iPad mini The Future of the iPad mini

[JoEw]

Not everyone , I agree but look at the sales of tablets they have gone down . It may be that people are happy with there current tablets and don't want to upgrade but who knows . I just think phones are more interesting to people . I actually don't like tablets or smart phones I prefer a traditional computer desktop but that's me everybody is different . I like the keyboard and mouse and I'm going to keep on using it .

1. People don't update tablets anywhere near the pace of their phones this would explain low tablet sales
2. Everyone using xp this year got an alert on their task bar saying to upgrade their PC and invitebly this uptick in pc sales this year canibilized the dollar amounts that could be spent on tablets.

 

[Alex225]

Not everyone , I agree but look at the sales of tablets they have gone down...

Could that be in part that many people who wanted a tablet have one in some form or other? Many will consider them far less disposable than a phone so will hold onto it longer so the sales have slowed down.

I know people still using iPad 2s and Mini 1s with no intention of changing any time soon.

Tablet computing is relatively new so it may have peaked in sales and now slowed but I honestly can't see tablets dying out.

 

[J232022]

Could that be in part that many people who wanted a tablet have one in some form or other? Many will consider them far less disposable than a phone so will hold onto it longer so the sales have slowed down.

I know people still using iPad 2s and Mini 1s with no intention of changing any time soon.

Tablet computing is relatively new so it may have peaked in sales and now slowed but I honestly can't see tablets dying out.

1. People don't update tablets anywhere near the pace of their phones this would explain low tablet sales
2. Everyone using xp this year got an alert on their task bar saying to upgrade their PC and invitebly this uptick in pc sales this year canibilized the dollar amounts that could be spent on tablets.

Read what I posted earlier , I said It may be that people are happy with there current tablets and don't want to upgrade . I also said I think the mini is going to be around for awhile yet .Tablets are not going away anytime soon but I do believe they will eventually become less and less important as years go by with phones ever increasing in performance .

 

[Misskitty]

I know quite a few who now have 5.5+ phones and the number one reason they all told me on why they now use their smaller form factor tablet a lot less since getting the bigger phone? Its simple logic really - they always have their phone with them. And in that case, more often than not they see no benefit what so ever in carrying both their phone and smaller tablet around.

For instance I have a phone with a 6.4" screen, it completely eliminates any future need and desire for a ipad mini because its not worth $300 more for a device that is only 1.5" larger.

 

[cardfan]

I know quite a few who now have 5.5+ phones and the number one reason they all told me on why they now use their smaller form factor tablet a lot less since getting the bigger phone? Its simple logic really - they always have their phone with them. And in that case, more often than not they see no benefit what so ever in carrying both their phone and smaller tablet around.

For instance I have a phone with a 6.4" screen, it completely eliminates any future need and desire for a ipad mini because its not worth $300 more for a device that is only 1.5" larger.

Then I would say that whole tablet optimized app thing was a huge joke on us. Or you don't consider a 4:3 form factor that is significantly larger than a 5.5" iphone to be any good. If you're reading full page pdfs, mags, comics, logmein, more complex columned apps, and games that require full screens on a 5.5" iphone, then you're better than I am.

Here's the thing. I think Apple has simply failed in differentiating ipads and just gave up on the Mini. Profit margin is ruling the day here. We''re not going to see the kind of Mini we want at the price we want. Apple would rather sell 5.5" iphones all day long. And it would rather sell higher end larger ipads and even the rumored ipad Pro all day long over a Mini.

You can justify it by saying people are fine with their 5.5" iphones or suddenly prefer larger ipads. But Apple is promoting this as well by intentionally neglecting the ipad mini with premium features found on the iphone or big brother ipad.

 

[ron7624]

Then I would say that whole tablet optimized app thing was a huge joke on us. Or you don't consider a 4:3 form factor that is significantly larger than a 5.5" iphone to be any good. If you're reading full page pdfs, mags, comics, logmein, more complex columned apps, and games that require full screens on a 5.5" iphone, then you're better than I am.

Here's the thing. I think Apple has simply failed in differentiating ipads and just gave up on the Mini. Profit margin is ruling the day here. We''re not going to see the kind of Mini we want at the price we want. Apple would rather sell 5.5" iphones all day long. And it would rather sell higher end larger ipads and even the rumored ipad Pro all day long over a Mini.

You can justify it by saying people are fine with their 5.5" iphones or suddenly prefer larger ipads. But Apple is promoting this as well by intentionally neglecting the ipad mini with premium features found on the iphone or big brother ipad.

I for one hope that you're wrong about that. I do not wish to carry a large phone, although I do like the 4.7 inch that iPhone I currently own. That phone does not replace my Retina Mini in anyway. I carry and use both. I don't mind the fact that the mini will be one generation behind of the larger iPad I just hope they don't discontinue it because I certainly love my combination as it is.

 

[RickTaylor]

I know quite a few who now have 5.5+ phones and the number one reason they all told me on why they now use their smaller form factor tablet a lot less since getting the bigger phone? Its simple logic really - they always have their phone with them. And in that case, more often than not they see no benefit what so ever in carrying both their phone and smaller tablet around.

That's compelling logic for some, and I suspect the iPhone plus will eat into some of the sales of the mini. And I admit if Apple ever sells an iPhone with the form factor and screen size of the mini, able to run the software the mini can run, I'll be interested. But until then there are some of us who want a highly portable tablet, not just a larger phone. And while there probably aren't enough of us to justify Apple treating the mini the way it does the Air, I suspect it will be around for a while, if only to prevent people like me considering alternatives to Apple.

Also, screen measurements can be misleading. The area of a display is proportional to the square of the diagonal. The iPhone 6 plus has less than half the screen real estate of the iPad mini, for example, and while that's enough for people who just want some more area on a highly portable device to make it more convenient to use, in my opinion it's not enough for other tasks, such as comfortably reading pdf documents. The 4:3 form factor of the mini also makes a difference.

 

[ron7624]

Well said RickTaylor

 

[RickTaylor]

Here's the thing. I think Apple has simply failed in differentiating ipads and just gave up on the Mini. Profit margin is ruling the day here. We''re not going to see the kind of Mini we want at the price we want. Apple would rather sell 5.5" iphones all day long. And it would rather sell higher end larger ipads and even the rumored ipad Pro all day long over a Mini.

I don't really have a problem with Apple's strategy. It's natural they're going to focus their resources on the larger more profitable device. While it would have been nice to have as big an upgrade for the mini as for the Apple, I don't need a device on the bleeding edge of technology, and Apple did include the technologies it's pushing for Apple pay in the device, which makes me think they're not abandoning it. It was only two years ago that Anandtech wrongly predicted the original mini would not be upgraded to retina within the next year. I'm still quite happy with mine.

 

[pika2000]

The iPad mini 3 is definitely a huge letdown in terms of upgrade over the retina mini/mini 2, considering the price difference.
I personally love the iPad mini form factor. When Apple released the mini 2, I bought it and sold my larger iPad, and never look back. Even when I have a 5.5" Android phone, I still find the iPad mini size to be more usable. I personally would rather use the iPad mini than the iPhone 6 Plus. The 6 Plus is too big for a phone, and too small for a tablet.

I really hope this is just a fluke (just like how the mini 1 was released with the old A5 chip). Maybe it's a yield issue of the A8, and Apple had to make a choice, and updating the big iPad was deemed to be a better strategy. I hope Apple will make do with next year's iPad mini, and make it on par again with its big brother.

 

[AJsAWiz]

Right

I know quite a few who now have 5.5+ phones and the number one reason they all told me on why they now use their smaller form factor tablet a lot less since getting the bigger phone? Its simple logic really - they always have their phone with them. And in that case, more often than not they see no benefit what so ever in carrying both their phone and smaller tablet around.

For instance I have a phone with a 6.4" screen, it completely eliminates any future need and desire for a ipad mini because its not worth $300 more for a device that is only 1.5" larger.

What you said makes perfect sense. I have an iPhone 5s and an iPad Mini. The only reason I don't have the iPhone 6 Plus now is that my contract is not up yet. However when I do get the larger iPhone, I see little reason to keep my iPad Mini. I will, however, consider a larger iPad (like the rumored 12" iPad) if it ever materializes. But right now the screen size difference between the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad Mini keeps me from wanted both.

 

[Misskitty]

What you said makes perfect sense. I have an iPhone 5s and an iPad Mini. The only reason I don't have the iPhone 6 Plus now is that my contract is not up yet. However when I do get the larger iPhone, I see little reason to keep my iPad Mini. I will, however, consider a larger iPad (like the rumored 12" iPad) if it ever materializes. But right now the screen size difference between the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad Mini keeps me from wanted both.

i will always have a soft spot in my heart for the mini. as much as i loved the larger screen on the air, i never found thumb typing on it nearly as enjoyable as on the mini. the mini is the most comfortable tablet ever for thumb typing.

 

[AJsAWiz]

i will always have a soft spot in my heart for the mini. as much as i loved the larger screen on the air, i never found thumb typing on it nearly as enjoyable as on the mini. the mini is the most comfortable tablet ever for thumb typing.

Yes, you have a point there too. I had an iPad2 before I got the iPad Mini. It is indeed smaller and easier to handle than the larger screen. I started to consider going back to the larger screen in anticipation of getting the 12" iPad if it's released and the larger iPhone (6 Plus now but whatever the next one will be called).

 

[Misskitty]

That's compelling logic for some, and I suspect the iPhone plus will eat into some of the sales of the mini. And I admit if Apple ever sells an iPhone with the form factor and screen size of the mini, able to run the software the mini can run, I'll be interested. But until then there are some of us who want a highly portable tablet, not just a larger phone. And while there probably aren't enough of us to justify Apple treating the mini the way it does the Air, I suspect it will be around for a while, if only to prevent people like me considering alternatives to Apple.

Also, screen measurements can be misleading. The area of a display is proportional to the square of the diagonal. The iPhone 6 plus has less than half the screen real estate of the iPad mini, for example, and while that's enough for people who just want some more area on a highly portable device to make it more convenient to use, in my opinion it's not enough for other tasks, such as comfortably reading pdf documents. The 4:3 form factor of the mini also makes a difference.

well heres the mini next to my phone. you do the math, its not worth 400 for that small of difference in screen size.

 

[ron7624]

400?
I have not done the math, but I'm pretty sure there is little difference if you buy both devices outright, off contract. And your photo proves the difference in readability.
But that's what is so great about choice. One can choose whichever they like. I choose the Mini with an iPhone 6. That's one great combination. IMO

 

[matraco]

What about the people that dont have cell phones like me? The ipad mini gives you the experience of a full tablet without totally compromising portability... now if i want to upgrade ill have to go to the air 2 which i wont take out of my home... and the ipod touch line have been abandoned a while ago.

 

[ame8199]

man hope they don't get rid of the mini. I think the regular iPad is too large for me. I was hoping to upgrade my first gen iPad mini. Might as well get an iPad mini 2, mini 3 is a little out of my price range.

 

[cardfan]

I don't really have a problem with Apple's strategy. It's natural they're going to focus their resources on the larger more profitable device. While it would have been nice to have as big an upgrade for the mini as for the Apple, I don't need a device on the bleeding edge of technology, and Apple did include the technologies it's pushing for Apple pay in the device, which makes me think they're not abandoning it. It was only two years ago that Anandtech wrongly predicted the original mini would not be upgraded to retina within the next year. I'm still quite happy with mine.

I don't have a problem with it either. It's all about making a profit. When the first Mini retina was even being speculated upon, I was saying it'd be a nobrainer to buy over the bigger ipad.

And other than color gamut and a slightly lesser processor, it was pretty close. The Air won me over because of the screen. The Mini seemed washed out. That the Air was bigger was a negative I lived with.

Though it's not feasible for Apple at a 399 price point, if they released a Mini Retina with the same specs as the Air 2, then that's a winner. The form factor was already celebrated by many blogs so there's no argument there.

Who wants to carry around a tablet using outdated tech when they have a much faster iphone that sports a better screen? Want to look up something? It's quicker to use an iphone than an ipad mini.

The tablet has to be much better than the iphone but people won't pay what it would cost Apple (or what they would charge for) such a mini ipad. Even the current price of 399 seems too high for most.

Hopefully this won't be the case for phones. But we've already seen Apple give the iphone plus more features than the non plus version. It could get worse. And that's unfortunate given that the smaller iphone is the better form factor for me. The iphone plus's size was in the negative column. Again, something I live with to get the better quality phone.

 

[Yebubbleman]

the ipad mini is an 8" tablet and it's here to stay. apple won't abandon it.

And they'll do that because you said so? Seriously, that assertion is quite useless without logic to support it.

Also, it's a 7.9" tablet (which, last I checked, fell in between the 7.0 and 8.4 range), if you want to get technical.

Thing is if Apple decide to stop making the Mini then they will, no amount of speculation or rationalising for or against it will make a difference.

Then, I think you miss the point of speculating in the first place. We're not trying to save the iPad mini in this thread or make a difference. We're trying to see if it this lackluster update and the decreasing amount of competitor products is indicative of a decline of the 7.0" to 8.4" tablet market. It's conjecture, not activist change.

Apple is a business, if they can profit more from the iPhone 6/6+ and the Air 2 and potentially the iPad Pro then they can probably afford to drop the Mini.

Yes the Mini was a great bit of kit and with the Mini 2 it offered full iPad experience but in a smaller form and at a lower price. Hence I bought one alongside my iPad 3 and it still impresses me today.

The thing is there will be an element of people who will want the Mini, even a fair few on here that will but if Apple don't see profit in producing it, then they won't.

I suspect the iPhone 6+ for many (non-techy!) types will be considered enough of a rival for the Mini for them to not even consider the it. Side by side they're not that close in size but for many the 6+ will be a all they'd need. I'm sure Apple are aware of that.

Also, with the iPad Air now being lighter and thinner, the weight and size of the iPad is less of a consideration plus I'm sure the Air 2 is more profitable.

Either way, as much as some of us (me included) can see a want for the iPad Mini if they dropped it from the range, would it leave a gap or would that be filled with easily with the 6+ and the Air 2 meeting somewhere in the middle to make up for it? I think to most customers (as in the everyone not on here) they would make do with what Apple offers and if the Mini goes, it's a shame but we're not exactly left short of choice either way.

This is sound.

If they release an iPod Touch the same size as the 6 Plus, I'd say there isn't much more need for the mini.

It seems to me I see the most using an mini are kids who don't have an iPhone yet. An iPod Touch, size as the 6 Plus, would kill that demographic off. It would be just as good, and way more portable.

The 5.5" form factor would be a bit large for an iPod. The 4.7" I could see, but not the 5.5". At that point, they might as well release it as an iPad nano (which would be sort of silly if they put out cellular models as then you'd really just have an iPhone 6 Plus).

I don't understand all this talk about the mini being on life support. It sold better than the larger iPads.

There are multiple articles posted on this site as well as others that say the opposite. Again, given that Google discontinued its chief competitor, I'm inclined to believe that the iPad mini as well as other tablets in that market are on the decline. Also, one would think that they'd update the more popular tablet and not gimp it in clear favor of the larger one. Minimal updates in Apple products is seldom indicative of a long and lasting future for them.

Apple is just trying to edge people to pay for more for the larger ipad.

How does that make any business sense. If that logic held true, that'd mean that they'd be risking their following for their more popular product in a gamble to increase sales of the less popular product. Again, how does that make ANY sense?

But I seriously doubt they would ever discontinue the mini. It really is the best portable ipad they make. I. Sorry, the iphone 6plus is NOT an ipad. Nice screen, but no dice. Its a phone. A large phone, but a phone.

I am sure apple just had too many things on its plate this fall. The mini will get nice update to the A8X chip. If not this spring, the def next fall. Count on it.

They had no more on their plate this year than they had last year. At least nothing that the public knows anything about (and thusly nothing more that could be cited here.)

Whoever floated the story about them being discontinued is out of their minds.

More or less out of their mind than the theory that they're gimping their more popular tablet in favor of bolstering their less popular one? (Especially when there are numbers to support that the iPad Air was the more popular tablet?)

Apple makes 5 categories of iPad they sell (mini, mini 2, mini 3, Air, Air 2). Yet somehow the pundits here have decided the mini is doomed.


I guess all the products Apple makes that don't have the same specs as the top product (MBP 13" vs MBP 15" for example) are all doomed also? Yeesh.

Perspective. They don't sell it. But you might want to look into acquiring some, because this comment displays a lack of it. Here's why:

1. The 13" MacBook Pro and the 15" MacBook Pro are two different products IN THE SAME PRODUCT LINE. The iPad mini and the iPad Air are two different product lines.

2. If you were Apple and you were to sell a tablet in the $250 price point, what do you put there? Not the fourth generation iPad; that wouldn't make sense. Not the original iPad Air, that's already in the line-up at the $400/$530. The second generation iPad mini? No, Apple already has that in the line-up $100 behind the third generation just as the first generation was with the second generation last year. The fact that there are three generations of iPad mini in the line-up isn't indicative of the product line's success, it's indacative of the fact that Apple's trying to push stuff in that product line and that's what they're choosing to push it.

3. When have you ever known an iOS device to be introduced that includes no speed improvements over its immediate predecessor? Oh wait, never. They made an active choice to not simply drop in the faster CPU at the VERY least and that can't have been because it's a best-selling product. It's not like Apple is waiting on Intel for a faster CPU for it. The chips are there. What reason is there to not update it with more than just TouchID?

 

[Yebubbleman]

Even Macworld appears aware of the impending doom of the iPad mini. They're not afraid for the future of the full-sized iPad (Air) in the way that people are doomsaying the entire iPad product line as a whole, but I think they recognize that Apple only updating the mini with a gold option, TouchID and AppleSIM isn't a good sign.

I mean really, how can anyone interpret that as a good sign?

 

[JonMPLS]

Personally, I do hope Apple keeps the mini going. For iBooks, Safari, traveling, I think my rMini is the perfect size. I also have 2 full size iPads at home too. And an iPhone 6 Plus. But the latest tweak from Apple makes me think they might be phasing it out.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Alright; some time has passed; some rumors have come out; we've seen an A8 version of the iPod touch (marking the first time ever that the most current iPad mini had the weakest hardware of all other CURRENT generation iOS devices as well as the first time that the current iPad mini was inferior in SoC specs to the current iPod touch). Rumors seem to indicate that there will be a final iteration of the iPad mini before it is eventually phased out in favor of the iPad Air and the iPhone Plus models.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[ron7624]

Even Macworld appears aware of the impending doom of the iPad mini. They're not afraid for the future of the full-sized iPad (Air) in the way that people are doomsaying the entire iPad product line as a whole, but I think they recognize that Apple only updating the mini with a gold option, TouchID and AppleSIM isn't a good sign.

I mean really, how can anyone interpret that as a good sign?

Not a good sign maybe, but could be a sign of them applying their resources to something else like the watch.
Since the mini is my workhorse, i'm hoping that phased out is a phrase that does not apply to the mini line yet. The next update should bring it up to current Air spces, and although my money is ready, I have no beef with my current rMini. It is still an amazing device.

 

[Ludatyk]

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I agree with your thoughts.

I think the iPad Mini will follow the same trend with the iPod Touch... due to the closeness of sreensize with the 6 Plus. I recall having a debate with someone that the iPad Mini would be used lessed if someone owned a 6 Plus... but the person argued that the size was not even close at all. A back & forth argument... But my thoughts was that people who owned a 6 Plus would rather own a larger size iPad Air over an iPad Mini. Granted, people who owned a 6 would be content with the iPad Mini.. which is currently my sisters set up.

But I think Apple has a delimma on their hands... people want a more powerful iPad, yet Apple doesn't want to compete it against the likes of the new line up of the Macbook. I think as time goes on that those two product line will get blurred... although iOS doesn't compare to OS X, but as time goes on... it will definitely get interesting.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Not a good sign maybe, but could be a sign of them applying their resources to something else like the watch.
Since the mini is my workhorse, i'm hoping that phased out is a phrase that does not apply to the mini line yet. The next update should bring it up to current Air spces, and although my money is ready, I have no beef with my current rMini. It is still an amazing device.

For sure. I just bought a cellular iPad mini 3 (higher capacity than what Apple currently offers with the iPad mini 2 or else I would've gone that route instead for savings), figuring that it'd be much easier for me to stomach doing a one-version up upgrade with that (should rumors of the iPad mini 4 actually be fruitful) than it would on an iPad Air or iPad Air 2. The mini is a fantastic device and I certainly love it, especially when cellular is involved. It looks like Apple will be more gentle with phasing it out than say, Google was with the Nexus 7, which is kind, considering the market seems to have already moved past mini tablets. Perhaps Apple is now keen on more slowly phasing out things they know have a dying demand like the iPod touch and the iPad mini.

I agree with your thoughts.

I think the iPad Mini will follow the same trend with the iPod Touch... due to the closeness of sreensize with the 6 Plus. I recall having a debate with someone that the iPad Mini would be used lessed if someone owned a 6 Plus... but the person argued that the size was not even close at all. A back & forth argument... But my thoughts was that people who owned a 6 Plus would rather own a larger size iPad Air over an iPad Mini. Granted, people who owned a 6 would be content with the iPad Mini.. which is currently my sisters set up.

But I think Apple has a delimma on their hands... people want a more powerful iPad, yet Apple doesn't want to compete it against the likes of the new line up of the Macbook. I think as time goes on that those two product line will get blurred... although iOS doesn't compare to OS X, but as time goes on... it will definitely get interesting.

I don't think the iPad Air is in any danger of competing with the new MacBook, or any OS X based x86-64 computer for that matter. The computing environments and experiences therein are entirely different and not really comparable. Also, it seems pretty apparent that rather than try to merge iOS and OS X, Apple is trying to standardize the features between the two so that someone going from one to the other or vice versa knows what they're dealing with.

That being said, yeah, it looks like the dilemma the market had was Phablet vs. mini Tablet, and it looks like Phablet won. Personally, I had no interest in the former until Apple came out with the iPhone 6 Plus and, in doing so, actually optimized the UI to take advantage of the larger screen in ways that has never been done on Android. It wouldn't be enough for ME to eliminate the need for an iPad mini. I see individual use case scenarios for the iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, and iPod touch, but I'm not the norm; most people are fine with the full-sized iPad and either iPhone with fulfilling those needs as they don't need so many devices.