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New iPad "mini"

davidgnomo

davidgnomo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 16, 2012
597
17
Imola (BO) - Italy
Maybe I've lost some information ... there's a good amout of leaks reporting a new iPad mini due for next fall : anyone knows if it's gonna have a retina display too ?
:confused:
It is supposed to be less expensive than the iPad, I'm wondering if they gonna use a normal screen and not a retina one to make it cheaper ...
 
Most seem to think that it won't use a retina display in order to keep costs down. However, no one even knows for sure if Apple is going to release a smaller iPad much less what the specs of it will be.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Most seem to think that it won't use a retina display in order to keep costs down. However, no one even knows for sure if Apple is going to release a smaller iPad much less what the specs of it will be.
Click to expand...

The leaks are quite strong so I think that a smaller iPad will be launched, but I also think it'll have to be more or less like a normal one (maybe with a bit less disk space) and definitely has to have a retina display if Apple wants to sell it !
 
davidgnomo said:
The leaks are quite strong so I think that a smaller iPad will be launched, but I also think it'll have to be more or less like a normal one (maybe with a bit less disk space) and definitely has to have a retina display if Apple wants to sell it !
Click to expand...

I don't think it needs a retina display to sell. I think Apple needs to price it no more than $300. I think if they go with a display that is 1280X800 (216 ppi) like the Nexus 7 it will be a good choice.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
I don't think it needs a retina display to sell. I think Apple needs to price it no more than $300. I think if they go with a display that is 1280X800 (216 ppi) like the Nexus 7 it will be a good choice.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but a retina display would help Apple state they're different from all the others ... I dunno if they're gonna use it or not, but in case they do, let's prepare not to see normal screens from Apple anymore (at least for iOS devices)
 
davidgnomo said:
Agreed, but a retina display would help Apple state they're different from all the others ... I dunno if they're gonna use it or not, but in case they do, let's prepare not to see normal screens from Apple anymore (at least for iOS devices)
Click to expand...

They can always save retina for version II in 2013.
 
nuckinfutz said:
They can always save retina for version II in 2013.
Click to expand...

Yeps, but there is no reason why they should postpone the retina display on the mini if they have the technology to put it on now ... would Apple put in stake her credibility towards customers ?

Plus if you save retina for 2013, when you come out with the new Mini with retina people who bought the 1st version would be very upset (knowing they could easily have had it before) especially if the price remains the same or almost the same of the previous version (as Apple often does, i.e. iPhone, iPod, ect.)
 
davidgnomo said:
Agreed, but a retina display would help Apple state they're different from all the others ... I dunno if they're gonna use it or not, but in case they do, let's prepare not to see normal screens from Apple anymore (at least for iOS devices)
Click to expand...

Read this article. it would be much better for Apple to go non-retina and make a cheaper iPad, that way can complete much more aggressively on price with other tablets.
Then make next version retina.
 
PracticalMac said:
Read this article. it would be much better for Apple to go non-retina and make a cheaper iPad, that way can complete much more aggressively on price with other tablets.
Then make next version retina.
Click to expand...

Don't think it's really an "aggressive price" problem, but I agree that screen scaling could represent some kind of problem ... nothing impossible to solve though, especially if you are called Apple !
 
davidgnomo said:
Yeps, but there is no reason why they should postpone the retina display on the mini if they have the technology to put it on now ... would Apple put in stake her credibility towards customers ?

Plus if you save retina for 2013, when you come out with the new Mini with retina people who bought the 1st version would be very upset (knowing they could easily have had it before) especially if the price remains the same or almost the same of the previous version (as Apple often does, i.e. iPhone, iPod, ect.)
Click to expand...

There are a couple of reasons why this isn't likely going to be a retina mini at first.

1. Apple would need a pretty stout GPU which pushes 4x the pixels
2. Screen availability isn't going to be the same as a non retina

I've got an iPad 2 which isn't retina. I'm not upset that the new iPad has Retina. I know that i'll get Retina on my next iPad upgrade.

Companies have to make the correct decisions for what they can ship in the near future without regard for the small group of people that will be upset when their product is enhanced in a future version.
 
nuckinfutz said:
There are a couple of reasons why this isn't likely going to be a retina mini at first.

1. Apple would need a pretty stout GPU which pushes 4x the pixels
2. Screen availability isn't going to be the same as a non retina

I've got an iPad 2 which isn't retina. I'm not upset that the new iPad has Retina. I know that i'll get Retina on my next iPad upgrade.

Companies have to make the correct decisions for what they can ship in the near future without regard for the small group of people that will be upset when their product is enhanced in a future version.
Click to expand...

I admit you're probably right : one can always dream though ...
 
nuckinfutz said:
There are a couple of reasons why this isn't likely going to be a retina mini at first.

1. Apple would need a pretty stout GPU which pushes 4x the pixels
2. Screen availability isn't going to be the same as a non retina

I've got an iPad 2 which isn't retina. I'm not upset that the new iPad has Retina. I know that i'll get Retina on my next iPad upgrade.

Companies have to make the correct decisions for what they can ship in the near future without regard for the small group of people that will be upset when their product is enhanced in a future version.
Click to expand...

Probably the best argument against a retina release is that they already have a die-shrunk chip in the iPad 2, which would work in a non-retina mini just fine.

A retina mini would seem to require the iPad 3 to be die-shrunk - which I suppose could be done, but I don't know how close that might be.

Plus how close an IGZO retina display going into production isn't demonstrated yet, AFAIK.

First generation owners always seem to scream at the second generation release ... :p


Edit: All just a way of saying - non-retina easy right now, retina could probably be done with a bit of a question mark.
 
Last edited:
nuckinfutz said:
There are a couple of reasons why this isn't likely going to be a retina mini at first.

1. Apple would need a pretty stout GPU which pushes 4x the pixels
2. Screen availability isn't going to be the same as a non retina
Click to expand...

3. Power. Retina will use a lot of power, hard to put that much battery in a tiny case.
 
PracticalMac said:
3. Power. Retina will use a lot of power, hard to put that much battery in a tiny case.
Click to expand...

Somewhat - In these devices the battery's area is proportional to the screen size that it's powering. You can always make it thicker if needed, as the iPad3 proved.
 
As of now, I'm 85% confident that Apple will indeed release a smaller iPad this fall. As for retina display, I am pretty sure Apple will omit it in the first gen., if anything, to keep the costs low.
 
Yes, there won't prolly be a retina display in a hypotetic new iPad mini, but NO, I don't think it's gonna like this be for a "cheaper device" reason ...
 
davidgnomo said:
The leaks are quite strong so I think that a smaller iPad will be launched, but I also think it'll have to be more or less like a normal one (maybe with a bit less disk space) and definitely has to have a retina display if Apple wants to sell it !
Click to expand...

I agree that it now appears apparent that Apple will be delivering a smaller iPad.

I disagree with the assertion that it _has_ to have retina.

The world does not revolve around retina displays no matter how nice they may be. In order to maintain the huge gross profit margins that Apple typically does, there's no room for retina.

If at some point in the future Apple changes it's mind, increases the price as they did with the MBPr, then retina will be a good possibility.

Recent speculation suggests the most likely price point for the 7" iPad will be $299. That's a full $100 premium over the Nexus 7. Those that buy this size of tablet, are more price sensitive than those that buy the larger size.
 
ixodes said:
Recent speculation suggests the most likely price point for the 7" iPad will be $299. That's a full $100 premium over the Nexus 7. Those that buy this size of tablet, are more price sensitive than those that buy the larger size.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that it'll only be a $50 premium over the 16GB Nexus 7. I don't see Apple delivering only 8GB for the entry level iPad mini
 
nuckinfutz said:
I'm guessing that it'll only be a $50 premium over the 16GB Nexus 7. I don't see Apple delivering only 8GB for the entry level iPad mini
Click to expand...

Plus I'd pay more to have retina, even the same price as Nexus ... maybe I'm the only one who thinks like that, maybe not ...

I mean ... if for the same price of a Nexus tablet I could get something similar but with a retina display and the Apple trademark, I imagine people would love it !
 
davidgnomo said:
Yes, there won't prolly be a retina display in a hypotetic new iPad mini, but NO, I don't think it's gonna like this be for a "cheaper device" reason ...
Click to expand...
I was talking about manufacturing costs, not selling price. Apple always seeks to maximize profits, and the iPad retina display costs 40% more than regular iPad display.

nuckinfutz said:
I'm guessing that it'll only be a $50 premium over the 16GB Nexus 7. I don't see Apple delivering only 8GB for the entry level iPad mini
Click to expand...
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple make an 8GB base model and prices it at $200.

davidgnomo said:
Plus I'd pay more to have retina, even the same price as Nexus ... maybe I'm the only one who thinks like that, maybe not ...

I mean ... if for the same price of a Nexus tablet I could get something similar but with a retina display and the Apple trademark, I imagine people would love it !
Click to expand...

An ~8" tablet with 2K display for a mere $200 is a pretty tall order, don't you think?
 
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