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When to Expect the Next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad Models to Launch

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While rumors have been focused on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some Apple customers are wondering when the next iPad mini will be released.

iPad-Mini-6-YouTubed-2.jpg

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models will be released in late 2024 at the earliest.

"The company is also working on new versions of the low-end iPad and iPad mini, but those won't be coming before the end of the year at the earliest," he said. "The new downscale iPad will probably end up being a cost-reduced version of the 10th generation model from 2022, while the iPad mini update won't include much more than a processor upgrade."

The current sixth-generation iPad mini was released in September 2021, and it is equipped with an A15 Bionic chip. Gurman expects the next model to feature a newer chip, but few other changes. Additional features rumored by other sources include camera upgrades and a fix for the "jelly scrolling" display behavior.

The low-end iPad was last updated in October 2022. An eleventh-generation iPad could start at a lower price than the 10th-generation iPad, which could pave the way for Apple to discontinue the ninth-generation iPad with the Lightning connector.

Article Link: When to Expect the Next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad Models to Launch
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/07/when-to-expect-next-ipad-mini/
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Cost reduced meaning flat out price cut and no new CPU to improve on A14? Surely A15 as a minimum? After all, that's driving the cheapest iPhone.

As for the Mini, an A16 and call it a day sounds very much like a treading water update. Another priced cut would make sense if the basic iPad is getting an update.

Both would be welcome though.
 
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So starting to September 2024 ending with March 2025 is the time frame i expect
 
At last (iPad mini 7), which is now 1 of about 3 releases away from the Mini 9 or 10 which will be my next one. Until then, iPad Mini 6 should keep right on rolling... just like Mini 2 lasted for many generations before the hop to 6. Since these things have LONG use legs... without that mysterious "long in tooth" effect that pushes for much faster iPhone updates... it's easy to wait several generations without feeling "left behind."

Bring on this 7 and then an 8 in 2 or 3 years and then "my" 9 or 10 in a few more... UNLESS... Apple surprises with perhaps a Mini PRO model with iPhone MAX cameras, etc, and then I probably buy that one sooner than this plan. With VOIP app and buds, my cellular Mini doubles as my Phone too and does both jobs well in ONE package at lower hardware cost, less frequent upgrade cost and much lower 5G service cost. So I'd be very quick to jump on most of the distinguishing iPhone hardware advantages built into a Mini Pro version... even at current iPad Pro pricing.

To those ready for a new Mini, enjoy your purchase. These are great iPads... IMO, the ideal "goldilocks" for a tablet.
 
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The only thing keeping the Mini from cannibalizing the core iPad line is the price point. Plus they tend to let this thing get stale for years at a time.

The difference between the normal iPad and iPad Mini is baffling to me. Why is the smallest iPad a premium step over the base model?

Maybe if Apple had treated the iPhone Mini the same way with a decent camera it would have made some sense, but then stack up both names against the Mac Mini moniker and I truly have no idea what they’re doing with their naming conventions.

Apple has no problem letting “Air” be the inexpensive MacBook, but then the iPad Air is one model away from the top in the iPad lineup. It’s all very strange.

Side note, we love our Minis and have no need for anything more. Keep ‘em coming.

Perhaps Mini is an internal code word for product neglect? Sigh.
 
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JippaLippa said:
The iPad mini has been requested for all these years.
I might even get one, as I'm trying to convert to a fully digital note taking experience.
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Depending upon what you are currently using for taking hand-written notes, the Mini may prove to be challenging for that task.

Among my digital notes, I take handwritten notes in a notebook that is 1/2 US letter size. (approx. 8.5" x 5.5"). I can easily take notes on my 9th gen iPad. I also take notes on my Mini 5. But... the pen on screen experience is too "slippery" to be able to write as small on the Mini as I can in that notebook.

Using a "paper-like" screen protector doesn't reduce the slipperiness enough to make it comfortable to write small and neat. It does improve things, but not enough to be comfortable (but I might be spoiled by the writing experience on the Kindle Scribe)

I recommend finding a friend or acquaintance that has a Mini and uses it for notes to try it yourself to see how well it will work for you.
 
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If they really don't do more than a spec bump for the Mini that would be quite disappointing. At least they should do something about the display controller and the jelly scrolling.
But then it's also still month away and Gurman has to write a lot of newsletters ;)
 
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If the next iPad mini will get little more than a processor upgrade, I wonder what the holdup is.

When the iPad Mini 6 came out in 2021, it was essentially a smaller version of the 4th gen iPad Air (the last model before the iPad Air got the M1 chip). In fact, the chip in the Mini 6 was a little faster than the iPad Air 4. It had many of the same features as the Air, including Apple Pencil 2 support and a very similar form factor (just smaller). It seemed like Apple was positioning the iPad Mini as a smaller version of the iPad Air, but equally capable (for the most part).

That changed in 2022 when the iPad Air got the M1 chip and the Mini did not. Then, Apple let both models whither for a few years.

Now, it seems the Air will get the M2 chip. Will the Mini even get an M-series chip when it comes out in late 2024/early 2025? Or does Apple no longer want to position it as a smaller version of the iPad Air, instead relegating it to a similar status as the budget iPad?
 
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roncron said:
If the next iPad mini will get little more than a processor upgrade, I wonder what the holdup is.

When the iPad Mini 6 came out in 2021, it was essentially a smaller version of the 4th gen iPad Air (the last model before the iPad Air got the M1 chip). In fact, it's chip was a little faster than the iPad Air 4. It had many of the same features as the Air, including Apple Pencil 2 support and a very similar form factor (just smaller). It seemed like Apple was positioning the iPad Mini as a smaller version of the iPad Air, but equally capable (for the most part).

That changed in 2022 when the iPad Air got the M1 chip and the Mini did not. Then, Apple let both models whither for a few years.

Now, it seems the Air will get the M2 chip. Will the Mini even get an M-series chip when it comes out in late 2024/early 2025? Or does Apple no longer want to position it as a smaller version of the iPad Air, instead relegating it to a similar status as the budget iPad?
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I think the same way.

I was never interested in the mini form factor but tried one with the current gen and haven't looked back. In fact it made me sell my 12.9" iPad Pro - something I never really used but the mini I used all the time.

For me, the mini is the only iPad im interested in now and would happily upgrade when the opportunity presents itself but NOT if its such a boring update as is rumoured here.

You cant leave something for 3 years and then have a minor processor upgrade.

I dont understand why the mini wont get the M series chips if the air and pros have them already - I do wish the mini had stage manager at least so it could be used with external monitor support.

So, im hoping after 3 years theres more than just a modest spec bump. Ive always seen the mini as the 'pro or air mini' and not the base iPad mini.
 
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ipedro said:
Both really need an M class chip to unify the OS. iPadOS for A chips is one experience, M chips is another. Apple has to develop both streams that are growing farther apart. Surely the M1 chip is cheap enough to add to the iPad and iPad mini.
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Why would Apple cannibalize its upmarket models and also lose money on a higher-cost chip?
 
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SkippyThorson said:
The only thing keeping the Mini from cannibalizing the core iPad line is the price point. Plus they tend to let this thing get stale for years at a time.

The difference between the normal iPad and iPad Mini is baffling to me. Why is the smallest iPad a premium step over the base model?
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Smaller market, fully laminated AR-coated display, P3 color, higher PPI, faster SoC, Pencil 2 compatibility, True Tone flash, thinner and lighter. The mini is mid-market, not entry-level. Its smaller size is a feature, not a cost reduction measure.
 
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Tim “I’ll keep the existing assets from last year to save money” Cook strikes again.
 
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