iPad mini 2 weighs 331g, while the iPad mini 4 weighs 304g.. but still heavier than 8" Galaxy Tab S2 at only 265g
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Will the iPad mini 5 be even lighter?
- Thread starter Macbook14in
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The Tab S2 is lighter but it has worse battery life. You don't get something for nothing, although if your primary purpose is just to watch movies then the S2 is a better device.
If it does indeed get lighter, I'd hope that it's not at the cost of battery life like what Samsung did.
If it does indeed get lighter, I'd hope that it's not at the cost of battery life like what Samsung did.
None of us has any way of knowing for certain, but there's not really any reason to assume that it will be.
I think Apple is trying to get out of the iPad mini and was sorta forced into bringing out something due to all those Android mini-tablets years ago. I was going to sell my iPad mini 4 until I realized it is a perfect device for my Phantom 4 remote, but other than that it was sitting in a drawer while I prefer my iPad Pro 9.7.
Mini iPads outsold the larger models last holiday season.
I use my Mini 3 in bed to catch up on everything but am thinking of upgrading to the 9.7" Pro. Kind of reluctant due to the fact it only has 2 GB of RAM in it and the Mini has higher screen resolution too. That means performance will be limited, number of webpages open, etc... Suppose to have better color and be much brighter then my Mini!
The Mini 4 and the 9.7" Pro have the same screen resolution. The Mini 4 just has a higher pixel density because the same number of pixels are in a smaller area.
Thanks! That fact puts me one step closer to getting one, but I think next year; Apple will add the additional RAM to make it equal to the iPhone 7+ to 3GB.
Apple won't add more RAM to the Mini 5. It would have hit the Pro 9.7 first. If it becomes the Pro 7.9, then maybe, but not a Mini 5.
To be honest, I doubt that. From what I've heard, the only reason the 7+ has that much RAM is something to do with the greater imaging processing demands of the dual cameras. I wouldn't say no to more RAM on the Mini, but I don't think that it's needed, so Apple probably won't add it.
My guess is yes Apple has a history of Discontinuing popular products the iPod Mini comes to mind, but they introduced the Nano the same day.
I think the 10.5 Tablet Rumors are too strong. And Apples Size tiers may look like this. Next year 2017
IPhone 8 at 5.0" inches yet same size as out going big bezeled 7
IPhone 8 Pro at 5.7" inches 1440p OLED again bigger display yet smaller than out going 5.5" Plus
IPad Mini 8" discontinued
IPad Pro 9.7"
IPad Pro 12.9 discontinued
New iPad Pro 10.5 inches with new A10X Fusion CPU,
The 12.9 inch model has been killed with poor feedback poor sales even Price drops and the Return Rate was through the Roof when the 9.7 Pro came out. It's just too big Not to be a Laptop it's not even a good Tablet Few Apps have been fully Optimized. It's not gonna stay around for long.
Customers will Likely Opt for an iPhone 8 Pro and a 9.7 iPad Pro to have two devices. Like Me
Tim Cooks personal device is a 12.9 Pro. It's also mine. Safe to assume it will continue on getting updates.
My personal preference is the size of the 4.7" iPhone along with an iPad mini. I currently have the 6s+ and the Air 2, and both are bigger than my preference. I sure hope Apple doesn't discontinue the mini. I'd love for them to put the latest top processor in it rather than year old specs. I think only one mini has used the latest specs
Tim Cook isn't going to keep throwing big sums of money at the 12.9 just because he prefers the size. Hell, he can have one made especially for him with modern components if he really cares (and I doubt he does).
Unless Apple does something on the iOS software side to take advantage of the bigger screen, and developers jump on board with really trying to take advantage, I see the 12.9 slowly being killed off. My personal feeling is iOS will continue to be a blown up version of the phone OS, and they will continue to devote the vast majority of their resources towards enhancing it for smartphones.
Unlikely they get rid of the Mini! Still sell pretty well. More likely they get rid of the Pro line, since it not selling very well especially the 12.9" model! Mini has much higher profit margins since Apple takes last year's components and put them in the New Mini! Mini buyers are owners of previous Minis and Air that want smaller size, thus lots of built-in demand just like that of the iPhone!
Exactly. I feel a bit "strongarmed" into buying the larger model to get the performance I want. If I could have the internals of the current Pro, in the package of the mini, that would be GREAT! Of course, battery life would suffer, so it would have to be a "throttled" CPU or something.
I'm genuinely curious.... what application did you want to use on the iPad mini that requires the "performance that you want"?
In regards to battery life, Apple could place the new A10 in the Mini 5 and that would increase everything - it even faster then the A9X on graphics too! It could happen and Apple would have to worry about updating the Mini for the next three year if they did that move to the A10!
But as everyone knows now, it the amount of RAM that cause these mobile device to be obsolete, not the SoC inside. That why Apple just does not want to give their device to much RAM or it will extend the life of the devices beyond the three year schedule. But, again if you do not upgrade iOS ever, you mobile device will run at the same speed as you first purchase it! Apple try every way to insure you upgrade it so, it becomes obsolete and buy a new device.
Last edited:
Not OP, but I feel the same way. For me it's future proofing. I usually buy up on size and add cellular and applecare which makes even the Mini pretty pricey. If I'm going to drop $800 on a tablet, I want it to last as long as possible. It's disappointing to have a new device come out and be behind the latest specs and be missing functionality that already exists in other iPads or iPhones. New versions of iOS and Apple Apps will be designed with the best current specs in mind, and an a Mini will be left behind faster than the 9.7 iPad from the same year.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
Nothing but the facts on why Mini 4 needs an upgrade - straight from Apple's website!
The A8 is going on four years old! Look at how it compares to the Air 2 in performance! Remember, the A8 was used on the iPhone 6.
See this link:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A8
Nothing but the facts on why Mini 4 needs an upgrade - straight from Apple's website!
The A8 is going on four years old! Look at how it compares to the Air 2 in performance! Remember, the A8 was used on the iPhone 6.
See this link:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A8
Last edited:
None of that makes it a bad processor. The Mini 4 runs wonderfully smooth on iOS 10. Also, the A8 in the Mini 4 is actually clocked higher than the one used in the iPhone 6, and it's supported by twice the RAM. An upgrade to the Mini 4 would of course be nice, but it's still a very capable tablet, especially among 8" devices, which are what I think it should be compared to.
And wait, how is the A8 that debuted in September 2014 "going on 4 years old" in September of 2016? It just turned 2!