Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Seems there's the call for TWO new iPads in this thread's evolving wish list:
  • iPad Mini Next
  • iPad Mini Next PRO
For me, iPads have LONG LEGS... meaning they tend to be just fine for much longer than iPhone. The "long in tooth" effect that seems to follow only a couple of iOS updates doesn't seem so obvious in iPad OS updates... perhaps because latest-generation iPads like Mini can be the "latest" Apple has for sale for 3 or 4 years before being replaced with a new one???

So far, my "hop" has been from Gen 2 to Gen 6 (about 8 years... when key apps actually stop working). I expect the next hop to be Gen 9 or 10 because 6 will be "just fine" (for my purposes anyway... which includes it standing in as phone too: VOIP app + buds).

However, I do greatly covet some goodies in iPhone PRO MAX and iPad PROs like the better cameras, etc. So if Apple ever rolls out a Mini PRO- even at relatively high "PRO" (means PROfit) pricing- I'm jumping right on it... and then riding it for about 3-4 generations before replacing it. Else, see you in 2029-30 or so for Mini 9 or 10: 7 soon, 8 in about 2027, then 9 or so. Bring it on!
 
Last edited:
M1, 8GB of DRAM, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB tiers, less or no jelly scrolling…and no other changes…maybe horizontal front camera, but not counting on that. $499, $599 and $799 and 5G versions $150 more.
 
Update it? I wouldn't be surprised if the just kill it. The newer iPhones rolling out are practically kissing up to it in size. Why just force the screen size queens to buy one of those for over 1K?
I don't want to use a luggage size phone as my main communication device. That is why I have the pro model. The iPad mini helps to fill a gap in a variety of ways.
 
Last edited:
Update it? I wouldn't be surprised if the just kill it. The newer iPhones rolling out are practically kissing up to it in size. Why just force the screen size queens to buy one of those for over 1K?

Look up the drawn comparisons. Aspect ratio makes a huge difference… even if an iPhone rolled out with the SAME number.

Daytona 360 posted an image of the comparison of PRO MAX vs. Mini in the thread earlier this month. See very clearly how "only about 1.XX inches" is dramatically different.
 
Last edited:
Dear Apple:

Keep the LED, add FaceID and 120hz, and this will sell like hotcakes without cannibalizing iPad Pro sales.
Worse because it will cannibalize iPhone pro max’s. Why buy something at double the price with less screen size? That’s why it’s unlikely Apple releases what you are asking for unless it’s in a foldable iPhone pro max package so you end up playing close to 2k for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tagbert
Would love a iPad mini with an M series chip so I could have external monitor Stage Manager support. Having a powerful computer that you can easily fit in your pocket but also function as a pseudo-desktop would be incredible.
 
I would love to see a 512/1TB option. That's it. More storage. I can deal with 60hz-for now anyway. 8GB RAM wouldn't hurt either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Xade
Genuinely curious what the June conference shows us for the future of iPadOS. The 2024 iPads already released are fantastic hardware, but as always, the software holds them back. I think the future of the Mini will be a little more predictable once we see the plans for any changes (or not) in June.

Would take any form of updated Mini at this point. It is very much due.
 
Expecting a new processor, maybe new colours and some other minor changes. Will be definitely an incremental update.
 
Keep the LED, add FaceID and 120hz, and this will sell like hotcakes without cannibalizing iPad Pro sales.
Worse because it will cannibalize iPhone pro max’s. Why buy something at double the price with less screen size? That’s why it’s unlikely Apple releases what you are asking for unless it’s in a foldable iPhone pro max package so you end up playing close to 2k for it.

You are not taking into account that the iPhone Pro Max has an OLED display & much better cameras; oh, and it can make phone calls...
 
This is the only thing Apple makes that I'm in the market for, and it's the most ciritical piece of gear I use all day every day. I manage both my companies on it, redline drawings from employees & students alike, it goes with me everywhere. I'm glad that some of you use it to watch movies on your morning train, but this thing is ideal for way, way, wayyyy more than that. The 5th gen is a tough machine to beat. The 6th was a mess. I expect more thought put into the 7th.

Yeah I too use it in landscape 99% of the time, because technical drawings are oriented that way, two page spreads are oriented that way, most applications are oriented that way, and my eyes are oriented that way. The only time I use it in portrait is for vertical scrolling web pages & following GPS directions where I want to see more of what's ahead and behind my dot.

and I have no need for a mechanical keyboard attached to it either. The only thing I want to attach to it is a second iPad mini, via a magnetic hinge attachment that gives it a clamshell config, & that lets two Minis share processing power for a mega mini.

Also, if the ipad is being held in the portrait orientation, and it's playing a wide landscape video, don't black out the entire screen, let me slide the video to the top or bottom so I can use the rest of the display for other tasks. If I want it full screen I'll watch it in landscape. 10+ years and they still haven't figured this out.

And make the silver one with a black screen, I'm tired of having to build my own out of parts.
 
Last edited:
I just want to use an iPad mini and an Apple Watch Ultra as my day-to-day out-and-about gear; the watch for cell calls and health data whatnot, the tablet for drawing/sketching and whatnot...
 
  • Like
Reactions: sleeptodream
Improved thermals for M2 chip (like the Air) or A18, 8GB RAM, base storage of 128GB, landscape front camera (and Pencil Pro support) and some of the rest should line up with this article (like WiFi 6E, BT 5.3 and E-SIM-only).

Basically, if people were satisfied with the new Air specs, they should be happy with the Mini 7.
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Mitchan1999
Update it? I wouldn't be surprised if the just kill it. The newer iPhones rolling out are practically kissing up to it in size. Why just force the screen size queens to buy one of those for over 1K?
1.6 inches diagonally makes for a much bigger screen in area. Even the Pro Max screen is small in comparison. And the Pro Max is almost twice the price. They aren’t competing products at all.
 
Genuinely curious what the June conference shows us for the future of iPadOS. The 2024 iPads already released are fantastic hardware, but as always, the software holds them back. I think the future of the Mini will be a little more predictable once we see the plans for any changes (or not) in June.

Would take any form of updated Mini at this point. It is very much due.
I expect this year to focus on AI across all the OSs and less on individual OS features. They may refine new features like Stage Manager but probably no major new features that aren’t AI.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.