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Video Compares Second-Generation iPad Mini Shell to iPad 5, Current Mini
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If the Mini is retina, I buy the mini done deal.
if the Mini isn't retina, I don't know which I'll buy, it could be 50/50.
Therefore, it is in Apple's best interest not to put Retina in the Mini (Assuming people are making decisions like I am). No Retina mini means higher chance of more revenue.
if the Mini isn't retina, I don't know which I'll buy, it could be 50/50.
Therefore, it is in Apple's best interest not to put Retina in the Mini (Assuming people are making decisions like I am). No Retina mini means higher chance of more revenue.
Honestly, I feel Apple's best bet is to make the full size more attractive and just do a minor boost to the mini because once the mini gets retina then the full size loses pretty much every reason to exist. I've got a full size and a mini and the mini goes everywhere with me, while the full size sits next to the sofa. I might be convinced to get a full size judging by this video but retina on the mini would just get me to upgrade the mini to the new one rather than switch to the full size.
That's the bottom line: is the Mini update just a refresh with an A6, maybe WiFi AC, or do they introduce a retina (2048x1536) display, with of course, the appropriate SOC update .
I believe a new display tech like IGZO, and a die shrink on the A6X, we'd get excellent battery life. The Mini could also use a tweaked A6 (vs. A6X), where the GPU performance might be slightly under the full sized product but use less power.
I'm 99% sure we won't see a new resolution introduced.
well, slimmer form factor but...
will the battery life be improved ?
will the ipad be lighter in weight ?
will the battery life be improved ?
will the ipad be lighter in weight ?
I think this indirectly confirms that the new mini will be retina. same size and form factor as the current one, what else can they use as the major selling point?
Ummm... yeah. The iPad 3rd gen was retina... the iPad 4th gen was retina.. There's rumors the mini is going to be retina.. but the 5th gen iPad is skinnier, but NON retina. Are you for serious, right now???????
To clarify: By new, I mean something other than 1024x768 or 2048x1536.
There's been some talk about something that's ~260PPI at the Mini size that would be greater than the current, but less than the iPad 3/4 spec (something that could be drive by something a little less power hungry than the A6X).
I don't think that will happen just because of the existing app market, developer effort, etc.
I do not find this true at all.
While the retina in the mini will be a great addition, some people just prefer a 10" screen. I like the first gen mini, and i could live with the non retina screen, but i just found things like surfing a better experience on the 10".
I love my mini, but gosh I miss a retina display on my iPad. If the new mini gets retina, I will buy one immediately, no question. The mini is perhaps my favorite computer ever, more so than my iPhone and MacBook Pro in many ways. If the form factor is identical, and I can continue to use my Logitech bluetooth keyboard cover... oh man, tablet HEAVEN!!!!
I still don't think a Retina Mini is coming this year. The current Mini is still selling like crazy, and even the new Nexus 7 isn't holding it back. The technology is there, and Apple can do it, but I think this year is all about the iPad 5, and trying to bring iPad Mini customers to the full size iPad.
Now that we're pretty sure that the iPad 5 is getting the Mini's design, it's smaller, narrower, thinner, and lighter, bringing it a closer level in terms of size to the Mini (as we saw in the video). So you end up with a slightly larger device, but with Retina Display. I can see a lot of current Mini customers switching to the iPad 5, and paying $499 (w/ higher profit margins) to Apple instead of $329. If the Mini gets Retina, then it'll another year for the Mini killing big iPad sales, and shareholders won't be happy because it has less profit margins, and that what matters to Apple.
For this year, I think the Mini 2 will get the A6 chip, a lot more battery life, which will be similar inline with the Macbook Air update we saw at WWDC. Maybe they'll introduce a game controller or some new colors to differentiate it from the 1st gen. As for the iPad 5, it'll get the new design, Retina Display, and some other killer feature.
The other scenario if the Mini gets retina, it could be 16GB for $399, while a 32GB iPad 5 becomes $499. Then it's a matter of "should I pay an extra $100 and get twice the memory and a larger screen?" Because I still don't believe we'll get a Retina iPad Mini at the current price point.
Now that we're pretty sure that the iPad 5 is getting the Mini's design, it's smaller, narrower, thinner, and lighter, bringing it a closer level in terms of size to the Mini (as we saw in the video). So you end up with a slightly larger device, but with Retina Display. I can see a lot of current Mini customers switching to the iPad 5, and paying $499 (w/ higher profit margins) to Apple instead of $329. If the Mini gets Retina, then it'll another year for the Mini killing big iPad sales, and shareholders won't be happy because it has less profit margins, and that what matters to Apple.
For this year, I think the Mini 2 will get the A6 chip, a lot more battery life, which will be similar inline with the Macbook Air update we saw at WWDC. Maybe they'll introduce a game controller or some new colors to differentiate it from the 1st gen. As for the iPad 5, it'll get the new design, Retina Display, and some other killer feature.
The other scenario if the Mini gets retina, it could be 16GB for $399, while a 32GB iPad 5 becomes $499. Then it's a matter of "should I pay an extra $100 and get twice the memory and a larger screen?" Because I still don't believe we'll get a Retina iPad Mini at the current price point.
Agreed! Mini is handy, light, & amazing.. but I believe they will always keep it one processor below full size. The full size is a powerhouse comparatively. Also, there are some things that are MUCH more pleasant on full-size iPad. I read comics on mine.. they are almost identical in size to the printed versions. Mini...... not so much. =/
I couldn't disagree with you more! Apple has NEVER been afraid to canniballize their own sales.. as they say "if we don't do it, somebody else will". iPod mini was JUST ramping up sales & eclipsing classic sales when they replaced it with nano. Also, I believe that they chose the $329 price point to be forward thinking.. so they wouldn't have to raise the price when they introduced mini with retina. I believe they try to keep their profit margin similar between models, so honestly.. they couldn't care less which one you purchase.
I don't think any of this would be enough to differentiate mini 2 from mini 1 from marketing perspective. there should be something more on the hardware side to distinguish the two since the form factor remains exactly the same. if not retina display then what? perhaps a fingerprint sensor in the home button? if they are going to put one into the iphone why not in the ipads?
Put me down as another one in favour of the large iPad.
Recently sold my iPad mini, because it was well...too mini.
It was nice, and frankly the non-retina wasn't the issue. I just need a bigger picture for showing clients samples in my design portfolio. The larger iPad is better suited for 'work' applications with the mini perfect for more 'personal' usage like reading in bed or watching a movie on the couch.
Recently sold my iPad mini, because it was well...too mini.
It was nice, and frankly the non-retina wasn't the issue. I just need a bigger picture for showing clients samples in my design portfolio. The larger iPad is better suited for 'work' applications with the mini perfect for more 'personal' usage like reading in bed or watching a movie on the couch.
what you said is completely true, but times have changed, and devices have changed. If you remember correctly, what was the biggest differentiator between the Nano and the iPod Classic? Capacity. While the Nano was still 2 or 4GB, the iPod Classic was 20 or 60GB. So even though the Nano was cannibalizing iPod Classic sales, there was still a real market for the people who had a huge music collection and wanted A LOT more storage.
With the iPads, it's very different. You get those two similarly sized devices (iPad 5), that function exactly the same, which both run all the same apps at relatively excellent speeds, and if the Mini 2 has a retina, will have the same screen quality as well. Yet one will cost $329, and the other is $499! Where is the real differentiator? Capacity? Not even a chance. Even if the 128GB model is exclusive to the iPad 5, that's a real tiny market who need that, and anyways, everything is in the cloud. Performance? Not really. The current Mini with its aging A5 is already pretty quick for the majority of consumers, even with iOS 7, and yet can run all apps and games.
With the iPod, it was capacity that differentiated models. With MacBooks, there is a considerable performance gap between the 13" and 15", so the 15" has a market for people looking for a more powerful, and more capable laptop that can run programs the 13" can't. What about iPads? I don't know, but I just can't see a real differentiator other than the Retina Display which Apple could sell on.
Well thought out post!
While time will tell... I very much DO believe that there is a HUGE market for each different size screen, even the rumored 13". Remember, there are an enormous amount of geriatric consumers, with bad eyes & deep pockets. There are a growing number of professionals from artists to airline pilots that are using these daily in their careers. The mini serves NONE of those segments. While I understand your casual consumer sentiment, I'm not sure you're opening your mind to the fact that many might feel quite differently that you, regarding the importance of screen size. After all... look at all the flak Apple is taking for not having an iPhone that is .3" larger.
But at the expense of one of iPad strongest feature- low latency audio performance.
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/05/why-mobile-low-latency-is-hard-explained-by-google-galaxy-nexus-still-android-of-choice/
It's essentially a sticker placed on the back. The new housings have an actual cutout in the back, with a mirrored/chromed cutout piece filling it.
If you looked at them side by side you'd see a big difference in the reflectiveness. Just by the videos I can tell.