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I'm gonna' get one to replace my severely outdated iPad mini 2, but I'm a bit disappointed with the screen situation, the thick bezels, and that they didn't move the front camera to the side of the device. At least it starts with 128 GB of storage though.
 
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Why not just have a smaller iPad Air variant?
For a brief period the iPad Air and mini were released along the same track with the mini a cheaper and decontented version of the Air. As the Air sold in greater numbers and the mini was more of a niche product the Air went on its own track while the mini languished to something more like a smaller base+ model. This release won't change that and if it stays at $499 the niche market it's meant for - like me - will be perfectly happy with that. I don't want a $1,000 iPad pro mini, and frankly it wouldn't sell because there's already plenty of overlap between the Air and base Pro SKUs. By now Apple knows that a smaller (8" screen) locks the mini into niche territory. So be it. If you want more proof, look at the vast number of high quality 8" tablets in the market. There are none other than the iPad mini.
 
I think whoever comes up with the names has fallen on their heads too many times now and needs to be taken out back and, dealt with.

What's wrong with iPad mini 2024, 2025 and so on. It went from "6th generation" to "A17 Pro" as the identifier, be less all over the place Apple!
 
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$950 + $100 pencil + $105 tax …for a form factor thats just as frustrating to use as the mini 6.
Whew, ipad really is the most economical tablet. This update saved me another $1155.
 
No surprises there. It was between the A17 Pro and the A18. It is too expensive for the offering though.
 
People need to keep in mind Apple has kept the pricing the same after a few years of rocketing inflation. So in real terms, this is actually a price cut for the iPad Mini with doubled RAM, storage, and several other nice improvements.

The iPad Mini inscription on the back is really a welcome change.
This is one of the wildest takes I’ve seen on here this year.
 
A spec and feature bump with no price increase after several years of inflation is a big deal but I guess if basic logic and math are not one’s strong points it will be confusing.
 
I just ordered a Silverlight Mini with 512GB and Cellular to replace my Silverlight Mini 6 with 256GB and Cellular because I can afford to do so. I can reuse my orange cover. The "new" colors are boring.

My Mini is used whenever I go to offices where I need to wait and wait with no desks available. I use it when sitting outdoors. The spec changes to WiFi 6E (which is what I have in the entire home) and Bluetooth 5.3 are of great importance for my usability. The increase in the USB-C speeds will be great for backups and file transfers.

I did not expect to see improvements that would challenge my M4 2TB 11" iPad Pro.
 
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lol, this is hilarious.

What has the iPad mini team been doing for 4 years...they must be having lunch with the Airpods Max team.
This is not innovation, this is a spec bump that could have been realized a year after the last release.

There's no dedicated iPad mini team, and why do people think headphones need annual refreshes? I wear a pair of Sony MDR-V600s that are over 20 years old, because they sound good, and work well.
 
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Just what i was waiting for. Blue with Violet cover. 512 GB (would have liked 1 TB) Unlimited data with T-Mobile.
 
Some people will be disappointed with this update, but to be honest, I'm surprised Apple stills sells the mini. I know people who work at the Brussels Apple Store and they tell me it sells terrible. Many of the people who are not sure what to get before their store visit get the regular iPad, some of them but not many come into the store with the intention of getting the regular model and end up leaving the store with the Air, some people who want the Pro also end up leaving the store with an Air and then there's lots of people who come in with the intention of getting the Pro and that's what they get. But I was told the mini sells poorly. So I'm very surprised Apple stills sells it, and it looks like Apple is still willing to update it every 4 years for the few people who like it.

The mini is such a nice form factor, and can fit in a light jacket pocket. Great for content consumption.
 
So

  • Old binned chip
  • AI that you may or may not even want
  • And you have to buy a new pencil -- good if you'd like to use the Pro Pencil though

More RAM is the only real upgrade here in my view
It’s obvious why the new mini supports only the Pencil Pro and USB-C Pencil. It simplifies the accessory market. Now every iPad Apple sells supports the USB-C Pencil. Every iPad Apple sells except the base model also supports the Pencil Pro. Now if they would just standardize the keyboards…

It does seem like the Smart Folio case is the same as the previous generation (just different colors).
 
I'm gonna' get one to replace my severely outdated iPad mini 2, but I'm a bit disappointed with the screen situation, the thick bezels, and that they didn't move the front camera to the side of the device. At least it starts with 128 GB of storage though.
Likely because the mini is more likely to be used in portrait mode.
 
Try to make sense of this whole lineup
Good/Better/Best for the 11” (base, Air, Pro). Choose your size for “Better/Best”. The mini is a compact consumption device that sports some features of the “Better” iPad.
 
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