New iPad Mini Has Downclocked A15 Chip Compared to iPhone 13

[defferoo]

at that speed the performance is nearly identical to the iPad Air (doesn't seem like Apple updated the P-core this year, just gave it a clock speed bump). maybe they didn't want to overshadow the Air? still weird though, considering the iPhones have much smaller batteries and a 10% clock difference wouldn't make a huge difference especially with the display being so much bigger and therefore consuming more power. I'm also doubting the binning theory here, the mini is such a low volume device compared to the iPhone, not sure how much value there is in binning this processor.

EDIT: since the volume is so low, I guess that could be a good reason for binning. it's possible that the mini is getting the small volume of chips that have worse thermal characteristics, and therefore are set to a lower clock speed? you wouldn't be able to put those chips into an iPhone because of the smaller body, but the mini is big enough to deal with it.

 

[dantracht]

iPad Mini, A15 Mini?

Firmly hanging onto my Mini 5.

 

[cmaier]

The regular iPad. Only $329. $299 with educational discount.

iPad 11-inch (A16)

iPad has an all-screen Liquid Retina display, the A16 chip and four color options. And it supports the Magic Keyboard Folio.

www.apple.com

So I should buy the regular ipad and, what, shave off an inch here and there? Maybe to get it to fit in my pocket and reduce the weight by the necessary 40%? And how do i get my Apple Pencil 2 to work with that? And when did an A13 become an A15?

I mean you are comparing two completely different products. “This sports car should cost the same as this grapefruit!”

 

[jimbobb24]

This device is fabulous. I previously only used minis and thinking about getting one again. So it’s faster than every other tablet on the market except the iPad Pro and the flagship Apple phones. For $499. Sounds great

 

[cmaier]

at that speed the performance is nearly identical to the iPad Air (doesn't seem like Apple updated the P-core this year, just gave it a clock speed bump). maybe they didn't want to overshadow the Air? still weird though, considering the iPhones have much smaller batteries and a 10% clock difference wouldn't make a huge difference especially with the display being so much bigger and therefore consuming more power. I'm also doubting the binning theory here, the mini is such a low volume device compared to the iPhone, not sure how much value there is in binning this processor.

The low volume is exactly why binning makes sense. Remember that speed bins like a bell curve. iPhone gets the top 80% of the curve, and then you’re stuck with 20% that doesn’t make the cut.

 

[Serban55]

The heat reduction and/or longer battery life, I guess?

to get 8-10 hours of heavy usage on that mini tablet is impressive...i think , like the iphone mini, this ipad is the best portable tablet on the market
Apple is the only one on the market who let users to have access to compact devices like the ipad mini and iphone mini with high end specs. A lot of people (not the majority) still use and like these compact devices...i hope for them Apple will really bring that even lighter and more compact M2 Macbook Air next year

 

[citysnaps]

Not expensive. The cost is not properly justified. There’s a difference, buddy.

What is the proper cost? And the contours of justification?

 

[code-m]

Still managed to cost $499 😂

I have a feeling this iPad Mini will make Apple billions of 💵 $$$

I hope it does because that way Apple will give it more attention to update it frequently. 😁

 

[DFZD]

Apple should be focusing its resources on future chips instead of crippling the current ones for lower models.

 

[GMShadow]

Could be binning related

If it had 6GB of RAM like the iPhone 13 Pros, I'd agree, but this appears to have been an intentional choice, because it's a weird hybrid of 4GB but 5-core GPU, which isn't used anywhere else.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think they slightly underclocked it for heat dissipation reasons.

 

[dinggus]

So basically I should wait until the next version? I plan on using it for basic things like browsing and maybe doing work/college.

 

[alpi123]

The regular iPad. Only $329. $299 with educational discount.

Powerful. Easy to use. Versatile. The new iPad is designed for all the things you love to do. Work, play, create, learn, stay connected, and more. All at an incredible value.

iPad 11-inch (A16)

iPad has an all-screen Liquid Retina display, the A16 chip and four color options. And it supports the Magic Keyboard Folio.

www.apple.com

The new iPad mini has a newer chip, better cameras, 5G, supports 2nd gen Apple Pencil (hence being able to charge it wirelessly), has a fully laminated display, anti-reflective coating, P3 color gamut...

wouldn't say it's that comparable. The mini is more comparable to the new Air, not the new base iPad

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What is the proper cost? And the contours of justification?

Perhaps, $399 sounds reasonable, eh?

 

[JPack]

I think they slightly underclocked it for heat dissipation reasons.

It’s for cost and yield. iPhone 13 Pro certainly doesn’t have a bigger chassis.

 

[Phil77354]

I know y’all love to complain but the vast majority of people won’t know or care, or even need that extra performance. Those who care about this kinda thing already know what device is best suited for their needs.

I seriously doubt ANYONE will notice the difference, even less so when you consider the iPad Mini is half the cost of the iPhone 13 Pro...

I agree completely.

I think this is a great example of too much information, more than most of us know how to really interpret.

If I decide to purchase one of these new mini's, this will have absolutely no impact on my decision.

 

[code-m]

Does downclocking save apple money?

It’s down-clocked because the iPhone 13 Pro chip will go into the iPad Air 5 if not a slight over-clocking. Remember there is no A15X version only Ax and Mx.

 

[sracer]

The low volume is exactly why binning makes sense. Remember that speed bins like a bell curve. iPhone gets the top 80% of the curve, and then you’re stuck with 20% that doesn’t make the cut.

Exactly. It's a common practice... and makes sense for both the company and consumers. But it's difficult to resist engaging in hyperbole when describing the issue. To claim that a slightly slower clockspeed will hobble the Mini 6 is a bit silly. But not any sillier than most comparative claims... like "iPads without ProMotion are a laggy stuttering mess".

 

[citysnaps]

Perhaps, $399 sounds reasonable, eh?

Based on what?

 

[cmaier]

Exactly. It's a common practice... and makes sense for both the company and consumers. But it's difficult to resist engaging in hyperbole when describing the issue. To claim that a slightly slower clockspeed will hobble the Mini 6 is a bit silly. But not any sillier than most comparative claims... like "iPads without ProMotion are a laggy stuttering mess". View attachment 1833028

True. I still can’t see any difference with promotion. Must be a “young eyes” thing.

 

[anshuvorty]

I can think of 2 reasons why Apple did this:

• chip shortage: they are worried about yields on the A15 and they to use the "perfect" chips for their iPhones and anything less than perfect can go into the iPad Mini, which isn't their primary cash cow
• battery life: upon testing, they found out that the battery life suffers on the iPad Mini when a "normal" A15 is put into the iPad Mini

 

[code-m]

They must be worried about battery life with such a small mini battery.

Wrong, even the under-clocked A15 chip is fast for what the iPad mini 6 is designed for. People are not using it to create 4K movies though a limited option/capability exists. Even the A12 in the iPad mini 5 is still a beast for its purposes and no hamper on battery life.

It is to differentiate the iPad mini 6 and the upcoming iPad Air 5 plus bigger display to drive.

 

[fbr$]

I don't care about the price and the slower processor, I just wanted 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
4GB of RAM is not enough to make it future proof for the next 6 years.

 

[one more]

Apple should be focusing its resources on future chips instead of crippling the current ones for lower models.

True, even though I think people do not choose Mini for its performance, but rather for its size & convenience. FWIW, if under-clocking it slightly extends its overall longevity, the battery included, it may not be such a bad trade-off.

 

[code-m]

True. I still can’t see any difference with promotion. Must be a “young eyes” thing.

ProMotion depends on what the observer is viewing for most there will be little to no noticeable difference but it does have the ability to drop the refresh rate that may even out or provide a slight edge for battery life but it all depends on how often higher than 60 Hz is being engaged. I notice it for some content or action not all the time it’s a hyped up feature a nice to have but not a must.