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iPad mini is dead?
- Thread starter pika2000
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I really don't know why people are assuming this. Other Apple products have gone longer without an update. And as I mentioned in another thread, given that the Mini 4 will receive all the new iPad exclusive features of iOS 11, that will further differentiate it from the Plus sized iPhones. Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a new iPad mini in the fall.
Long live the iPad mini.
I guess when my mini 2 dies, I have to decide whether to embrace the regular sized iPad again, or upgrade to a Plus iPhone.
Sad.
That is why I picked up a Mini 4 from Best Buy last week $100 off. I have not opened it and can still return but the lack of update makes me think the Mini is doomed so I guess I will keep it.
I assumed it's been dead for awhile, that's why I picked up a used mini 4 cellular a few months back.
Works great for basic tasks and has more than enough life left in it for my usage patterns.
Works great for basic tasks and has more than enough life left in it for my usage patterns.
I've had a plus iPhone, and to me it is nowhere near the mini. I much prefer the iPad apps as they show a lot more content at a glance, and the split screen multitasking is just fantastic. I would personally be happy with a cellular Apple Watch and and iPad mini. But Apple always seems to kill the lines that I like T_TLong live the iPad mini.
I guess when my mini 2 dies, I have to decide whether to embrace the regular sized iPad again, or upgrade to a Plus iPhone.
Sad.
I know. The mini's form factor is almost perfect for a portable tablet. But I think we have to accept the fact that Apple is treating the mini as a stepchild. Imo it's at the same status as the iPod Touch at this point (funnily both have the A8).
I was vaguely hoping for a Mini update without a price increase, but now this seems highly unlikely.
The new iPad Pros left me unmoved - I don't buy the "productivity" aspect of them, and I think they're too big. They're perhaps good as laptop replacements, and I already have a laptop. Except they are very expensive, for that kind of cash you can buy a real laptop and don't have to be happy because you finally got a limited file manager. Talk about low expectations.
So I bit the bullet and ordered a Huawei Mediapad M3. It has a superb, very high resolution screen, good sound, good battery life. The form factor is a little narrower so more geared towards movies than reading, but I can live with that. After all I mostly want good web browsing, YouTube/Netflix, an EPUB reader (the Google one is pretty good) and Hearthstone.
The new iPad Pros left me unmoved - I don't buy the "productivity" aspect of them, and I think they're too big. They're perhaps good as laptop replacements, and I already have a laptop. Except they are very expensive, for that kind of cash you can buy a real laptop and don't have to be happy because you finally got a limited file manager. Talk about low expectations.
So I bit the bullet and ordered a Huawei Mediapad M3. It has a superb, very high resolution screen, good sound, good battery life. The form factor is a little narrower so more geared towards movies than reading, but I can live with that. After all I mostly want good web browsing, YouTube/Netflix, an EPUB reader (the Google one is pretty good) and Hearthstone.
Looks that way unfortunately, my mini 2 seems to get slower with each ios update. Unfortunately Apple don't want us to buy an inherently cheaper iPad with a lower profit margin. They only released the mini to compete with the then popular 7-8" tablet sector. That market has now pretty much disappeared due to the fashion for much larger smartphones. They'll keep the mini 4 for a while yet to cover off customers who insist on buying a smaller tablet.
I'm old fashioned and I just prefer a laptop for content creation or productivity work which is why I find the the mini ideal for content consumption.
I'm old fashioned and I just prefer a laptop for content creation or productivity work which is why I find the the mini ideal for content consumption.
I don't see how one can make that conclusion. it's still in the line up. Quite possible they are saving that update for the fall as it's more consumer oriented. It's clear now why they EOLed the 9.7 Air and pushed out the "iPad" when they did. I'd say it's unlikely any Macs will get refreshed this fall so Apple needs something new besides iPhone. ATV 5 and mini... or maybe the Air will be the next mini. I think the size will remain. Not everyone wants 9.7 to 13" of tablet.
Agreed. The Mini 4 was not even announced IRC but showed up on the website to purchase mid-September 2015. I am looking forward to the Mini 5
I think they will upgrade it again, it just isn't a priority. IMO there were two main groups that purchase the mini of the regular iPad. For the price since it was less than a full size, and those who preferred the smaller size. The first group should be satisfied by the with the 2017 iPad starting at $329 (and often discounted to $299). The second group who prefer the size I think is smaller and if they prefer the size the mini 4 is still a great device. I have both a mini 4 and an Air 2 (and just order a new 10.5 Pro) and found I use the mini way less than I did when I had a mini 2 and an iPad 3 (or even the original Air) because the Air 2 itself is so light. Not sure if I'd get a new mini even when/if they released one.
The Mini 4 was actually announced... In literally 30 seconds during the over hour long iPhone 6s keynote in 2015. It was honestly like, "By the way, we're updating the iPad Mini with a form factor and specs that (almost) match the Air 2".
In any case, people are now comparing the Mini with the iPod Touch, but even that got a surprise update in 2015 long after people declared it dead. I suspect that the Mini will get at least one final tip of the hat before it leaves the stage.
I doubt it will get updated in the fall when every other iPad in the lineup was updated in the spring. If they were going to release a new version it would have been when the announced the cheap 9.7 iPad. My hope at this point is that the Mini will get updated next spring.
I gave in and updated to the Mini 4 a month ago from a Mini 2. It's actually a pretty nice update, the laminated screen made a bigger difference than I expected. The real issue will be what to do when the Mini 4 is obsolete in a few years. Hopefully there will be something in the 8 inch tablet market that's comparable. The Mini was the computing device that I never knew I needed until I had it. I still rank my original Mini 2 purchase as the best electronics purchase I've ever made. I don't think I can give up that form factor.
I gave in and updated to the Mini 4 a month ago from a Mini 2. It's actually a pretty nice update, the laminated screen made a bigger difference than I expected. The real issue will be what to do when the Mini 4 is obsolete in a few years. Hopefully there will be something in the 8 inch tablet market that's comparable. The Mini was the computing device that I never knew I needed until I had it. I still rank my original Mini 2 purchase as the best electronics purchase I've ever made. I don't think I can give up that form factor.
The product comparison footer on the iPad Pro and iPad (2017) pages don't even mention iPad mini any more. It's pretty clear Apple doesn't want you to buy mini.
The discontinuation of the 32GB iPad mini 4 is already a strong indication the form factor is being produced for commercial and education buyers only.
iOS 11 confirms where Apple is headed with the iPad. In their eyes, the iPad is for multitasking and content creation. The iPad mini doesn't fit anywhere in this new world.
Considering the 12.9" iPad got no design refresh and the mini has almost always been behind the bigger iPads in features and specs, there's always the possibility that Apple does a silent update by just upgrading the processor and selling it for the current price. I would be happy with that.
People love minis , I am one of them. It's the only size I find acceptable for a tablet. I think people on minis do not care as much for updates as people buying a iPad Pro. I perfectly fine keeping my iPad mini 4 for more than a decade. Does that make it dead ? Far from it. Try take away a mini from its owner , I dare you
And we should not forget how many times have declared Mac Pro and Mac mini dead and they are still around and kicking.
And we should not forget how many times have declared Mac Pro and Mac mini dead and they are still around and kicking.
I wouldn't call the Mac Mini (or the iPod Touch or the iPad Mini) as alive and kicking... they are more like walking dead. The Mac Pro would be an exception as it has positive confirmation from Apple management that they are working on an update.
If that's true..it's sad
,because I don't wanna use my phone as a tablet...but I don't want a big size tablet..something in between,and the best size for that was the 7,9 or even 8 inches..so very bad decision Apple..very bad decision.
With the mini only being marginally larger than the iPhone plus size, it was dead the day the iPhone 6 Plus was released. iPhone 8 will have almost a 6" screen
Surprised Apple still keeps it around at this point
Surprised Apple still keeps it around at this point
That might make sense if Apple ONLY sold large phones. But more than half their iPhones sold are the smaller 4.7" and 4" models. If the large phone is replacing the small tablet that means Apple is leaving more than half their customers with no option even near the small tablet size. Unless we are expected to buy a second iPhone that is plus sized??
Also isn't the iPad mini something like twice the screen area of the plus phone? That's far from marginal.
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