Will there be an iPad mini (7.9") pro?

[Mad Mac Maniac]

And there have also been Bluetooth keyboards for the Mini for years.

Yeah, but the bluetooth keyboard for the mini are pretty bad. I make more mistakes on them than they are worth. I've tried a couple. It's just too small. In fact, I just tried the 9.7 pro keyboard today at the Apple store and it was just borderline too small, but workable. I can't imagine Apple ever releasing a keyboard for the mini unless it fold up. They may give it the smart connector allowing 3rd parties to create one though.

 

[xmichaelp]

No. It's too small for a keyboard and it's just too small in general to be a productivity device.

 

[smacrumon]

Yes Apple will release an iPad mini pro because they're intent on confusing their lineup even more than they have to date.
Really though, Apple should have just three products small, medium, large and build in the best internals from the outset. One needs a three-dimensional chart now to explain what each Apple iPad does, it's just a confusing mess that doesn't help the customer make a purchase decision.

 

[Abazigal]

Yes Apple will release an iPad mini pro because they're intent on confusing their lineup even more than they have to date.
Really though, Apple should have just three products small, medium, large and build in the best internals from the outset. One needs a three-dimensional chart now to explain what each Apple iPad does, it's just a confusing mess that doesn't help the customer make a purchase decision.

It's actually not that confusing.

For iPads, we have 2 models (iPad mini, iPad Air 2) for consumers, and 2 models (iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9) for professionals.

The extra cost helps segment the user base further because only "professionals" who intend to use the iPad for work would be able to justify spending extra on a souped-up stylus and keyboard.

I don't see a market for the iPad mini pro because it tends to cater to the more budget-conscious crowd, and these people are less likely to splurge on costly accessories.

 

[smacrumon]

It's actually not that confusing.

For iPads, we have 2 models (iPad mini, iPad Air 2) for consumers, and 2 models (iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9) for professionals.

The extra cost helps segment the user base further because only "professionals" who intend to use the iPad for work would be able to justify spending extra on a souped-up stylus and keyboard.

I don't see a market for the iPad mini pro because it tends to cater to the more budget-conscious crowd, and these people are less likely to splurge on costly accessories.

Who's a consumer, who's a professional? Can I be both professional and consumer. The naming conventions are really awful. Mini - refers to size? Air - refers to weight? Pro - refers to top notch users? Three different labels. It's confusing. There was once a time not long ago where it was just clear and simple.
That's a generalisation. Some like the mini due to its compact form factor, but still like buying accessories to add to the purchase.
Apple is throwing ideas out there to see what sticks instead of delivering best products in category.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

It's actually not that confusing.

For iPads, we have 2 models (iPad mini, iPad Air 2) for consumers, and 2 models (iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9) for professionals.

There are arguments why that's still confusing and doesn't work perfectly, but even assuming that as the simple lineup, it breaks down quickly. What happens next year? The iPad Pro Devices (hehe) will certainly get updated, but what happens to the 9.7" iPad then? Do we ever get an Air 3? Does the Pro 1 just lower in price to $500 (or even $400)?

 

[PatriotInvasion]

Who's a consumer, who's a professional? Can I be both professional and consumer. The naming conventions are really awful. Mini - refers to size? Air - refers to weight? Pro - refers to top notch users? Three different labels. It's confusing. There was once a time not long ago where it was just clear and simple.
That's a generalisation. Some like the mini due to its compact form factor, but still like buying accessories to add to the purchase.
Apple is throwing ideas out there to see what sticks instead of delivering best products in category.

It gets a little less confusing if you stop viewing the iPad Air 2 as a real product in the line. For all intents and purposes, that iPad was replaced with the 9.7 iPad Pro. It only exists still to meet a certain price point. Same goes for the MacBook Air - it's still sold but isn't truly part of the future product line up. In that case, you have three iPads - 7.9" mini as an entry level model at $399...9.7" Pro at $599...and a 12.9" Pro for $799. Erase "Air" from your memory because that moniker is dead across all product lines.

I do miss the days when they simply discontinued products when new ones were released. It made the lineup so much cleaner for people who don't follow this stuff as close as we do.

 

[smacrumon]

It gets a little less confusing if you stop viewing the iPad Air 2 as a real product in the line. For all intents and purposes, that iPad was replaced with the 9.7 iPad Pro. It only exists still to meet a certain price point. Same goes for the MacBook Air - it's still sold but isn't truly part of the future product line up. In that case, you have three iPads - 7.9" mini as an entry level model at $399...9.7" Pro at $599...and a 12.9" Pro for $799. Erase "Air" from your memory because that moniker is dead across all product lines.

I do miss the days when they simply discontinued products when new ones were released. It made the lineup so much cleaner for people who don't follow this stuff as close as we do.

The fact that Apple is marketing iPads as 12.9-inch iPad Pro (large) and 9.7-inch iPad Pro (medium) along other iPads with other descriptions, while iPhones are marketed as iPhone 6s Plus (large) and iPhone 6s (medium) set off alarm bells. There is absolutely no consistency across Apple product lines. I intensely dislike how this is all presented to the customer. It's confusing and wrong.
iPad Pro should be just the current iPad. All users want to be able to use a "Pencil" if they so desire. Just like they want a "True Tone" display. One iPad Pro has a true tone display, while the other doesn't. Why? They were only released four months apart.
Steve Jobs would have hated his. He was against unnecessarily dividing full products into lesser variants. Put the product in the box. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=11rodG3ZF60C&pg=PT120
Total fragmentation at Apple. Simplicity and planning is totally lacking. Incredibly disappointed. To quote, Apple is taking a turn when it should be travelling in a straight line.
Anybody at Apple still speaking up and vetting products before they are even considered for release???

 

[PatriotInvasion]

The fact that Apple is marketing iPads as 12.9-inch iPad Pro (large) and 9.7-inch iPad Pro (medium) along other iPads with other descriptions, while iPhones are marketed as iPhone 6s Plus (large) and iPhone 6s (medium) set off alarm bells. There is absolutely no consistency across Apple product lines. I intensely dislike how this is all presented to the customer. It's confusing and wrong.
iPad Pro should be just the current iPad. All users want to be able to use a "Pencil" if they so desire. Just like they want a "True Tone" display. One iPad Pro has a true tone display, while the other doesn't. Why? They were only released four months apart.
Steve Jobs would have hated his. He was against unnecessarily dividing full products into lesser variants. Put the product in the box. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=11rodG3ZF60C&pg=PT120
Total fragmentation at Apple. Simplicity and planning is totally lacking. Incredibly disappointed. To quote, Apple is taking a turn when it should be travelling in a straight line.
Anybody at Apple still speaking up and vetting products before they are even considered for release???

I understand where you are coming from, but the day Steve passed away, they were selling the following:

- 11" MBA, 13" MBA ($1,299), 13" MBP ($1,199..cheaper than Air!), 15" MBA, and 17" MBP
- 21.5" iMac, 27" iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro
- iPod Shuffle, Nano, Classic (spinning HD), Touch
- iPhone 4S
- iPad 2

Obviously the iOS lineup was simple because both products were relatively new, and even then people were begging for more screen sizes and choice (hence why we got an iPad mini and eventually bigger screen iPhones). But, if you look at the Mac lineup it's as wacky as it is now. Once the MacBook Air gets discontinued, it'll be simpler with just MacBook and MacBook Pro like it used to be. On the iOS side, it's just a function of the products maturing and the natural effects of adding choice. Don't think Steve being gone has much impact on this.

 

[apolloa]

If they did make one I would like it to:

Have the exact same design and size as the current iPad Mini 4 as it's great, no need to make it any thinner.
Keep stereo speakers as I did think they could get four in it's chassis, but they may not sound as good, perhaps they could put one at each end?
Give it the 3 contacts on the side so you can place it in a stand on it's side and charge it, I think a keyboard the same size as the mini is too small, but others seem to love the idea so I guess so?

Give it the same true tone screen tech and same quality screen as the 9.7" iPad Pro.
Give it Pencil support if it's possible.
IF they can make the battery life the same as the current Mini 4 then put the A9X in it with 2GB Ram so it can cost a wee bit less. If the battery life would suffer at all then put a nice speedy A9 in it.

As to whether Apple will do it or not, hmm not sure, guess we will have to wait and see. But it won't fragment their line up any more then they have already done so I don't think.

 

[MisterMillz]

I doubt the 7.9" iPad will ever get the "pro" moniker (that's a whole other story about what really makes a "Pro", what happens to the Air line, etc...), but do you think Apple will release the "pro" features on the next iPad mini? Mainly talking about Smart connector and Pencil support. I think the other "pro" features of the speakers, true-tone and A9 processor are simply the natural evolution of the platform.

I could see the pencil being pretty useful on such a portable "sketchbook".

Smart connector would be interesting. 3rd parties aren't really taking advantage of it yet, but I could see a lot of potential. On that note, do you think it's possible for Apple (or someone) to create a smart keyboard for the iPad mini that actually wraps around the entire device? So it folds out to a full sized keyboard and provides complete protection when closed.

I think it'd be awesome if they made the Mini a "Pro". More than anything I like the possibility of one Moniker with 3 different variations. iPad Pro 7.9, 9.7, 12.9. The mini in itself is a very capable device. I'm not sure how well sketching would feel on a mini but it's still a viable option for those looking to have "ultimate" portability and power.

 

[bniu]

Here's my ideal lineup:

iPad 7.9" 32GB $399
iPad 9.7" 32GB $599
iPad 12.9" 32GB $799

32GB models, wifi only
Storage upgrades:
128GB wifi only, add $100
128GB wifi+cell, add $230
256GB wifi+cell, add $330 make 256GB model only in a wifi+cell config

iPhone 4" $399
iPhone 4.7" $549
iPhone 5.5" $699
32GB base, 128GB upgrade $100, 256 upgrade $200 (4.7" and 5.5" only)

2nd gen Touch ID across all devices, 5mp selfie with Retina Flash across all devices, 12mp iSight camera across all devices, True Tone flash across all devices, smart connector across all devices, Apple Pencil across all devices, usb 3 across all devices