iPad mini Do you see Apple releasing a mini-sized iPad Pro in the near future?

[iRock1]

Or you just can call it the iPad mini 6. For me, it's a no-brainer. Just take the wonderful mini-form factor and remove those huge and outdated top and chin, make the display edge to edge, add Face ID, ProMotion and perhaps quad-speakers. Boom.

Do you think it's probable?

 

[Ungibbed]

With quad speakers and such in a small chassis, there wouldn’t be much battery space unless Apple got really creative.

 

[iOS Geek]

Do I agree with you in saying that it would be a no-brainer? Somewhere in the middle. It would be cool and convenient! Don't see it being too practical though, unfortunately. As was already mentioned above, I could also see battery being a limiting factor.

Also, as nice as the small size would be...people who fit into the "pro" category don't necessarily want smaller. Smaller form factor would limit them in many aspects. I'm in the "it would be cool to have but not quite practical" camp 😂

 

[ericwn]

I don’t believe for a moment that Pro refers to a specific audience. Apple uses the term to mark a model with better performance or features rather than pointing at an audience.

I also believe the current mini would be awesome in a Pro fashion but I’m not sure if it would find many buyers outside of the enthusiast crowd.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I just bought my mini 5 last weekend, so this updated model should come out any time now.

If they did give the mini the iPad Pro update, I'd hope they keep the screen the same size and shrink the mini even more vs. keeping the case the same size and making the screen bigger. They'd probably have to make it bigger to allow the battery to be as large as possible though.

 

[sracer]

Or you just can call it the iPad mini 6. For me, it's a no-brainer. Just take the wonderful mini-form factor and remove those huge and outdated top and chin, make the display edge to edge, add Face ID, ProMotion and perhaps quad-speakers. Boom.

Do you think it's probable?

No, I don't think it is probable (at least not within the next 3 years). The Mini form factor really isn't for the general consumer. It is mostly for vertical markets that still heavily rely on the Mini and are price sensitive because of the quantities these are purchased in.

Those markets also rely on things like the headphone jack and home button...both of which are gone on the Pro.

 

[masotime]

Pretty sure it will happen. There were so many naysayers that even the iPad Mini 5 wouldn't happen.

However, I hope they can utilize the bezel area for a larger screen. Something like 9" would be great, although it might need to be a wider aspect ratio to fill the top/bottom bezels.

My 9" estimate assumes a transition to Face ID though - and I know there are lots of people who prefer Touch ID.

 

[Digitalguy]

It does not make sense for Apple to do, so not going to happen. Why? I have said it many times in these forums.
There are 3 ipad sizes, small (mini), standard (9.7, 10.2, 10.5, 11) and big (12.9)
Big is pro only and will stay pro only, as it's considered a niche.
Standard has all kind of options from entry to mid to pro level.
Mini is considered niche enough that it does not deserve a pro variant or a budget variant. That's why it's specced like the mid level air 3. And will stay "mid" (no budget, no pro).

 

[kierennyc]

Mini is considered niche enough that it does not deserve a pro variant or a budget variant. That's why it's specced like the mid level air 3. And will stay "mid" (no budget, no pro).

People get too caught up on the pro moniker when it comes to this subject. I think the real question is how likely is it that Apple will redesign the mini at some point in the future with reduced bezels. If you look at other product lines and their evolution for clues, I’d say the answer is very likely.

 

[Digitalguy]

People get too caught up on the pro moniker when it comes to this subject. I think the real question is how likely is it that Apple will redesign the mini at some point in the future with reduced bezels. If you look at other product lines and their evolution for clues, I’d say the answer is very likely.

apple will redesign the non pro line only when the new design is no longer a pro feature. I guess people are too optimistic on this happening very soon. My guess is that it will take a few years...

 

[iRock1]

People get too caught up on the pro moniker when it comes to this subject. I think the real question is how likely is it that Apple will redesign the mini at some point in the future with reduced bezels. If you look at other product lines and their evolution for clues, I’d say the answer is very likely.

This. People here got caught up on the “Pro” tag. My question is more about redesigning the mini for an eventual 6th gen and ditching the top and bottom bezels.

In the end “Pro” means absolutely nothing when it comes to iToys.

 

[AutomaticApple]

With quad speakers and such in a small chassis, there wouldn’t be much battery space unless Apple got really creative.

Battery efficiency?

 

[Ungibbed]

Battery efficiency?

‘Well... duh... /roll eyes


A smaller case with quad speakers, promotion display, A12 or A13 processor, you name it, corners will need to be cut somewhere to meet a realistic price point.

 

[retta283]

I'd say it will happen eventually. Not sure when though, maybe Spring of 2021 or 2022. I think the Mini 5 will survive until then, and the 6 will have the slimmer design. As was stated above, it will be hard to get quad speakers into it. I can imagine it will be a Mini feature set with the smaller bezel/no home button design. Might see Pencil 2 support, but that's about it.

 

[tripleburst]

I can see more pro features trickling down to it (which is happening now), but I don't see it joining the pro line.

 

[Lone Deranger]

No. But I do hope Apple will release one larger than the current 12.9”. It feels constrained to me as a desk-based drawing/illustration device.
I would dearly love to see them do a 32” drawing tablet along the lines of the Dell canvas or the Wacom Cintiq. Apple’s Pencil to screen tech is so superior to those.

Sorry to go off-topic.

 

[booksbooks]

Or you just can call it the iPad mini 6. For me, it's a no-brainer. Just take the wonderful mini-form factor and remove those huge and outdated top and chin, make the display edge to edge, add Face ID, ProMotion and perhaps quad-speakers. Boom.

Do you think it's probable?

I don't think you'll ever see anything smaller than an 11" iPad Pro. The 11" iPad Pro is exactly what you just described. Its form factor is much smaller than the 12.9" Pro, but its screen is still big enough to compete with a large smartphone like an iPhone 11 Pro Max. If its too small it won't compete anymore with the latter device, and the experience will be suboptimal for a tablet.