iPad mini Next iPad mini possibly an iPad Air in a smaller size?

[socialwill]

When you look at the rumored specs of the next iPad Mini, from a design and spec sheet it looks more like a smaller iPad Air. So what if Apple changes the name to just an iPad Air, but you have two sizes and the same color options? It kinda makes sense...

• iPad - Base model
• iPad Air - General Use
  • 2 sizes
  • Same colors & tech specs
• iPad Pro - Pro/Power Use
  • 2 sizes
  • Same colors & tech specs

 

[dumastudetto]

Air Mini could work if it's just a shrunken down version of the current Air essentially.

 

[snipr125]

Air Mini could work if it's just a shrunken down version of the current Air essentially.

Yes or just mimic the Pro naming scheme like Ipad Air 10.9 and Air 8.6 maybe

 

[socialwill]

Yes or just mimic the Pro naming scheme like Ipad Air 10.9 and Air 8.6 maybe

That is exactly what I was thinking. Same naming scheme as the Pro, just using Air

 

[dustin.haley]

That is exactly what I was thinking. Same naming scheme as the Pro, just using Air

This would certainly mean the small Air would be updated more frequently than the current Mini, which has always been slower than all other iPad models to receive updates. With a more frequent/regular upgrade cycle (and bigger screen) I could see increased adoption of the Mini.

 

[subjonas]

If the mini screen gets bigger and especially with an altered aspect ratio, I wonder if it will still somehow use standard iPad-optimized apps (doesn’t seem likely if the aspect ratio is altered), or switch to iPad Air-optimized apps (assuming they have the same aspect ratio), or if it will actually get its own unique optimized apps (I don’t think likely).
In case anyone doesn’t know, the mini is a unique device in that I believe it’s the only one of Apple’s devices that doesn’t have its own optimized apps, but squeezes a larger device’s apps into its smaller screen, pixel for pixel, which does give it the advantage of being the highest ppi iPad.