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Sketchy Report Claims Apple May Discontinue iPad Mini to Focus on 'iPad Pro'

This iPad Pro is in the same mythical laboratory as the Apple Television.

Also an iPad pro would be a mistake. The Mini (even though I do not like it) fits it's niche and has a following. The iPad Pro would just overlap with MBA and MBP for screen size. Also carting around a tablet larger than the iPad Air would just be awkward, not easy and just plain wrong.
 
Wiesenlooser said:
I think the iPad Mini had a brief moment of glory, with the ipad 3 and 4 being so heavy and unportable. However, the ipad Air 2 doesnt even feel heavier than the mini.

I think there really is nowhere for the mini to go.
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It still has the better size for me as daily commuter train/bus user in Tokyo. That's not fun at all and I can hold the mini in one hand safely in that situation, can't say that from the iPad Air. And still more screen compared to the iPhone 6+.
I would miss the Mini ...
 
Kissaragi said:
Stop being so pedantic over local phrases and demeaning anyone who doesn't type to your personal satisfaction.

Language changes, deal with it.
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adammull said:
I would not use an iPad Air if it was free and I'm not the only one. It's not portable.

My Mini is the best Apple product I've ever owned.

Choices. I don't declare that the Air is stupid even though I think it is. Why do people come on here and act like the Mini is stupid? I know probably 25 iPad owners off the top of my head and and its easily 20-5 for Mini versus Air.
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iPad Mini is more likely to be taken out of the house. An iPad Air on a train will be rare, an iPad Mini will be more common. If you go into people's houses it will be different.

I think this is the case where 50% of people like the smaller iPad, 50% like the larger iPad, and 99% believe that they are right and the other 50% are stupid.

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WardC said:
Don't believe it.

iPad Mini was deemed the "perfect size" and "just right" by millions when it launched. This is still a hotcakes product and selling well, Apple is not going to drop it. This is more bunk than a pile of beans.

That's like Apple saying they are discontinuing the 21.5" iMac to focus on 27" and larger models....really???

Apple is more known to discontinue the LARGER model like the 17" MacBook Pro, not the smaller ones. Everything with Apple today is SMALLER - THINNER - LIGHTER ...and that is what they focus on. Not making larger things, but smaller and thinner and lighter ones. It's their fixation at the moment. Like, no more expandable tank Mac Pro tower, for instance.
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I think the problem with the 17" MacBook Pro was that everyone wanted one but few actually bought one. As evidence, they were available at a reduced price on the UK refurbished store for about a year after the model was discontinued.
 
gnasher729 said:
I think the problem with the 17" MacBook Pro was that everyone wanted one but few actually bought one. As evidence, they were available at a reduced price on the UK refurbished store for about a year after the model was discontinued.
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I did buy 17" MBP and was very happy with it, until my wife got a 15" and saw how much easier it was to carry it around..... I want to get rid of my late 2008 MBP, but the damn thing is still running so well even with the latest Yosemite, that I have no excuse to get rid of it.....sigh...:( Who would have thought, I would be 'unhappy' with a 'perfectly running macbook'...

On the iPad issue, I sincerely hope they do not make anything bigger then iPad Air...
 
As an original mini owner, I agree. I would really look forwards to an iPad Pro. My mini just sits here with very little to do. I may end up using it in my car as a big sat nav but thats all I can think of for now.
 
Bigger isn't always better...

Let's hope this isn't true. Whilst I was glad to see bigger iPhones - although really something between the 6 and 6+ is the sweet spot for me - I always found the standard sized iPad a bit cumbersome, and traded down in iPad size from standard to Mini.
 
What a load of nonsense..
The Retina iPad mini is one of the best selling tablets with (according to Apple) 100% customer satisfaction rating..
Why should they ditch this all-around great selling product in favour of a nieche (and imo completely unnecessary) 12 inches model?
 
Hope not we are buying 150 iPad Minis this week and plan to buy another 150 next year, and 150 the year after that.
 
the8thark said:
Also carting around a tablet larger than the iPad Air would just be awkward, not easy and just plain wrong.
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I will admit, I never quite understand it, when remarks like this are made by various people.

Perhaps I'm different, I don't know, but if I'm honest, if I am going to pick up and carry a 10" diagonal item, I don't then look at the 12" diagonal item. Which is probably only 1.5" wider, and think OMG there is no way I could deal with that.

If we were comparing carrying say a 4" iPhone to a 10" Tablet, then I can of course see how one is vastly different to the other and would require to be carried totally different.

But if we are already committed to carrying a full size iPad, I myself could not care if it's 1.5" larger.
 
Went from original iPad, to iPad 3 and then to iPad Mini Retina and the iPad Mini Retina is (for me) by far the most useful of the three - the size and weight is really convenient for commuting on the train. It's a one-handed device vs a two-handed one and that really makes a difference.

Discontinuing a popular and successful product which fills a niche seems madness.

And the iPhone 6+ is ridiculously expensive by comparison and too big for many as a phone.
 
That would be a horrible idea, people really love the mini.

hetrigger said:
With everything they are "getting" rid of They should get rid of the 16gig anything. But no, they got rid of 32 gig.
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No kidding, completely ridiculous.

MikeyMike01 said:
I hope my 5S and Mini last until Apple (and others) get their heads out of their butts and make smaller products again.
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I still think some company should make an up to date smartphone with a 3.5" screen. I love the larger ones however someone making one a little smaller would not hurt.
 
Highly doubt that Apple will discontinue the mini any time soon. Look at how long they have kept the Touch when it clearly serves no purpose.
Here's what I think is going on.
Apple is doing a complete redesign of the ipad mini and could not bring it to market this year due to those redesign issues so they just did a minimal place holder update. The big change is next year, and those who say the mini has nowhere to go have no imagination. Remember those patents on border-less ipad displays? I think the mini will get something like that. Trimming down the black finger area will allow the mini to become even smaller and easier to hold with one hand. I do think the Touch will be ended as the new iPad mini will replace it's niche market. So don't say the mini is dead cause next year is going to amaze you.
 
Wiesenlooser said:
I think there really is nowhere for the mini to go.
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In a pocket; unlike the iPad Air.

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Elbon said:
Maybe iPad sales wouldn't be declining if Apple made the iPad a little...you know, more useful.
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Sales aren't declining, they're plateauing. This shouldn't really be a surprise. Thanks to carrier contracts most Americans update their phones every 24 months or so, but tablets are purchased cash, and have an upgrade cycle more in line with laptops. Even if everyone who owns an iPhone also owns an iPad, sales of the latter would trend significantly lower than the former.

Every iPad sale still drives the iOS ecosystem however, and increases the odds somewhat of a Mac sale. I'm sure Apple knows this, and whilst they seem to struggle with the concept that not everyone has 20/20 vision, they must understand that the phone will never be a true replacement for a tablet class device.
 
Would be a mistake. For some people it's a perfect size. If anything, continue the latest iPad mini (the 3) and stop with the other minis. They are still selling the original model. There are too many. Always keep making the latest and greatest. But no need to keep manufacturing the old ones.
 
Normally I wouldn't believe a story like this, but with the lack of an "upgrade" for the Mini 3 I do wonder if there is a sliver of truth to it.
 
Wait wasn't it just a year or two back when the mini did as good or better than the standard size pad? I love the form factor for how I use a tablet, so I think it would be silly to do away with it. Smaller tablets are as or more popular than their larger cousins. In fact most new tablet owners that I know have opted for the mini or their android counterparts.
 
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