Apple's realization that iPad mini was the wrong bet

[bruinsrme]

I don't think Apple knew how to market it. I think its one of those products that seems like a good idea but what problem is it solving exactly.

Agree

Look at the Apple stores in our area. The avenues that display toys have iPhone pluses on the display.
Through an ipad mini on the shelf displaying the toys.

Home kit avenues. they use just an iphone. Through a mini up there and call it a control pad sitting in a nice wall mount.

 

[007p]

Home kit avenues. they use just an iphone. Through a mini up there and call it a control pad sitting in a nice wall mount.

I’ve always thought this.

I guess Apple hope/want the HomePod to fill this void? I guess they’ll add a screen to it at some point lol?

 

[HarryWild]

iPad Mini is long in the tooth! Going on 3 years without an update! If nothing else, just update the RAM to 4GB and SoC to A11 for 2018 Mini5! No cost to Apple since everything is already created and components will be a year old by time it is released! Same chassis and screen. Component will be much smaller in size too. Going from the A8 to A11 is 20 nm to 12 nm in thickness and SoC is around 50% smaller in size. RAM is much smaller to they decide to use the current LPddr5 set. Mini 4 has the slow lpddr3 that was first release back in 2011! lpddr4 is probably what Apple will use since it cheap and a commodity item.

 

[tangowhiskey]

The Mini is the perfect size for a small airplane cockpit. It's really a shame that they aren't updating it - a Mini Pro with Pencil support would be great. I'm still using a Mini 2 and I'm debating spending a bit more on a 10.5 pro rather than the Mini 4. Seems silly to spend $400 on a device that's now a few years old. My only concern is the Pro being too large.

 

[Atomic1977]

The mini 2 is the perfect iPad and the best size a lot of those bigger iPads are so balky looking.

 

[colodane]

As much as I personally like the iPad Mini product, I think the handwriting is on the wall. Apple is going in a different direction.

What may ultimately kill it is the foldable phones expected in a couple years. 2020 was the latest prediction I've seen. This will make the "Phablet" offerings bigger so that they overlap the size of the Mini.

 

[Atomic1977]

What’s a phablet? Is that even a thing?

 

[Septembersrain]

What’s a phablet? Is that even a thing?

It was. Now it's more like they are just big phones. What always set the standard for being called a Phablet (To me) was a device with the ability to use a stylus of some kind.

 

[joeblow7777]

What’s a phablet? Is that even a thing?

A smartphone that is large enough to theoretically replace a small tablet for at least some users. The Galaxy Note line were perhaps the first mainstream "phablets" to become popular. Now there are tons, including the Plus sized iPhones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phablet

 

[Count Blah]

Does the demise of the iPad mini not also mean the demise of the iphone SE?

The same arguments apply to both.

I can see different arguments. What parent is going to give their kids a $800+ cell phone to go off and destroy? Much easier/smarter to get a < $200 iPhone SE thru your cellular provider.

The iPod Shuffle is a dead segment, due to the deals you can find on the iPhone SE - You don't have to turn on a cellar service, to use it as an iPod Shuffle.

Plus, Apple is trying to break into the India market, and that is being done with the iPhone SE/SE variant.

All those add up to the SE fulfilling MANY roles that the iPad Mini cannot hope to touch.

 

[Moccasin]

I was once a huge fan of the iPad Mini, and found the Mini 4 much better than its predecessors. With my iPhone X though, I find myself using it far less. I have a couple of digital magazines that I read on it but for most tasks, I find my iPhone is good enough.

I don’t yet know what the 4 will be replaced with. My Late 2010 MBA is probably as useful now as my iPad is but I assume it won’t get the next MacOS release & its battery is getting old.

It’s all academic at the moment anyway, as I can’t afford to replace anything, but I can’t see myself buying another Mini now - possibly only if they increase the screen size within its current form factor.

 

[Atomic1977]

The way things are going there should of been a mini 6 by now lol.

 

[lozion]

There is one aspect missing in this discussion. This issue is not only a hardware but a software one as well. There exists a TON of iPad only apps not available on iPhones, forcing a user to move up to a bigger iPad to continue using these apps if the Mini is eol’d. Also, a larger iPad being cumbersome, users will need a second device for phone duties. I have been using Mini’s for 3 years as my sole iOS device, making calls via a SIP softphone with great results. People laugh when I say I have the «++ » iPhone 10. If the Mini is eol’d, I wont be able to use the control apps I need on the iPhone and wont be able to use a larger iPad as a « big iPhone ». We need a Mini Pro..

 

[Clix Pix]

Apple's solution is very simple: buy an iPhone and buy an iPad and you're good to go.....

 

[subjonas]

Apple's solution is very simple: buy an iPhone and buy an iPad and you're good to go.....

What do you mean? I have an iPhone and an iPad (mini).

The problem is Apple is making my preferred setup increasingly behind in updates.

 

[Check 6]

For pilots especially, in general aviation the Mini has a real place. The vast majority of pilots use IPADS for meeting the requirement of having current navigation charts in the cockpit. The IPAD Mini is the perfect size for use in the cockpit and we are talking thousands of pilots. The current mini is satisfactory but an updated one especially allowing use of the Apple pencil would be GREAT

 

[Jetcat3]

For pilots especially, in general aviation the Mini has a real place. The vast majority of pilots use IPADS for meeting the requirement of having current navigation charts in the cockpit. The IPAD Mini is the perfect size for use in the cockpit and we are talking thousands of pilots. The current mini is satisfactory but an updated one especially allowing use of the Apple pencil would be GREAT

Yes, I do echo this. As well as releasing another Mini, a display-to-body ratio that’s closer to the 10.5” Pro would be wonderful for pilots as well. I use a 10.5” but I don’t bring it into the cockpit much because of it’s size.

 

[lozion]

All audio engineers like me use iPads for digital console control.
I re iterate: We need a Mini pro.

 

[lozion]

No new Mini's. Shame..

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’ve never understood the people who compare iPhone sales to iPad sales. They have totally different life cycles. iPads change very little over a 3 year period you don’t need to upgrade them as often. They are also not a portable fashion accessory that people lust after year on year.