Why would the iPad 5 not get the A7X? Pretty sure that's what it'll come with. They've always released the iPad with the X version of the iPhone's current chip (I think the X just means clocked higher anyway). And the mini would have the A6 or A7 for battery life, since it's battery is much smaller than the iPad 4's. The only reason it has good battery life right now is because it doesn't have retina. Also the A6 is not fast enough to handle a retina iPad, so it's more likely to be the A7 imo.
It'll be interesting for sure. However...and I see it was just addressed...the 'X' factor has significantly more to do with the increase in graphics power. It was introduced initially in the 'new' iPad 3. It allowed double the horsepower of the current A5 GPU as well, substantially increased the size of the SoC. The new 64bit architecture of the A7----as well as its graphics power is a big question mark. It could be 'clocked down' on the CPU and GPU for the iPhone. Apple would only have to increase that clock speed with the new iPad allowing for the exact same size or SoC allowing for the thinner form factor anticipated...and the new ISP for the same uses in the iPhone.
As far as your idea about the 'mini' iPad..."Also the A6 is not fast enough to handle a retina iPad, so it's more likely to be the A7 imo"...the A6x though could power the mini and still allow that separation between flagship iPad and the mini.
The WSJ reported that Mini 2 will have a retina display. I'm not sure what more definitive word people are looking for.
Anyone who has been in the game long enough knows that WSJ is directly fed info by Apple. The news was broke this year the day that Nexus 7 was launched. A total coincidence, right?
Exactly. This is an important hint and shouldn't be regarded as a simple analyst prediction. WSJ doesn't need page hits. They've got an excellent repoire with Apple. With the release of other high Rez mini tablets, Apple won't lay out another low Rez mini. Even if it takes a bit more time.
No way this is going to happen. We have been reminded by the iPhone 5C that Apple is all about maintaining profit margin. A plastic case on the mini might save them, say $25? It's certainly not $100 - that's slashing almost a third off the price.
If the iPad mini 2 has Retina and Touch ID (and A6X), I think it will start at $399 for 16GB, and the iPad 5 will stay at $499 with 16GB and Touch ID.
Perhaps the current non-retina iPad mini will become the iPad Color and stay at $329 or drop to $299 with a polycarbonate shell...
While I agree with your assumptions that the mini will get the touch id and the A6x, Apple hasn't ever increased their pricing on iOS devices in their short history. Keep in mind, the A6 is now a year old and stock shouldn't be a problem. Even if they take a few % points in BOM vs profit, I think Apple will make the move...the mini is one of their least profitable products as it is but to maintain its lead on the competition, Apple can't afford to increase the price OR release a LowRez screen.
Tl;dr...no increase in price even though iPad mini gets the 'retina' treatment.
You got my vote, great post. And yes, the only way anyone's gonna get their grubby little fingers on a Touch ID this year is by purchasing iPhone 5s, maybe next year...
Completely disagree. The main iPad WILL receive touch ID. It's hard to say with the mini, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was next year. Like the 5c, the mini may not get the fingerprint system
Make the the iPad mini 8 inches and apple won't have to worry about the nexus 7 creaming it since they won't be in the same category.
Apple is staying too behind anyway, that can't compete because they were a 3 months late to the mini tablet game.
Just my thoughts take it how you want.
Good thing they're just your thoughts. The iPad mini/iPad sold almost 20 million units in the final quarter of 2012 alone. (Over ten times the total sales of the original N7) --- The Nexus 7 will not and is not going to cream the mini. There are a string of issues with the current hirez Nex7 as it is. Right now. Visit android central for the challenges. And battery life....& continued lack of app support for tablets in the Android arena. Sad really as its a steal at its price. That said (I've got one of both, the original Nex7 and the new version), its not a smart move for Apple to change their screen size on the mini...@ 7.9" already it's pretty close to your request of an 8" tablet and it's the perfect device to read in either portrait or landscape. The Nexus essentially needs to be used in landscape. Portrait on the Nex7 is pitiful.
I disagree.
The touch sensor doesn't become a "killer feature" until there are many more practical uses for it (password management, multi user functionality, parental controls, payments, third party bank apps, etc.). I doubt Apple can justify a large software development effort to improve the usefulness of hardware that is only found In one device. Also, Apple won't get the type or amount of developer support necessary to make it a killer feature if it is specific to the 5S.
Supply issues aren't the big deal that some are making it. Yes, Apple may not be able to produce as many sensors right now as they would like. However, the supply issues could be caused by implementation on both the iPad and iPhone. That said, the iPad is a relatively low volume product compared to the iPhone. Apple would only require 5-10% of the total sensor supply to add the feature to both the iPad Retina and iPad Mini Retina.
While I agree completely with your sentiment that the future iPads (@ least the big guy) will get the finger ID...I think your margins are a bit off. While they definitely sell more iPhones than iPads, its not 5-10%. Closer to 50% (again, fourth quarter sales of iPhone, approximately 38mil---iPad sales same quarter, right at or just above 19mil.). They don't break out which is which (mini vs large) so it's hard to figure how sure some folks are that the mini outsells the main iPad by such a significant factor. Understandably the mini in 2012 was definitely a 'new' product and in high demand, the iPad 4 an internal upgrade to the only 6 month old iPad 3 @ the time. So the yearly large iPad upgraders...some may have sat out the '4' update in order to wait the '5' out. While the 4 is definitely a big performance update to the 3--- by no means is the 3 showing its age or having issues with any of the currently available iOS software.
If you were talking about 5-10% of the iPad sales being the 'big' one...again, I think it's higher than that...and if Apple updates the iPad design to more match the mini's design....I think Apple could be in for a freaking MONSTER sales season this holiday quarter. iPad retina mini. Redesigned iPad major...the two new iPhones and an update across the board to Haswell in their computer lineup...the MBPs and the iMacs, it could be record setting.
J
