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iPad Mini Update to Trail Next Full-Size iPad Launch by Several Months?
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Screen technology and the chip powering the iPad will be the factor here, not the battery.
I really like the screen real estate of the full sized iPad, but prefer the Mini for the lightness. A lighter, thinner full sized iPad would be perfect.
mtneer
macrumors 68040
And also the rumored transition to TSMC.... probably cushioning the SOC demand blow?
preyan
macrumors 6502
I think separate events is a good idea. Moreso because Apple, at this stage and rate, needs more and continuous hype on their forthcoming products. They can afford separate events anyway. But...the both need to come with damn good upgrades. If both are lacking innovation in a big way, then they might as well have one BIG event 😕
gorskiegangsta
macrumors 65816
That rumor was not unique to Digitimes. They merely reiterated what a half-dozen publications have stated before. WSJ and Bloomberg put out similar info (i.e. Retina iPad in Q1 ''12, revision in Q4 ''12) months before. As it stands, Digitimes' overall record is shoddy and every rumor they've started, they've gotten half-right, at the very best. Any rumor from them should be taken with a bucketful of salt.
Lancer
macrumors 68020
I agree, if the price is right I might opt for the full size iPad but right now I'd prefer the Mini.
regardless of what the design is going to be...we all know it's going to be the usual lighter and slimmer..... how thoughtful.
JonBOY26
macrumors member
I have zero interest in the iPad mini, so I hope release of redesigned 9.7" iPad is not delayed by iPad mini issues. A staggered release of the two models therefore suits me fine.
With WWDC being in June, surely the redesigned 9.7" iPad would be available at some point in July, and not October?
With WWDC being in June, surely the redesigned 9.7" iPad would be available at some point in July, and not October?
gooberwilson
macrumors regular
I'm assuming you mean Apple with announce the 5th generation iPad at WWDC? This is highly unlikely to happen. They will announce it in an event later this year.
AppleMark
macrumors 6502a
They know it will.... Apple would not hold out on upgrading the mini for the sake of the customer, it never has.
For a start I own a mini, so I would be pleased that they are not upgrading so soon, however they upgraded my iPad 3 after only 6 months, with less useful features than a mini with retina and a speed boost.
If true it say's all to me about the lack of confidence in their own product, by restricting choice in fear of loosing sales of a device otherwise potentially being made obsolete by an arguably more attractive younger sibling..
My iPad 3, is used more and more less often and usually at home, even then it competes less favourably with my Mac and laptop.
AppleMark
macrumors 6502a
No way of knowing Apples strategy Is the delay due to tech difficulties in producing the screen. Or maybe Apple is getting ready to release a killer new piece of hardware that will shock all
Sets everything up nice for a new ipad at WWDC.
Ipad mini can launch nearer the 5S.
If they announce it in June maybe we can see a July launch?
Ipad mini can launch nearer the 5S.
If they announce it in June maybe we can see a July launch?
Same here.
Apple has booked most of TSMC´s upcoming 20nm production capacity and I highly doubt that devices that can use that are ready for mass-market production by July-August. September at the earliest, maybe even close to October. Apple does custom-silicon and that is extremely hard to tape-out without any flaws that could bite them.
Therefore, Apple needs to use an A7X chip with current process technology first and the bigger iPad is the perfect device for it, because it mainly needs more performance (while not constraining battery time) than their current offering. Since they are reducing the complexity of the backlight, they also save on power. So this is perfectly doable with a new chip that is not using a cutting-edge process. Also, AFAIK they are not going to use IMGTec´s Rogue IP just yet (it is going to be a 5xxMP variant of some kind).
The Mini needs both a cutting-edge process to save as much battery as possible, because of the inclusion of the retina screen and it also needs to offer more performance than their current offering (for graphics especially, that´s a no-brainer because of the retina screen). That is pretty hard to accomplish, when you basically have such a small device and are even more constrained than on the bigger iPad.
Also, there is going to be an insane demand for the new Mini (I would bet every cent I have on it) and because of that sourcing a Mini retina screen should be difficult if you don´t have enough lead time.
Last, but not least, Apple is probably going to focus on the new iPhone and the Mini for the fall-winter, because these are the devices that most of their customers demand from them. And they want to be blown-away.
Got a Mini and an Ipad 3
But I use my Retina MBP 95% of the time. If I go on a trip, which is infrequent, I grab the mini to read novels and the Ipad LTE. There is no way I would upgrade unless they break.
But I use my Retina MBP 95% of the time. If I go on a trip, which is infrequent, I grab the mini to read novels and the Ipad LTE. There is no way I would upgrade unless they break.
Erasmus
macrumors 68030
I don't see the issue. The iPad Mini is not a flagship product. It's just new. I don't see it being updated in a big event. It is, after all, just a gimped iPad. Like the iPod Touch is a gimped iPhone.
Or how from now on, Apple will be considering the non-retina MBP as a gimped RMBP.
Who knows? Maybe we'll get news of a new iPad next week, but I doubt it. My guess is we'll have to wait a few more months for any news. Of course, Apple would likely prefer to have some new iOS hardware to showcase iOS 7 on, but I doubt they have anything ready yet.
Anyways, with new MBPs, maybe MBAs, new OSX, new iOS, new iWork, and hopefully a new Mac Pro, WWDC is already a bit overloaded as-is.
Or how from now on, Apple will be considering the non-retina MBP as a gimped RMBP.
Who knows? Maybe we'll get news of a new iPad next week, but I doubt it. My guess is we'll have to wait a few more months for any news. Of course, Apple would likely prefer to have some new iOS hardware to showcase iOS 7 on, but I doubt they have anything ready yet.
Anyways, with new MBPs, maybe MBAs, new OSX, new iOS, new iWork, and hopefully a new Mac Pro, WWDC is already a bit overloaded as-is.
MRU
macrumors Penryn
Exactly, lest we forget Digitimes confidently telling us over and over the iPad would be updated in April......
Indeed.
That is not a good comparison, since a retina Mini can do practically everything a bigger iPad can do (sacrificing only on screen dimension (not resolution) and a bit of performance). However, since the iPad is going to match the Mini in looks soon, it is going to get interesting if the iPad can steal some of the Mini´s thunder away again. Some people (like me) are still a bit nervous about the new design that (coming from an iPad 3) basically does not much for me apart from more difficulties in holding it. Lighter is great, though, the iPad 3 is just a tiny bit too heavy. Still, one of my most-used devices.