iPad mini iPad Mini Retina $399 - Thoughts? [POLL Added]

[DVK916]

Delta in experience. The Air, with its reduced size equates to greater portability. With there only being a $100 difference, the Air is a much better overall solution, IMO.

The iPad was enormous compared to similarly sized tablets with the same diagonal screen dimensions due to the native aspect ratio and borders around the screen. The Mini allowed them to hit a lower price point and greater portability.

I guess I'm just saying the Air seems to me, to fit the needs of a wider audience now, with the experience a larger screen affords.

/rambling now.

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My stance exactly.

I strongly disagree, with $100 all you are getting is a larger screen, no significant advantage, and in fact the mini will have a more clear screen given its significantly higher pixel density. With a $100 more for little advantage I see the mini as a much better deal.

 

[Ohrstrom]

Sorry, but what delta? They are identical spec, apart from a few cents of aluminum. Folks can literally (exclusively) choose between screen size and portability, and somehow people are choking on the price of the cheaper option. Where is the loss?

We don't know yet if both devices will have the same amount of memory for example, so we don't know yet if the only difference is the size of the device.

 

[rman726]

I voted for "It's well priced for a great new upgrade with 64bit + retina!", but honestly, my real answer is that I'm slightly disappointed that it's $399 instead of $329, but that's not going to stop me from buying it.

Of course that being said, I was a bit upset last year with the iPad Mini being a gimped iPad, with it's A5 processor and no retina, almost as if they were trying to stop people from buying it in favor of their higher margin iPad. I said I would have paid more for the A6X and retina. So in that sense, I guess I got what I wanted... just a year later. I love the 7.9" screen. It provides much better portability which is my biggest issue with my current iPad. So I'm okay if they continue to upgrade the iPad Mini at $399 while keeping all of the same features of the iPad.

 

[MacFriedRice]

I think it stinks they raised the price, but I've been waiting for a cellular retina mini. And it will be mine.

 

[DVK916]

I think it stinks they raised the price, but I've been waiting for a cellular retina mini. And it will be mine.

What I think is stupid is $100 for 16 more gigs of space and $130 for cellular, seriously.

The space probably cost $20 bucks to add and the cellular probably $50.

 

[Ohrstrom]

What I think is stupid is $100 for 16 more gigs of space and $130 for cellular, seriously.

The space probably cost $20 bucks to add and the cellular probably $50.

I agree with the GB pricing, $100 more for 32GB instead of 16GB is Apple laughing all the way to the bank, as the phrase goes. $50 I would get, $100 is just greedy.

 

[Honza]

I think it is both overpriced and priced right. It makes sense when you compare it to the full size iPad, but it is much pricier than the competition. However, I wouldn't waste my money on the other tablets, so it is probably priced right. $350 would be the sweet spot though, still at a premium, but a great value.

 

[ufwa]

I think it is a good value, assuming once tear downs are made it has everything the full size ipad has. Ram, clock speed, etc.

If the mini is every way same as the ipad 5. It'll be mini for me. I lose out on viewing area but save $100 and gain pixel density and even more portability.

The real ripoff is the Ipad2. You can buy a refurbished 16GB ipad 4 for less than the ipad 2. It'll probably at least a year before they'd run out. No clue on why Apple kept it around.

 

[Fanaticalism]

I strongly disagree, with $100 all you are getting is a larger screen, no significant advantage, and in fact the mini will have a more clear screen given its significantly higher pixel density. With a $100 more for little advantage I see the mini as a much better deal.

I disagree that you disagree.

The full sized iPad with retina has incredible clarity... People should do some research on resolutions and what components need to be considered when making assessments. People get hung up on "pixel density", because it has become engrained in their minds, similar to display resolution on flat panel tvs. Will the Mini2 appear crisper than its predecessor? Yup! Will it appear crisper than the Air? Nope! Will it resolve more detail? Nope! Because the detail is in the source!

Detail is fully appreciated on larger displays. Just look at flat panel TV's... People get hung up on higher resolutions on 32" displays but when you put them side by side with 720p at the distance they view them, they can never tell the difference.

If the Air never came to fruition, the mini retina would've made more sense due to its portability, IMO.

 

[siurpeeman]

a few months ago, the consensus seemed to point to a same-bodied mini with retina display and an a6x processor at the same $329 pricepoint (essentially an ipad 4 in the shell of a mini. for that extra $70, i'm getting the same processor as the big ipad, making size the only difference between the big and small ipads. i'm slightly disappointed there's no touch i'd, but i'll live.

 

[ElectronGuru]

I guess I'm just saying the Air seems to me, to fit the needs of a wider audience now, with the experience a larger screen affords.

A favorite trick (thought experiment) when deciding between two options with 2+ differences is to erase 1 and see what happens. In this case, pretend both iPads are $450 and see which you'd rather have. Either way, reality is then just $50 away from your true desire.

 

[DVK916]

I disagree that you disagree.

The full sized iPad with retina has incredible clarity... People should do some research on resolutions and what components need to be considered when making assessments. People get hung up on "pixel density", because it has become engrained in their minds, similar to display resolution on flat panel tvs. Will the Mini2 appear crisper than its predecessor? Yup! Will it appear crisper than the Air? Nope! Will it resolve more detail? Nope! Because the detail is in the source!

Detail is fully appreciated on larger displays. Just look at flat panel TV's... People get hung up on higher resolutions on 32" displays but when you put them side by side with 720p at the distance they view them, they can never tell the difference.

If the Air never came to fruition, the mini retina would've made more sense due to its portability, IMO.

This is wrong, because on a smaller screen the same resolution will always appear more clear.

 

[iSimpsons]

My money's on Apple releasing a date on or shortly after the November 1st Release for the iPad Air...

You heard it here first.

 

[BJonson]

The mini was old when it was released. Should have been this last year but with the A6x. I don't mind paying $400 for it but it should have at leaset 32gb of space. Why do I have to pay $100 for another 16gb then another $100 for extra 32gb then another $100 for extra 64gb. Makes no sense. That is $300 for extra 112gb of space. 16gb is not enough so that makes it really $499 for this thing. But I will suck it up and buy one because I love my mini but the screen and the speed suck and this new one should fix that.

 

[HKPDW]

My brother just bought the new Nexus 7 for $199 and thinks I'm a fool for considering the IPM2 for $399.

I have to agree (but I'm still going to buy it)...

 

[javisan]

The mini was old when it was released. Should have been this last year but with the A6x. I don't mind paying $400 for it but it should have at leaset 32gb of space. Why do I have to pay $100 for another 16gb then another $100 for extra 32gb then another $100 for extra 64gb. Makes no sense. That is $300 for extra 112gb of space. 16gb is not enough so that makes it really $499 for this thing. But I will suck it up and buy one because I love my mini but the screen and the speed suck and this new one should fix that.

I feel the same. I have no problem paying $400, but it had to have 32GB minimum at that price. I will wait till next year, I feel they will finally make 32GB base next year. Maybe that's why they increased the price this year, to create a cushion for when they drop the 16GB. If they do drop it next year, it reality it would be a $30 discount from the original mini price for the wifi 32GB ($429 - $30 = $399).

32GB at $399 + Touch ID = iPad Mini 3, wait for it

 

[AppleRobert]

For $70 more, you get retina which EVERYBODY wanted in the first place AND a specs bump. How isn't the mini 2 not worth it compared to the first 16gb one?

It is a bigger upgrade than the iPad 4 to the Air.

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I strongly disagree, with $100 all you are getting is a larger screen, no significant advantage, and in fact the mini will have a more clear screen given its significantly higher pixel density. With a $100 more for little advantage I see the mini as a much better deal.

Agreed. We are on the same page.

 

[javisan]

For $70 more, you get retina which EVERYBODY wanted in the first place AND a specs bump. How isn't the mini 2 not worth it compared to the first 16gb one?

Because this is what should have been released last year at the $329 (or even $349) price point. The iPad Mini 1 should NOT have been more than $299 to begin with.

Again I would have no problem with the additional $70 increase if the $399 had 32GB, which would be a $30 discount on the normal $100 capacity uprades. Apple would still hold their massive price margins with a price of $399 for a 32GB iPad Mini 2 (Wifi).

 

[AppleRobert]

Because this is what should have been released last year at the $329 (or even $349) price point. The iPad Mini 1 should NOT have been more than $299 to begin with.

Again I would have no problem with the additional $70 increase if the $399 had 32GB, which would be a $30 discount on the normal $100 capacity uprades. Apple would still hold their massive price margins with a price of $399 for a 32GB iPad Mini 2 (Wifi).

Should of? If that was everyone's thought that it was overpriced, why did so many people jump on the first Mini like hotcakes with availability not easy to come by in the beginning stages of it going on sale?

People want retina, it is plastered all over this forum. This will sell like hotcakes again regardless it is $399 for 16gb.

 

[javisan]

Should of? If that was everyone's thought that it was overpriced, why did so many people jump on the first Mini like hotcakes with availability not easy to come by in the beginning stages of it going on sale?

Because we Apple fans wanted the device, and had no other option. That does not mean that it was NOT overpriced. True fans who love the Apple ecosystem have no other alternative. It's like gas prices, it's expensive, but what can we do? I do not want to change my brand/type of car because I like it and will also not currently change to Android because they still have some improvements to make and I really really like the Apple ecosystem.

But whatever, to each his own. What I'll do, is not purchase it this year and wait till next year. I have the money, but refuse to patronize what I believe (I have a right to my opinion) is not a good deal and an insult to its loyal consumers.

 

[frayne182]

Its phone spec CPU is faster than anything in an android tablet.

what does that got to do with anything? Its still a phone spec CPU. They made zero changes except put it in a bigger chassis. To me that is pure laziness. To me the tablets should be vastly superior to the phones.

 

[Speczorz]

I am very tempted to upgrade from my iPad mini to the new mini with retina display! Especially if I can still sell it for several hundred.

 

[spicynujac]

What I think is stupid is $100 for 16 more gigs of space and $130 for cellular, seriously.

The space probably cost $20 bucks to add and the cellular probably $50.

Cellular radio cost was estimated at $21 last year and as LTE gains adoption I would think it has dropped considerably this year. Charging $130 for it is absurd. But, it's apple pricing to its customer. It can sell a $500 ipad and a $900 ipad to different people, with little difference in cost.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/New-...ound-320-profit-margins-drop-slightly_id27896

 

[Fanaticalism]

This is wrong, because on a smaller screen the same resolution will always appear more clear.

This is contingent upon the resolution... I'd rather not get into this discussion but I recommend you do some research, and by research I don't mean subjective reviews.

I'll leave you with this question... will the iPhone benefit from a full HD screen?

 

[Matthew9559]

I fully expected a price hike once a retina mini would become available. So I'm okay with the current price point.