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iPad mini Let's request an updated ipad mini

J

Jimbo Limbo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 13, 2015
141
137
Toronto
Hi,

I love my ipad mini, but would love to replace it with something faster, and better able to run iOS 11.

Let's all use the feedback form to request an update to the iPad mini.
https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

I want an a10 processor with preferable 4g of RAM. I would like storage options like the pro models 64, 256, and 512. I really would like to use the apple pencil with it. I want most of the pro features, and am willing to pay the price to make it happen.

Perhaps by contacting them directly, we can exert some influence.
 
In short, we want iPad mini pro.
And maybe an updated regular mini, at the least, matching the 2017 9.7" iPad .
 
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It seems somewhat unlikely that this is going to happen because of the direction of the iPhone. Rumor is that in 2018 all the iPhones will receive the iPhone X form factor, and there will be a "plus" model with a screen in the range of 6.5"-7.0". Assuming that is true, it seems somewhat unlikely they will release a new iPad with a screen only slightly larger.

Good news is that you may be able to have your iPad Mini and iPhone together in one device.
 
That's good news with a hook- to be able to use that kind of iPad Mini will typically come with the monthly cash demands of a cell phone bill. That's probably fine for those that believe that need both, but that's an undesirable burden for those that want a mini without the monthly cellular bill.
 
While it would be nice to see Apple release an updated Mini, I just don't see it happening. I just gave in an ordered the 10.5" Pro to replace my Mini 4. The only thing I could see is Apple possibly releasing a Mini with the same form factor but updated internals like they did with the iPhone SE.
 
A decision about the future of the mini was probably made years ago.

Apple killed off the 9.7" Pro. A mini Pro is never going to happen.
 
Eric5273 said:
It seems somewhat unlikely that this is going to happen because of the direction of the iPhone. Rumor is that in 2018 all the iPhones will receive the iPhone X form factor, and there will be a "plus" model with a screen in the range of 6.5"-7.0". Assuming that is true, it seems somewhat unlikely they will release a new iPad with a screen only slightly larger.

Good news is that you may be able to have your iPad Mini and iPhone together in one device.
Click to expand...

Such a device would not replace the Mini for me. I don’t recal any rumors stating anything larger than 6.4” (and these are rumors at this point) which is still too small for me and wouldn’t replace the Mini for me. A 7.0” iPhone with Apple Pencil support might be okay, but the screen would still feel cramped. I’ve had 7” tablets in the past and they’re VERY borderline. Apple hit on a magic number with 7.9”.

So, no good news there, at least for me.

Personally, I wouldn’t be interested in a new Mini that doesn’t have Apple Pencil support.
[doublepost=1513756928][/doublepost]
HobeSoundDarryl said:
That's good news with a hook- to be able to use that kind of iPad Mini will typically come with the monthly cash demands of a cell phone bill. That's probably fine for those that believe that need both, but that's an undesirable burden for those that want a mini without the monthly cellular bill.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily - you could buy an iPhone without a data plan and use it as a mini tablet (like the iPod Touch). However the iPhone hardware is that much more expensive than a tablet.
 
Thanks for the link. I just sent in this request:

I would love to request an update of the iPad Mini to 2017 standards.

The Mini is perfect for mobility: long commutes, airplanes, to toss it in a small backpack and go about own, read in bed, etc. Besides, it feels more comfortable to hold and to thumb-type on as it fits smaller hands perfectly.

Plus, it's the most economical!

Im sure there's sill a market out there for the Mini. Would you please consider an update?​
 
bensisko said:
Not necessarily - you could buy an iPhone without a data plan and use it as a mini tablet (like the iPod Touch). However the iPhone hardware is that much more expensive than a tablet.
Click to expand...

True about iPhone hardware being much more expensive. Nevertheless, I actually tried using a slightly used iPhone plus as an iPad “nano” for awhile, but the other major issue for me was that Continuity didn’t work well between two iPhones (not receiving forwarded calls and texts, etc). I think with Continuity, Apple intends for people to have one iPhone, unfortunately.

Other downsides of using an iPhone Plus as an iPad mini replacement I found:
- It’s quite a bit smaller. Though I would prefer the mini to be smaller so that I can palm it comfortably in one hand, the Plus is smaller than necessary for that since it also has to be an everyday phone.
- It’s missing multitasking. On a plus size screen I’d like to have split screen just for video, and iOS 10-style Slide Over.
- Many iPhone apps don’t support landscape orientation which is a problem if you like to stand or dock your mini in landscape.
 
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My hands are small and would really love a new iPad mini my mini 3 has finally age now since 2014 give me one with Face ID and less bezels
 
subjonas said:
True about iPhone hardware being much more expensive. Nevertheless, I actually tried using a slightly used iPhone plus as an iPad “nano” for awhile, but the other major issue for me was that Continuity didn’t work well between two iPhones (not receiving forwarded calls and texts, etc). I think with Continuity, Apple intends for people to have one iPhone, unfortunately.

Other downsides of using an iPhone Plus as an iPad mini replacement I found:
- It’s quite a bit smaller. Though I would prefer the mini to be smaller so that I can palm it comfortably in one hand, the Plus is smaller than necessary for that since it also has to be an everyday phone.
- It’s missing multitasking. On a plus size screen I’d like to have split screen just for video, and iOS 10-style Slide Over.
- Many iPhone apps don’t support landscape orientation which is a problem if you like to stand or dock your mini in landscape.
Click to expand...

You’re absolutely right about the phone not being a replacement for the Mini - for those reasons and more.

About Continuity - that’s interesting. I was carrying around an iPhone 6+ Just for music and it received text messages, but it did not get phone calls.
 
We all will know if a iPad Mini 5 or Pro release by June 2018. Might be as early as March 2018 too!
 
Eric5273 said:
It seems somewhat unlikely that this is going to happen because of the direction of the iPhone. Rumor is that in 2018 all the iPhones will receive the iPhone X form factor, and there will be a "plus" model with a screen in the range of 6.5"-7.0".
Click to expand...

So the only future upgrade path from a $360 mini 4 is a $900 phone with a $70 data plan each month?

That seems reasonable.
 
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bensisko said:
About Continuity - that’s interesting. I was carrying around an iPhone 6+ Just for music and it received text messages, but it did not get phone calls.
Click to expand...

Hm that is strange, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t getting forwarded texts—just iMessages. But oh well, no phone calls alone would have been dealbreaker enough for me.
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Eric5273 said:
No, the upgrade path is to spend $100-200 more on your next iPhone and you won't need a separate iPad Mini.
Click to expand...

bensisko said:
Assuming the iPhone is anywhere close to what a mini is to you (which, for the die-hards it isn't).
Click to expand...

And assuming everyone is ok having a huge phone. I’m very much not, personally. Just want a small iPad.
 
Last edited:
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I'm sure there are plenty of people who were also disappointed that they are not updating the iPod Touch. Sure, there is a market for those who want iPhone features with no contract. But like the iPad Mini, I don't think the market is big enough for Apple to pursue.

I was in the local Apple Store the other day and they had about a dozen iPads out on display for people to play with. Only one of them was an iPad Mini, and it was in the far corner. I would guess this reflects the interest and sales they have seen. I suppose you can argue that is because they haven't updated it. The trend for Apple over the past couple of years with both phones and tablets seems to be going bigger, so I doubt they are going to update the iPad Mini. At best, they may do what they did with the iPhone SE -- perhaps you will see updated internals in the same body/screen.

However, I'm not sure that when they released the iPhone SE, they were doing so because of the small size. I think they just wanted a less expensive option. With the iPad, they already have that with the basic 9.7" iPad.

I think you are going to see a large iPhone next year with a 6"+ screen that is also compatible with the Apple Pencil.
 
Jimbo Limbo said:
Hi,

I love my ipad mini, but would love to replace it with something faster, and better able to run iOS 11.

Let's all use the feedback form to request an update to the iPad mini.
https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

I want an a10 processor with preferable 4g of RAM. I would like storage options like the pro models 64, 256, and 512. I really would like to use the apple pencil with it. I want most of the pro features, and am willing to pay the price to make it happen.

Perhaps by contacting them directly, we can exert some influence.
Click to expand...

Its already being done as I posted in the 2019 IPad Thread. It’s my speculation that Apple is partnering with LG for OLED iPad Displays. Keep in mind LG made the OLED displays for the DELL Venue line of tablets at 8.4” 10.5” And 13” sizes all OLED, but it’s DELL 2013 Android Tablets That never got updates and flopped and no one noticed.

Take a look

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-2560x1600-RealSense-processor-Lollipop/dp/B00YY3WDSQ
http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/venue-10-7000-series/spd/dell-venue-10-7040-tablet

Highly likely Apple and LG are ramping up for a big OLED iPad Splash in March 2019 with the below product line.

8.4” IPad Mini Pro Display OLED Made by LG
10.5” IPad Pro Display OLED Made by LG
13” IPad Pro Display OLED Made by LG
 
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Eric5273 said:
However, I'm not sure that when they released the iPhone SE, they were doing so because of the small size. I think they just wanted a less expensive option. With the iPad, they already have that with the basic 9.7" iPad.
Click to expand...

I think it’s a two birds with one stone situation, to minimize SKUs. At the SE announcement they acknowledged the two reasons for the SE were size and price.
 
At the end of the day, I think anybody that thought a large iPhone is a sufficient replacement for the iPad Mini has already switched over - I don't think there are any more converts to win over. For anybody left over, they will either hang on to their Mini until the last possible minute or go with a larger iPad.

Eric5273 said:
I'm sure there are plenty of people who were also disappointed that they are not updating the iPod Touch. Sure, there is a market for those who want iPhone features with no contract. But like the iPad Mini, I don't think the market is big enough for Apple to pursue.
Click to expand...

I don't think "market size" is the reason. There's a large enough audience given...

Eric5273 said:
I suppose you can argue that is because they haven't updated it.
Click to expand...

I would very much argue this - especially since, even when it's updated it's not up to par with other models. Even the Mini 4 (which was an excellent update) was released along side the iPad Pro (12.9) - then the iPad Pro 9.7 was released a couple months later.

I get the longer upgrade cycles argument, but you can't say "Gee, iPad Minis aren't selling... I wonder why..." when you don't keep it competitive with the other models in your lineup.


Eric5273 said:
At best, they may do what they did with the iPhone SE -- perhaps you will see updated internals in the same body/screen.
Click to expand...

Which will further kill the Mini line. If all we get is a slightly updated Mini, all of the same complaints will come back and sales will continue to dip. If Apple wanted to get the Mini back on track, it HAS to add the Pencil. I think there are a lot of people who would give the Mini another look with the Pencil functionality.


Eric5273 said:
I think you are going to see a large iPhone next year with a 6"+ screen that is also compatible with the Apple Pencil.
Click to expand...

While I have learned to never say "Apple will never do ______ ", it's hard to imagine adding Pencil support to the iPhone without re-designing the Pencil. There's certainly an audience (given the Note), but personally I think the iPhone screen (even at 6") would be just too small to use with the Apple Pencil.

Using it from an Artist Standpoint:
  • 12.9" = Large Sketchbook or small canvas
  • 10.5/9.7 = Regular Sized sketchbook
  • 7.9 = Moleskin
  • 6" = Post-it note
 
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bensisko said:
While I have learned to never say "Apple will never do ______ ", it's hard to imagine adding Pencil support to the iPhone without re-designing the Pencil.
Click to expand...

Hang on.....wait... ok, I just imagined that, and it really wasn't so hard.
 
since the next year Apple will introduce an iPhone 6.5" model...with probably ipad UI...the ipad mini is dead
 
fokmik said:
since the next year Apple will introduce an iPhone 6.5" model...with probably ipad UI...the ipad mini is dead
Click to expand...

Compared to a 6.5" phone, the iPad mini would have more than 50% additional display area (48 % more if ratios were the same, but this 6.5" phone will have a wide form factor, which further reduces the area to diagonal size ratio).
 
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