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Without a laminated screen, I'll be keeping both my iPad mini 4s. They are only used for a single app (ForeFlight), and are getting to be a bit slow, but there is no other iPad that fits on the yoke of the airplane I fly.
 
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Good. I have a 6th. It's perfect in form. I don't want missing headphone jack. I don't want FaceID. I don't want less bezel. I don't want bend.


I want more speed, more RAM, more RAM, more PPI, more storage and more RAM. And an accessible file system. And more RAM.


I have mixed feelings about USB3. I guess I don't want that either as I have a zillion lightning cables.
 
I don’t see a problem here. The “classic” design is friend and true, really durable, unlike the bendy new design. Why does it have to change? For the sake of change? Excuse Apple for perfecting the design already, at least pre-FaceID.
 
Seems like a non-upgrade to me. I have the 9.7 and would like to upgrade to something faster and with more memory and with face unlock. But not at three times the price.
 
I mean I feel like it's just a watered down piece of information that got misinformed. The original rumor stated "close to 10 inches" 9.7 is incredibly close to ten inches, somebody heard something that got slightly misconstrued and they rushed to post it to get coverage.
 
I doubt it will get the a12, most likely the A11

A12 seems likely actually. Considering the vast differences in power between the A12 and A12X Apple could easily put it into a lower cost product and still have a good difference between the low cost and premium models.
 
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A12 seems likely actually. Considering the vast differences in power between the A12 and A12X Apple could easily put it into a low cost product and still have a good difference between the low cost and premium models.
The last two budget iPads have used 2 year old chips. 2017 iPad with A9, 2018 with A10

Both the A9 and A10 had their pro X variants but Apple still chose to use the previous years. So I doubt they will jump ahead one for this year, Apple is does their updates in slow increments lol.
 
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On the one hand, it’s great that Apple is offering a low cost iPad. But on the other, it kinda sucks that regular ipads used to keep improving features with each update...but now thats only for the pros it seems.

Was secretly hoping that the new ipad mini would get apple pencil 2 support. I have a larger ipad pro with apple pencil 2 support, and would have loved to add the mini and not have to buy a seperate older pencil #1 with the awkward charging method. Hope it gets usb-c at least.

I will still get a new ipad mini regardless to replace my old ipad mini 2. Having a larger ipad & a smaller one works for me. But i just wished it was more of a redesign. Oh well.
 
The last two budget iPads have used 2 year old chips. 2017 iPad with A9, 2018 with A10

Both the A9 and A10 had their pro X variants but Apple still chose to use the previous years. So I doubt they will jump ahead one for this year, Apple is does their updates in slow increments lol.
And for what the regular iPads are being used for, even the A10 still has plenty of power imo.
The only concerning part is RAM, as I have a feeling apps designed for iPads might require more and more RAM since 4GB is becoming the standard on the Pro lineup.
 
This is so that those low-cost iPad doesn't piss off people who paid $2200 for an iPad Pro. Apple needs to differentiate low-end and premium offerings. If they make 10.2' iPad $329, then what's the point of paying $899 for the 10.5' iPad Pro?
The differentiator is use case - if someone wants to drop almost £1000 on an iPad Pro, it’s most likely because they’ll use it for work. If you won’t use one to enable you to make a living and you just want to watch nextflox, then the low cost option is the one for you.
 
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So the cheaper iPad has a headphone jack (which the pro doesn’t) and touch ID which I found to be more flexible than Face ID.

Crazy that the pro doesn’t have as many features as the iPad

low cost ipad for people on a budget. geared towards people that don't have the $$$ to spend on wireless headphones.

pro has pro-motion, bigger screen, better cameras, keyboard support, wide color gamut, less bezels, etc...
face id is better than bezel touch ID (i prefer an on-screen fingerprint scanner though)
 
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They need to simplify by having an entry level line with TouchID and Bezel, and then a Pro line with FaceID and full screens.

iPad Mini 7.9”
iPad 9.7”
iPad Pro Mini 8.5”
iPad Pro 11”
iPad Pro Max 12.9”

Come to think of it... that would really translate well into the iPhone line too. An entry level line of iPhones, and then a Pro line of iPhones

iPhone mini 4”
iPhone 4.7”
iPhone Max 5.5”
iPhone Pro Mini 5”
iPhone Pro 5.8”
iPhone Pro Max 6.5”
No chance. Adding 4 or 5 new models doesn’t simplify things as much as you think.

But I would like an iPad mini Pro, though I don’t think they could sell enough at $599+ to make a go of it.
 
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What exactly is the downside to sticking an A12 in the current low cost iPad? If I weren’t in the market for the new mini I’d see none at all...

The downside of these low end ipads is the screen (done on purpose by apple).

I have the 2017 model and the last two after are basically the same with just upgraded processors.

Good ipad if you can handle the plastic-y screen that has a bad glare and reflects a lot. Other than that, great for the price!
 
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I do hope the finger print sensor button on the new ipad mini isn’t a physical one tho. I hope it’s just a sensor. Physical clicky buttons were always the first thing to go on my previous ipads.
 
I don’t see a problem here. The “classic” design is friend and true, really durable, unlike the bendy new design. Why does it have to change? For the sake of change? Excuse Apple for perfecting the design already, at least pre-FaceID.
changes to save costs on materials, higher pricing, higher profit margins..

change = $
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Apple’s most solid offering for the price. If it had a laminated screen it would be perfect.
Never happen, this ipad is created for maximum profit and maximum material cost savings. A laminated screen would cut into their 200+ percent profit margin on the ipad.

Yes, if it had it, it would be perfect..but not at the current price.
 
So, the iPad 6S alongside the iPad mini 4S.

Seriously, what’s even the point?
I suppose the $329 iPad will get the A11, but honestly the A10 could probably ride for another year. I’d rather have a laminated screen with A10 than non-laminated with an A11 but the former would probably add too much cost. It will be interesting to see if there are any new features besides a CPU bump. Maybe 3GB of RAM but that’s probably not all that likely.

The mini 4 has an A8 and so needs upgrading ASAP. Pencil 1 support seems likely but I hope they keep the incredible (laminated and low-reflectance) screen. If we get Pencil but the non-laminated screen of the larger iPad, I’ll be disappointed; I’d consider that a net loss. If the larger iPad gets A11, so will the mini most likely, though if they’re planning a 3 to 4 year cycle, who knows they might just throw an A12 in there. But I think more likely just an A11 right now, with a bump to A12 or A13 in a couple years.
 
So, the iPad 6S alongside the iPad mini 4S.

Seriously, what’s even the point?

Tons and tons of mini users have been begging for a mini 4S, and the iPad “6s” a cheap yet powerful iPad to keep down the pitiful tablet competition. That’s the point.

I cannot even count how many times I’ve read “I wish Apple would just slap an A10/A11/A12 (god Apple just update the thing already) in the mini form factor it would be insta buy”

These things aren’t supposed to be exciting, that’s the pros. How exciting they’re managing to be at their price points though is pretty amazing in Apple world.
 
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My main question is the CPU. Will the cheap iPad get the latest CPU or not.

Having an iPad Pro 10.5, I did not like the fact that it was announced with “old” cpu (A10x), just few month before the iPhone X with the new cpu (A11), for the pro line I much prefer the November release, with latest cpu. So will the 7th gen iPad get A11 or A12?
 
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Never happen, this ipad is created for maximum profit and maximum material cost savings. A laminated screen would cut into their 200+ percent profit margin on the ipad.
200+ percent profit margin? Yeah, no. Apple’s average gross margin is 34% across all hardware. It’s no doubt compressed as you move down in price; mid-20s wouldn’t surprise me at all for the $329 iPad. Higher priced items like Macs are very likely above the 34% overall average.
 
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