. I find the 12.9 and even the 9.7 too big to use for long sessions of casual consumption. The iPad mini is so much more comfortable that it practically begs me to consume on it. The size is like that of a paperback novel, big enough to hold plenty of content on the "page" but small enough to hold comfortably in the hands (if anything it's still a tad too big because I can't palm it easily). If I need a bigger screen for whatever reason I'm fine using a MacBook or a TV. So a mini refresh would be extremely welcomed and I hope they don't stop coming any time soon, unless they somehow figure out how to make iPhones expand/fold out into iPad minis. I should also mention I tried an iPhone plus for several months but it got a big thumbs down as both a phone and a small tablet. The size was annoyingly big for one and small for the other.
Specific feature requests for mini would be of course updated SoC, quad speakers, water resistance, pencil support, wireless charging, 256gb+, and reduced weight.
Edit- and Touch ID 2. And maybe USB 3
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People are arguing for many years with exactly these arguments for a headless Mac between mini and Pro, but until now Apple did not subscribe to this point of view.
Except there is no gap for the Mac:
Cheap > Mac Mini
Mid-Range > iMac
Power > Mac Pro
Apple spends lots of money on market research - if they saw a true market (not just five guys arguing on a forum) they'd make the machine. Given the popularity of the iMac, it's unlikely you will see a mid-range "headless" Mac.
It's the same with the iPad mini - if they drop it, it means they simply didn't see a sustainable market for a device of that category. Having said that, the Mini sells pretty well, but it's more about future market than current market.
Ummm - you misunderstood my post.
Even though I don't share the view of the iMac being a sufficient machine for the mid-range part of the portfolio (plus: pulling out of the monitor business could affect the iMac as well), I just wanted to give the other poster an example of Apple not necessarily sharing the same view of users bringing arguments. Because they have a different, most probably more complete market view (not to mention internal strategies, cost calculations, resource assignments etc.) than any single person.
And thus could pretty well cease to offer an iPad mini, despite individual users not seeing the point in doing so.
I really hope so. An iPad Mini with pencil support would make a great small OneNote machine for me.
It won't affect the iMac. Apple's stand-alone monitors didn't sell well because they were way over-priced.
The flaw in your example was trying to compare it to an imaginary product that Apple never produced vs. a real product currently being sold. A better example would be the Airport hubs.
You are right in that Apple will (almost) always do what Apple wants to do.
One could argue that quite some Apple products are way overpriced, yet they still sell quite well. Before Apple decided to neglect the monitor business, their displays were not inexpensive, either, but - according to many people - offered a good price/performance/quality ratio.
And they even had their USP's at various points in time: MacBook charging functionality, docking functionality, 30" size, metal housing. Even today you'd probably be hard-pressed to find a 3rd party monitor with the build quality and clean design of the Apple monitors of old.
Granted, they had their shortcomings as well, especially the lousy ergonomics. But I would not say they "didn't sell well", even without knowing detailed numbers.
For me, the question is whether Apple will be able to prevent loss of knowledge after pulling out of the monitor business. After all, an iMac is not much more than a monitor on steroids.
Also, in the past Apple had a big focus on design - and so had their customers. As multi-monitor setups are not unusual in a desktop scenario, without dedicated Apple monitors there is nothing that matches the material mix and design of an iMac.
Only the most extreme die-hard fans would purchase two or more iMacs just for a multi-monitor setting - and then this functionality isn't available anymore since the advent of Retina iMacs, anyway.
I beg to differ.
Apple has sold quite some headless, powerful, expandable, mid-of-the-line machines in the past. The last and most famous of them was the Cube, which most probably still is one of the reasons why Apple is shying away from another attempt.
The Cube is pre-OS X days, so I don't know if that's a great example. Not to mention that, though the Cube was "technically" mid-range (this was when the iMac still had a G3 processor), the complaint was that the Cube was woefully under-powered - more like a pre-Mac Mini than an actual "mid-range" computer.
Apple still has a big focus on Design, but the only people that bought Apple monitors were the ones that HAD to have an All-Apple setup. Apple's monitors were at least twice the price of a comparable 3rd-party monitor. Not only that, they weren't as good as cheaper monitors. You really had to be hardcore Apple to buy an Apple monitor.
You're right - I don't know the numbers, but I know that my local Apple Stores never sold very many of them.
Had to seperate this out because I couldn't disagree more.