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glhiii

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 4, 2006
295
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I have an iPad mini, version 5. After getting an iPhone Air and discovering how relieved I am to be rid of the weight of my older iPhone Pro Max, I have started using the mini again and find I really like it -- it is wonderfully light and easy to carry around. It badly needs to be upgraded but I am concerned that with the coming foldable iPhone Apple the mini will not be updated. I am not interested in a foldable iPhone (for $2000) that probably will not allow you to use the Apple pencil, but would gladly update to a new mini (for $700-800?).
 
You're not alone in preferring to not have to spend that amount on a device that is the size of an iPad Mini. I suspect that the Mini will stick around for a while longer.
 
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If the rumors are true, the Mini is getting an update to OLED this year.

I don’t expect the folding iPhone to impact the iPad for actual iPad users. For users that don’t see the point in a tablet, we’ll see a lot of posts about it “replacing” a tablet.

The Fold will also cost $2k+ vs probably $600 for the Mini with OLED.

I think it’ll be fine.
 
Cost wise, iPad mini will cost probably 1/3 of the Fold, so it will remain as a budget alternative to Fold. Samsung has mini tablets and Fold and both have their place in the ecosystem.
 
Being worried that the iPad Mini won't be updated because of the iPhold is like being worried that Mac Mini won't be updated because of Mac Studio.
 
Comparing my iPad mini to my Galaxy Z Fold7 reveal just how different the user experience is.

Each of these devices has its own unique characteristics and use cases. I find that they're both enjoyable, quite useful and different enough that neither are a replacement for the other.

However if the rumors about the smaller size of the iPhone Fold or whatever they decide to call it are true, that will be a distinctly different story. Now that I have experience with a folding phone it's hard to understand why Apple would make theirs so tiny considering the main feature of a foldable is a large screen.

Perhaps like iPhone Air, Apple's fold will be a flop.
 
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I don’t expect it’ll make the iPad mini “obsolete” in the same way the iPhone rendered the iPod obsolete. Certainly it’ll have an impact, though. I personally do want a Fold to replace both my iPhone and iPad mini, for example. But not everyone will go that route.
 
I'm interested in the fold, but my plan is to wait until the second gen, so Apple has at least one ipad mini refresh to go for me. I suspect how long the ipad mini stays around depends largely on how well the fold sells, so my guess is at least a few years.
 
Not at 2500 it won't! iPad Mini will see a huge upgrade this year according to rumours, plus it isn't a first gen device.
 
I've tried foldables before and I realized I don't like the 2 in 1 form factor. I don't want my phone to morph into a bigger form because then the smaller form gets gimped in the process. Given what the rumored foldable will look like when not folded, I won't be interested.
 
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The price comparison for me is the cost of a separate iPhone and iPad mini vs the new fold. $2k is something I can stomach. $2.5k is pushing the bounds for me. What was a potential slam dunk replacement for me is looking a bit iffy. I will have to wait and get my hands on it after it releases to make that decision.
 
Eventually, maybe it will make it obsolete. If it did, it would mean Apple knocked it out of the park with the folding option and that the cost came down over time. Those are all possibilities.

In the immediate future, the iPad Mini will remain extremely relevant. You can consider the Mini 7 for an affordable update (though I still prefer the 5’s form factor), or you can wait for a rumored OLED model sometime this fall. Overall, the Mini is a mature product line at this point with enough of a following where Apple won’t just up and drop it.
 
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