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

[tattooedyuppie]

Why the hell is the third generation iPad mini reffered to as "the retina iPad mini 2" ???

Because first was iPad mini, second was retina iPad mini, and third will be the second iteration of retina iPad mini? Seems pretty simple.

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Is this a joke? The iPad Mini is the best thing they make. And yes I've had a full size iPad and I have an iPhone 6.

I won't buy another full size iPad and I don't think I'm the only one.

Agreed. My wife loves her iPad Air and I'm really into the mini. It's way easier to hold, type on, and travel with. It's the perfect tablet for me.

 

[Zwhaler]

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.

What do you mean by Retina HD? According to Apple's definition of Retina HD on the new iPhones both the current iPads are already Retina HD. Keep in mind Apple introducing even more resolutions creates problems with developers now making apps that support iPhone 4S and previous at 3:2, iPhone 5 and 5S, now 6 and 6 Plus, non-retina iPads and now Retina iPads.

Also cameras on the iPads? We'll see.

 

[ttss6]

Didn't Ming-Chi Kuo say the 6+ would come out in October or November? The guy obviously has no idea what he is taking about. Why even mention him?

I don't get why he is cited so much on sites when he has the relative probability of a coin flip. Heck, I can be considered an apple analyst given the low standards

 

[TouchMint.com]

Yea I wonder what they will hold back from the mini so you are encouraged to get both type deal. Only 1 gb or ram and slower processor I assume. I do think they will fix the color accuracy though.

 

[Lancer]

I found it hard to believe Apple would release only one iPhone 6 and leave the Plus model until later, so I find it really silly to think Apple would update the iPad Air and not the Mini at the same event.

 

[flur]

My guess is, more than 70% of all iPad sales are Minis. So if there is an iPad to be ditched, its the big iPad with Retina Display (non-Air). Who's buying that?

It's always good to guess with numbers. It makes you sound like you know what you're talking about. Or not.

 

[deviant]

Frankly speaking, can't I expect they have the intention to maintain this "full iPad experience" in iPad mini?

Nope. I wasn't expecting my 2007 iMac to work with yosemite. Well, it does. And does a good job at it. But it's a bonus, really. I stopped expecting anything from this machine 3 years ago.

 

[Tycho24]

Every year the iPad is a iPad S release.

Only the 4th gen.
Nice try.

 

[topmounter]

Come on iPad / iPad Mini Socks!!!

 

[CarlJ]

iPad mini parts are actually the same as iPad parts, just they put them through an extra drying cycle on high heat. That's why we don't see iPad mini parts leaks - since the parts are pulled out mid assembly, they haven't gone through the final heat treatment.

 

[iapplelove]

ugh at first I was gonna skip the next air cause well mine works great and Im loving my plus...

But that 2gb of ram and a better screen I know is gonna get my money.

 

[Medic311]

it's pretty clear that:

"2014 is the year of Tim Cook fist pumping the Apple Watch announcement"

 

[metsjetsfan]

if mini r2 is the same thickness as the non retina ipad mini i expect compromises when compared to the air 2 such as 1GB ram. if same as last years dimensions then i would hope specs r rougly the same

 

[DCJ001]

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.

I guess the ipad pro continues to be a myth.

The year has not yet reached its end.

 

[Gudi]

It's always good to guess with numbers. It makes you sound like you know what you're talking about. Or not.

I could go as far and call myself an analyst. Since Apple will never breakdown individual unit sales in public, no one outside Apple will ever know the numbers for sure. But based on my vague guess I rejected someones prediction and made my own prediction. So you can come back to me in 1-2 years time and hold me accountable for which size iPad I said would and wouldn't be ditched by then. As we wait... (for me to eat my own words). What again is your contribution to the discussion? Do you only want to be the guy who mistakes MacRumors for MacFacts or do you have any own thoughts regarding the relationship between iPad mini and iPad Air?

 

[iknows]

Bought my iPad mini 3 months ago, I always get a little sad when the new ones come out!

My rule of thumb in buying tech products, especially Apple since they like to release products once a year except that fluke with the iPad 3 and 4 due to the lightening connection. If it's over 6 months since they released a product don't buy it.

 

[Gudi]

Come on iPad / iPad Mini Socks!!!

You know you'll have to buy six socks at once for $29. Not sold individually.
And the special iPad Air socks will only be $39.

But the higher price is justified because you need more cotton.

 

[Cool Pup]

It'd be very upsetting if the Mini only gets a meager spec upgrade and Touch ID when it's basically become just as popular as the "regular" iPad Air itself. I see more Minis today than any regular-sized iPad and I think that's telling.

If the split-screen app feature is in fact only in the new Air model then that'll really agitate me because we've all been wanting that feature for years, and the fact they'll keep it on the too large iPad will be insulting. I really want that feature, but I'd hate to buy the huge iPad just to do it.

I want to upgrade iPads this year, but if they don't have more than Touch ID and a minor spec bump, I don't see how I could possibly justify it.

A very good upgrade for the Mini would be: A spec bump (including 2 GB RAM), Touch ID, split-screen apps, and being just a bit thinner and lighter (akin to the first Mini). That's what I hope for.

if mini r2 is the same thickness as the non retina ipad mini i expect compromises when compared to the air 2 such as 1GB ram. if same as last years dimensions then i would hope specs r rougly the same

While I'd hate to buy another Apple product with 1 GB RAM, I'd be a big fan of a similar weight and form factor as the first Mini because the weight difference between the original and Retina is not huge but it's certainly noticeable.

 

[BWhaler]

This is great news, or at least promising. The mini is my form factor of choice, and the computer I use the most at work.

My hopes for the upgrade, in order:

1. TouchID
2. 2gb Memory
3. HD Retina
4. Better cameras

Everything else would be gravy. Especially a serious and major update to iWork.

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... and if the new iPad mini isn't equivalent to iPad Air, I'll be very frustrated.

Agreed. Identical specs, smaller screen is the winning strategy for the mini. Look at the egg on their face when just the gamut was worse.

My heart broke when I read there is no retina air coming now. But I get that Intel screwed up.

But let's get the mini we deserve. Comparable specs. Same price. Smaller screen.

 

[fabulous-femme]

Cant wait ... but still hope for a new MacAir ... mine is overdue for a replacement ;-). (A new Macair should also have a touch ID ... no more password typing ... )

 

[iLLUMI]

Haptic feedback and pressure sensitive touches on the iPads would be excellent, imagine all the crazy new gestures that could be done, or touch inputs for typing or drawing, or tapping hard on the app will throw it into split screen with your previously opened app or something of that nature.

Though I probably won't be upgrading my iPad air for many years, I don't think touchid warrants an upgrade.

Haptic feedback will be major! Sadly that will be years away.
It will open up a whole new market in the visually challenged area where people rely on braille to read.
Imagine being able to feel textures rather than just smooth glass. Imagine having individual objects on the display vibrate when you touch them, such as in games, rather than have the entire device vibrate.
Man that technology is going to be so cool and as first mentioned it will be very practical too.

I don't think I could wait that long to upgrade. Heh heh.
2gb of RAM in Air 2 and I'm upgrading.

 

[Zinthar]

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.

Agreed. I would also be much more likely to buy a new iPad if they stuck it in the spring. It's much harder to justifying picking up a new iPad right after getting a new iPhone.

I'm guessing the problem had to do primarily with timing the SoC launches, when A6X wasn't ready for the iPad 3's spring 2012 release.

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My rule of thumb in buying tech products, especially Apple since they like to release products once a year except that fluke with the iPad 3 and 4 due to the lightening connection. If it's over 6 months since they released a product don't buy it.

I said that with the Mac Mini. I'm still waiting...

But yeah, for the reliably updated products (iPhone, iPad, & MacBooks) the 6-month rule is a good one.

 

[Yebubbleman]

New Smart Cases PLEASE!

As part of this introduction, Apple also may update its Smart Cover and Smart Case lineup with new colors and a tweaked design compatible with these new tablets.

Can we take a second away from hype over the third generation iPad mini and the sixth generation iPad/second generation iPad Air to focus on this?

Because the current smart cases for the iPad mini and iPad Air are truly terrible compared to the smart case for the iPad 2 and third/fourth generation(s of) iPad. You can barely stand them up without them falling over and they're much more annoying to fold back (with the older case, you could fold the cover in half to keep the cloth-side from getting too dirty). Also, holy hell are those colors ugly.

I'm really hoping they use the opportunity afforded to them by the tweaked design to change the cases for the better.

 

[RayDonovan]

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.

I certainly expected more. That was a very bold statement that got a lot of tongues wagging. So far all we've seen are some new iPhones and a smart watch that doesn't look like it does anything every other smart watch out can't do.

The statement reminds me of when Tim Cook always says "This is the best iPhone we've ever made" (Well no sh/#t! Its not going to be worse than it's predecessors!)

We'll wait and see.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

My guess is, more than 70% of all iPad sales are Minis. So if there is an iPad to be ditched, its the big iPad with Retina Display (non-Air). Who's buying that?

Not even close, but I still agree with you, I seriously hope I can avoid abandoning the 7.9" form factor. Love my rMini.

I could go as far and call myself an analyst. Since Apple will never breakdown individual unit sales in public, no one outside Apple will ever know the numbers for sure. But based on my vague guess I rejected someones prediction and made my own prediction. So you can come back to me in 1-2 years time and hold me accountable for which size iPad I said would and wouldn't be ditched by then. As we wait... (for me to eat my own words). What again is your contribution to the discussion? Do you only want to be the guy who mistakes MacRumors for MacFacts or do you have any own thoughts regarding the relationship between iPad mini and iPad Air?

An Analyst analyses things, like supply chain, or usage data, as in below. If you are just making a guess based on your own preferences and anecdotal personal experience, then you are just guessing.

Here is some analysis:

Even though the 1st generation iPad mini is the second most used iPad model, it is still only 21%, and the vastly superior rMini is only at 5% So the ratio of popularity is more than the exact opposite to your guess. it is actually a 3:1 ratio in favour of the larger form factor.

According to this data, this ratio is almost exactly the same even when taking only the latest models into account. The latest models (iPad Air & rMini) account for approximately 20% of total iPad usage, with the iPad Air accounting for 15% of that total. Again 3:1 ratio in favour of the larger iPad.

Based on my interpretation (analysis) of this data, I would presume that the larger form factor would remain the priority for Apple, and that it wouldn't be out of the question for them to make the iPad Air the feature leader here, especially given the associated issues the smaller form factor brings with it, such as lower thermal envelope, smaller, phone-sized touch targets in relation to split screen multi-tasking, diminishing returns on utility and efficiency factors with pixel density reaching 489+ PPI @3x resolution for the 7.9" panel, etc.

However, if they do manage it, I would buy one rather than the bigger 9.7". I do realise I am in the minority, though.

Rather funny actually. My current portable device line-up is a 64GB iPhone 5, 128GB iPad rMini, and a maxed 2011 11" MBA. I have now gotten a 128GB iPhone 6+, and will get the 128GB iPad Air if it has feature differentiation from the rMini, and am waiting on the new 12" laptop to replace my MBA. So after going as small as possible in terms of device size, it looks like I will probably be going up a step at every device level. Weird!