Sixth-Generation iPad Mini to Feature 8.4-Inch Display With Slimmer Bezels, March Launch Expected

macsound1 said:
I know plenty of (older) people who only have an iPad as their "home" computer for email, facebook, ebooks and photosharing. They have it because computers are overwhelming.
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That is so true! People over 45 years of age are not computer savvy unless they are an electrical engineer or work as a hardware developer for such companies as: Dell or Lenovo or Apple or similar high tech field. These average individuals do not want to learn about computers: operating systems, software, antivirus utilities, etc... With an iPad, these people can learn how to operate a computer in less then a couple of days and many can learn by trial and error too!
 
Disappointing that they are sticking with the older design language for the mini for now, I too was hoping that it would be updated to be a mini version of the iPad Air 4. Glad they are keeping the mini in the lineup though.
 
BallparkDreamer said:
I‘ll preorder day one. Mini is one of my favorite Apple devices.
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Yep. iPad Mini is the perfect size and form factor. Just big enough to enjoy movies (without squinting on a tiny-sized iPhone screen), or even do productive work (like writing on Notes, Pages, reading detailed PDF restaurant menus, etc).... but compact enough that you can toss it in any bag, backpack, messenger bag, glove compartment, an oversized jacket pocket, etc.
 
I use my iPad for reading mostly. The mini is perfect for reading for long periods of time. Hopefully this doesn't increase the weight much.

Absolutely loving my iPad mini 5. Reading on it has been very nice - I can read anywhere too.

I look forward to this release.
 
Neepman said:
i really don't get all the bezel hatred. If you need to hold or move your MOBILE device they are not just useful, they are necessary.
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Agreed. I've always wondered how people read on an iPad without a bezel. You just leave your thumbs on the screen the whole time?
 
If it has top and bottom bezels like the old iPads, im out. If its like the new iPad Air, very likely to pre order one tho
 
rp2011 said:
I get what you mean and I own a lot of iPads i’ve picked up along the years. The mini, the basic 2018 ipad, and a 12.9 iPad pro. I personally like the concept of the current mini but it’s the iPad i use the least. I think they can keep the same footprint and increase the screen size and make it more compelling.
But you’re right choice is good, but it’s still a business and they have to justify a product and have it appeal the most amount of consumers to make it viable. I have no idea what the sales figures for the mini are, but I think a slightly bigger one will appeal to a wider audience.
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I guess I think it's the differentiation between models that makes each model compelling.
If all the devices are within 1" of each other and share all the same features and internals, it drives consumers to purchase solely on price.
We're back to using BMWs lineup as a comparison.
People who buy the 1 series probably don't want it to get any bigger, otherwise, they would have bought a 3. In the same respect, people who bought the 7 series already wanted a big car, so the 7iL (long) made more sales.
 
kazmac said:
If it takes on the Air 3 design, may the price drop.
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If it's getting a bigger screen size while retaining the same screen quality as the iPad mini and it gets a processor upgrade to the A14 SoC, don't expect a price drop. At the very least, expect it to stay the same price.
 
HarryWild said:
That is so true! People over 45 years of age are not computer savvy unless they are an electrical engineer or work as a hardware developer for such companies as: Dell or Lenovo or Apple or similar high tech field. These average individuals do not want to learn about computers: operating systems, software, antivirus utilities, etc... With an iPad, these people can learn how to operate a computer in less then a couple of days and many can learn by trial and error too!
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Wow. Over generalize much?
I'm guessing there a bunch here on MacRumors who are in around that age or older.
They'd probably teach you a thing or two about computers too.
 
satchmo said:
Wow. Over generalize much?
I'm guessing there a bunch here on MacRumors who are in around that age or older.
They'd probably teach you a thing or two about computers too.
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Of course that's an over simplification of what happens with older people. My 85yo grandpa teaches computer classes.

Same point applies, however, that iPads were designed to be simplistic - either for people who don't understand desktop computers or for applications where computers don't make sense.

My easy example is home thermostats.
1950s thermostats were a dial - turn right for hotter, left for colder.
In the 90s we "advanced" to programmable thermostats but they became complicated to do simple things.
Nest released a revolutionary device because it was programmable but also easy to use. Right for hotter, left for colder.
 
I think the Mini is the best model of iPad there is, at least for my needs. Perfect size, very capable, easiest to type on. So happy to be reading this because I was just about to pull the trigger on a new (well, I guess old now...) Mini. I can wait a few months...
 
If this isn't a full-screen device as the rest of the i-device lineup has all moved to, only fools would buy this.
The Mini has been been left so many years behind despite being the most practical iPad for years now.

Hope the rumors above are false!
 
Neepman said:
i really don't get all the bezel hatred. If you need to hold or move your MOBILE device they are not just useful, they are necessary.
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They are not necessary and haven't been for a while now. The software has moved past well past the point where this is still an issue. Or did you forget that the iPhone bezels are currently smaller than they've ever been?
 
This goes counter to all other rumors that say that the mini will adopt the Air 4's design language instead. Also, I'm not sure Apple has the wiggle room to keep the footprint of the iPad mini the same or even similar going from 7.9" to 8.4-8.5" the way they did by going from 9.7" to 10.5" unless they increase the footprint by enough of a degree such that it compromises on physical size. Don't get me wrong; the iPad mini is the only product I'd actually be happy to see keeping the current design conventions (and physical touchID Home button), but it doesn't seem likely to go down this way.
 
Neepman said:
i really don't get all the bezel hatred. If you need to hold or move your MOBILE device they are not just useful, they are necessary.
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I don’t think anyone expects edge to edge* displays on an iPad mini like Face ID iPhones have. What the dissent is about is not putting a screen like the iPad Air 4/Pro has on a mini. Apple might describe those screens, or did, as edge to edge but there is still a bezel wrapping the display. I think that’s the point they're trying to make.

*yes I know they are not truly “edge to edge.”
 
RaoulDuke42 said:
We've an iPad mini 2 and 4 in the house and I was indeed surprised to realize the 4 is slightly taller. If they do go the Air 3 route and make it even bigger I guess I'll find a cheap mini 5? My 4 seems awfully pokey as of late.
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You'll love a newer Mini. I went from a 4 to the 5 and was amazed how fast the 5 is. Currently on iPad OS 14.3. No problems so far... ;)
 
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Yebubbleman said:
This goes counter to all other rumors that say that the mini will adopt the Air 4's design language instead. Also, I'm not sure Apple has the wiggle room to keep the footprint of the iPad mini the same or even similar going from 7.9" to 8.4-8.5" the way they did by going from 9.7" to 10.5" unless they increase the footprint by enough of a degree such that it compromises on physical size. Don't get me wrong; the iPad mini is the only product I'd actually be happy to see keeping the current design conventions (and physical touchID Home button), but it doesn't seem likely to go down this way.
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Well I for one am just happy we can look forward to another iteration of the mini. Whether or not it adopts the iPad Air 4 form factor or stays relatively the same makes for some good time anticipation. I do think they can easily squeeze another .5-.6” into the current mini 5’s body, but wouldn’t bet that the actually dimensions don’t change a bit like they did from the mini 4 to the 5.
 
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