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Retina iPad Mini 2 Reportedly Coming Alongside iPad Air 2, New Smart Cover and Case Colors

Sirious said:
My guess is that Apple will announce the following on Thursday:
(Not including Mac updates)

2 Models of the Air:

  • iPad Air Second Generation with Touch ID and speed bumps - including the A8X chip
  • iPad Air Second Generation with Touch ID and speed bumps - with A8X chip AND a Retina HD Display

1 Model of the Mini
  • iPad Mini with Retina display second generation with Touch ID and other improvements such as speed and the A8 (not A8X) Chip. No Retina HD display for the Mini.


Stay calm. This is my guess.
Click to expand...

And your prediction is wrong. Apple will harmonize the Retina HD on all models since the new screen still has the same resolution of 326 dpi, but different pixels (dual domains) with glass lamination to screen.
iPad Air and Mini will have same screen off course diff sizes, same internal specs and $100 price difference.
Apple may evaluate the Mini one more year before ditching it in near future...1-2 years from now...probably.
 
I'm in if it has a laminated display with 100% sRGB. If not, they may as well just kill the Mini. It's crappy display gives Apple a bad reputation.
 
1GB and no split screen on the iPad Mini Retina 2 just like the iPhone 6 doesnt have the additional infos compared to the Plus
 
macduke said:
Like I just mentioned in the last story, I think the iPad Mini will only see a minor update. I think the iPad Air may be getting an X chip because they are going to @3X (maybe slightly scaled like the 6 Plus). In the past the X chip was usually denoted as such because it had a more advanced graphics chip—usually with more cores to handle the large retina display compared to the smaller iPhone displays. That's the only reason you would need an X chip that I can think of, unless they change the X to mean faster all around and put it in the iPad Pro. They might keep it at 1GB to limit split screen multitasking to the larger, flagship iPad Air.
Click to expand...

3X resolution? Yeah, keep dreaming on the mid-term upgrade. iPad Air was redesigned last year and Air 2 is just minor refresh. Why would Apple need increase resolution while the Retina HD will be good enough with the same resolution? Also, it'd be stupid for apps rescaling just due to the mid-term upgrade (1-2, Retina 3-4, New design Air - Air 2)
I would bet the resolution will stay the same at least until there's new redesign which dues next year.
 
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Apple is making a big mistake of the mini isn't spec for spec the same as the iPad air

I really liked that the mini and air were the same spec wise
 
satchmo said:
Wow, Eddy Cue wasn't joking when he said,
'Later this year, we’ve got the best product pipeline that I’ve seen at Apple in my 25 years at Apple."
(sarcasm).

Sure, yearly speed bumps are fine, but when you make a statement like this, and I expect more. I would love to be wrong.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're complaining about. If the reports are true, so far we'll have seen:
  • Larger iPhone
  • iPhone 6 Plus with higher PPI display
  • Watch
  • Touch ID, Multitasking and 2GB RAM on the iPad Air
  • Touch ID on the iPad mini
  • Apple Pay
  • Hi-res iMac

Some of these are catch-up (e.g. larger iPhone), but they are pretty solid improvements, along with a brand new category.
 
The google translate from the original report looks like total speculation. I call BS.
 
Aluminum213 said:
Apple is making a big mistake of the mini isn't spec for spec the same as the iPad air

I really liked that the mini and air were the same spec wise
Click to expand...

Maybe they'll drop the non-Retina mini and lower the price of the Retina mini (or keep the A7 edition around to fill the lower price point).
 
Why the hell is the third generation iPad mini reffered to as "the retina iPad mini 2" ???
 
Trahearne said:
I can't understand why people give a like on the "limiting split screen multitasking to Air" idea, when the campagin Apple made for iPad mini was "full iPad experience in a smaller form factor". I certainly hope iPad mini has it too, if any.

:|
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That's ridiculous ... Mentioning their quote about older software/hardware and projecting it towards any new product they might release in the future and complaining "but you said 3 years ago it was the same thing!!!"
 
fallenjt said:
And your prediction is wrong. Apple will harmonize the Retina HD on all models since the new screen still has the same resolution of 326 dpi, but different pixels (dual domains) with glass lamination to screen.
iPad Air and Mini will have same screen off course diff sizes, same internal specs and $100 price difference.
Apple may evaluate the Mini one more year before ditching it in near future...1-2 years from now...probably.
Click to expand...

Agreed, Apple will not fragment the Air into two different display resolutions. What a mess that would be!

It looks like they may indeed end up with different resolutions on the Retina Air and Retina Mini. There's the iOS 8 reference to 3x display iPad scaling, which is believable for the Air:

Original (1X): 768x1024, 132 ppi.
Retina (2X): 1536x2048, 264ppi
Air 2 Retina HD (3X): 2304x3072, 396 ppi

I wouldn't be surprised if we see another implementation of resolution downscaling so Apple doesn't have to spring for ~400ppi at 9.7".

But the Retina Mini?

Retina (2X): 1536x2048, 326 ppi
Retina HD (3X): 2304x3072, 486 ppi?

No way does Apple use 486 ppi, that is well into the density range with terrible efficiency and little visible advantage. I'd guess the Mini remains at the current resolution but get's a laminated LTPS display with the groovy pixels. So maybe we get an iPad split similar to the iPhone split: small one at 1536x2048, 326 ppi, large at 2304x3072, ~400 ppi, both using the same LTPS and skewed pixel tech for gorgeous image.

BTW, no need to calculate PPI by hand via pythagorean formula, just use this calculator.



Edit: On further thought, the 3X resolution makes the most sense for the mythical 12.9" iPad Pro:

iPad Pro 12.9" (3X): 2304x3072, 298 ppi

As much as I'd like to see the Air 2 get a resolution bump, it's hard to see Apple going to ~400ppi on a 9.7" display. Maybe they'll surprise us and use 2304x3072 on both the Air2 and the Pro.

Or Apple could decide to seize the day and release a 4K iPad Pro:

iPad Pro 12.9" (4X): 3072x4096, 397 ppi. (f ck yeah)
 
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bpeeps said:
I miss the days when their releases were more spread out. iPad in March, iPhone in summer/fall. New Macs popping up throughout the year. Now it seems like everything is squished into the holiday period.
Click to expand...
Yup, these companies act like nobody buys anything except for Christmas. Video games are the same way.
 
bushido said:
1GB and no split screen on the iPad Mini Retina 2 just like the iPhone 6 doesnt have the additional infos compared to the Plus
Click to expand...
Slightly different case if you consider the fact that 6 Plus has a larger screen coordinate space than 6. Well, unless Apple changes the full-size iPad from 1024*768 points.
 
fallenjt said:
3X resolution? Yeah, keep dreaming on the mid-term upgrade. iPad Air was redesigned last year and Air 2 is just minor refresh. Why would Apple need increase resolution while the Retina HD will be good enough with the same resolution? Also, it'd be stupid for apps rescaling just due to the mid-term upgrade (1-2, Retina 3-4, New design Air - Air 2)
I would bet the resolution will stay the same at least until there's new redesign which dues next year.
Click to expand...

Lol at the Air 2 being a minor refresh if these rumors are true.
 
satchmo said:
When you make a statement like this, and I expect more.
Click to expand...
What Eddy meant was the useless  Watch and the iPhablet 6 doubleplusgood. You and I are underwhelmed by these products and instant ignore them, but for Apple they are the best pipeline in 25 years.

I just hope they do not forget to fix Gamutgate.
Otherwise I will join in and cry: "No love for the Mini." :eek:
 
deviant said:
That's ridiculous ... Mentioning their quote about older software/hardware and projecting it towards any new product they might release in the future and complaining "but you said 3 years ago it was the same thing!!!"
Click to expand...
Frankly speaking, can't I expect they have the intention to maintain this "full iPad experience" in iPad mini?
 
mdelvecchio said:
yeah, what's up w/ trying to make money during the peak of holiday buying season? jeeze!
Click to expand...

People will buy iPhones regardless of when they are sold. Releasing OSX and iOS in the fall does not provide Apple with additional holiday revenue. I'll give you iPads, however.

When it comes to Macs, most people (the regular ones that don't visit an Apple forum) will buy it whenever they need it, which is why their release pattern is so sporadic and influenced by Intel. Smart parents will buy Macs for their students during the back to school season. Holiday Macs sales are a minor bump.

Your claim has no substantial evidence, minus a holiday iPad or two.
 
The main reason I upgraded from original iPad mini to iPad mini with Retina (despite the $330 -> $400 price bump) was because they made it as powerful and featureful as the iPad Air (just smaller screen).

At $400, I don't see them going back on that, and if the new iPad mini isn't equivalent to iPad Air, I'll be very frustrated.
 
Really wishing they would update the Apple TV soon.. I got an iPhone 6 and ditched Android. Just need Apple TV so I can replace my Chromecasts and I'll be all set.
 
shurcooL said:
The main reason I upgraded from original iPad mini to iPad mini with Retina (despite the $330 -> $400 price bump) was because they made it as powerful and featureful as the iPad Air (just smaller screen).

At $400, I don't see them going back on that, and if the new iPad mini isn't equivalent to iPad Air, I'll be very frustrated.
Click to expand...

They will put Touch ID and the A8 in it. No reason for the a8x because the mini will not be able to have a near 500ppi display so they will likely just leave it at normal retina status.
 
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