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If they don't update it, I hope they at least drop the price.

I’d of thought we were past that point, if they don’t update it, i’d expect them to drop it entirely.

It might only be 2.5 years old, but it’s got 3.5 year old hardware.

It already had a price drop last year too.
 
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Given the 9.7-inch iPad is a niche product, a refresh

I really don’t see the base iPad as a niche product. While we don’t have a breakdown of sales, the average iPad sales price is about $450, which makes me think they sell a lot of these base iPad. It is really the perfect device for the typical consumer.

I doubt Apple will add pencil support to the new release of this iPad, since that would be expensive and require significant changes to the display. I could see them add the smart connector. I suspect this is a relatively inexpensive piece of hardware, and it would allow Apple to upsale the very expensive Apple Smart Keyboard as an accessory to a much larger portion of their customer base.

Also, Apple is getting a lot of pressure from Chromebooks in the education space 6-12 grades. I think they need to offer something that is competitive on price with a integrated keyboard option to facilitate homework and note taking.
 
Ipad mini with apple pencil support PLEASE! it would be the perfect size for an on the go sketchbook. But i am not holding my breath. It's been nearly 3 yrs since the last ipad mini update & if they don't update it soon it looks like they never will. <sigh>
 
12.9" iPad needs much smaller bezels and all iPads need 3D touch. Hold your iPhone X sideways--Face ID doesn't work! They need to get it working in every orientation on the iPad. Cheapest iPad needs an A10 and should be $199.
 
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They need to have something to build an event around, being onstage to say we’ve updated the chip in the iPad and the SE to an A10 or A11 and given them new cameras isn’t worth it, and would likely be a press release
 
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I’m calling it: small event on/around March 13*.

Predictions: New entry level iPad / iOS 11.3 / new Apple Watch straps (spring refresh) / AirPower / MacBook update / some apps updated (iMovie?)

* John Lewis have a special offer running on all iPad (free 3-year guarantee) until March 13.
That would be a boring and waste of a keynote.
 
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I decided to buy an iPad mini for book reading, since neither full-size iPad nor Amazon Kindle work for me.

If they don't announce an updated version in March, and it seems like they won't, I am unsure of what to do next. Perhaps will take another look at competitive Android devices. Anyone has a suggestion, what would be the best match to iPad mini in Android world?
 
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I just can't find an excuse to buy an iPad. Only thing that would change my mind is if textbooks became easier to own and use on an iPad. I get tired of lugging heavy textbooks around with me.
I was very much of the same opinion for years. I use Macs for real work, and an iPhone as a mobile device.

I finally caved last year -- turns out to be a very good shared "around the home" device for controlling media playback, being our hub for recipes*, shared calendars, some light reading and viewing the occasional video. Also useful as something of a "house phone" you can call if you're trying to reach a family member who is at home and has her phone (ahem) lost or set to silent. It's got its own Apple ID so nobody is getting their personal texts on it or anything.

As others have posted, this isn't a device I feel has to be the latest and greatest hardware. Even battery life is of secondary importance given that it's always at home.

* Paprika is an incredible app for recipes
 
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fingers crossed for ipad mini, my mini 4 is my most used & favorite computer!

I decided to buy an iPad mini for book reading, since neither full-size iPad nor Amazon Kindle work for me.

If they don't announce an updated version in March, and it seems like they won't, I am unsure of what to do next. Perhaps will take another look at competitive Android devices. Anyone has a suggestion, what would be the best match to iPad mini in Android world?

^^ as far as android version of ipad mini I would say it is the nvidia shield tablet, but it doesnt look like they are making a new one of those either

that said I bought my mini 4 128gig last year at Bestbuy $299 and am happy with it currently
 
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I decided to buy an iPad mini for book reading, since neither full-size iPad nor Amazon Kindle work for me.

If they don't announce an updated version in March, and it seems like they won't, I am unsure of what to do next. Perhaps will take another look at competitive Android devices. Anyone has a suggestion, what would be the best match to iPad mini in Android world?

The current iPad mini 4 is plenty fast enough for what you're asking, and you can pick it up refurbished for pretty cheap.
 
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I finally caved last year -- turns out to be a very good shared "around the home" device for controlling media playback, being our hub for recipes*, shared calendars, some light reading and viewing the occasional video. Also useful as something of a "house phone" you can call if you're trying to reach a family member who is at home and has her phone (ahem) lost or set to silent. It's got its own Apple ID so nobody is getting their personal texts on it or anything.

As others have posted, this isn't a device I feel has to be the latest and greatest hardware. Even battery life is of secondary importance given that it's always at home.

* Paprika is an incredible app for recipes
It is awesome to hear another person who uses the ipad in this way. It has always been communal!
 
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I own the latest 10.5, and I’d love a new iPad Pro. I don’t mind updating every year since I use the iPad continually at work and home.

But honestly, the deciding factor is iOS. If Apple keeps investing in iPad os features and first party apps, then. I’ll keep investing in the latest hardware. It’s the software that’s holding the iPad platform back, and I don’t need more hardware features to be more productive. I need software power.
 
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Spring Keynote predictions: (If there is no Keynote, then perhaps a silent update on the following products).

Airpower
Airpod wireless Battery case
Entry level iPad refreshed
Watch bands
iPhone SE (Or WWDC, but questionable at all
If an SE will be updated)
 
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as far as android version of ipad mini I would say it is the nvidia shield tablet, but it doesnt look like they are making a new one of those either

I could never understand why Android tablets as a product category is such a rarity. Excluding Kindles, I have never seen one IRL. I get it folks use huge Samsung "phablets" and think they don't need another device, but still, there should be sizable audience which would prefer a relatively "small" phone and a separate device for movies, books, etc.
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The current iPad mini 4 is plenty fast enough for what you're asking, and you can pick it up refurbished for pretty cheap.

For me, one of the biggest attractions of Apple mobile devices is how fast they really are. Sure, I don't need that for books and movies, but it is just so nice to have; so buying 2.5-old apple device somewhat defeats the purpose. It could still be much better than competition (OS, App ecosystem are undoubtedly way better), but to know that, I'd need to look at the competition first.
 
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I suspect that these new iPads will use much of the same components as the (rumoured) forthcoming iPhone SE2 for efficiency and economy of scale.

So if that’s the case, I think that Apple’s 2018 entry level iPads and Phone will be be sporting the A10 and other 2016 era iPhone 7 components. I guess we can expect to see 32 & 128GB storage options too.

That should still be screamingly fast for an iPad (and iPhone) meant for casual use, even without the ‘X’ version of the chip.

And I suspect we’ll see the haptic home button from the iPhone 7 slightly redesigned to work both in the SE2 and this new iPad. No 3D Touch on either of course.

Economy of scale is a beautiful concept...
 
Hoping for USB C
Said no one outside of a tech forum, ever. The rest of the actual iPad market is hoping for the connector not to change, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with Lightning for 100% of them.
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lol.

You have got to be kidding. Apple won't be abandoning Lightning anytime soon.
They would, if there was absolutely any significant reason to do so.

But, there isn't.
[doublepost=1519237234][/doublepost]I know we all wish Face ID would to come to everything yesterday, but it's just not the Apple way.

Face ID carries a value proposition as a premium feature of iPhone X right now.

When it debuts on an iPad, it will be on an iPad Pro first. Long before it comes to a budget iPad.
 
I hope they update the mini also, but it’s looking unlikely.

Yeah, I've been personally waiting for an updated iPad mini. I have an old iPad 4, which is miserably slow and obsoleted from iOS updates, so i haven't used it for a while, and I wouldn't mind a smaller unit.

Even a refurbished iPad mini 4 on the Canadian store costs over $400 which in insane, i ain't paying that for 4 year old hardware.
 
An affordable iPad with Pencil support is on my wish list. I have an iPhone SE (I prefer smaller form factor phones) and a 2017 MacBook Pro, so spending nearly a grand (Canadian) on an iPad to replace my aging 4th-gen is just not in the cards.

If I can get a 64 GB iPad with Pencil support for under $500, I'm there.
 
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An A10X in the 9.7" iPad would be a dramatic improvement. But what else could they bring? Personally, I think a smaller footprint (slimmer bezels like the 10.5" Pro) would go a long way here toward making for a meaningful update, and assuaging some of the longing for a refreshed iPad mini.

They need to do something with the mini though. Whether that be update it, discount it, or discontinue it completely. It doesn't make sense as part of the lineup anymore, and one more round of updates would make it so irrelevant and inappropriately priced.
 
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