iPad mini [Poll] The fate of iPad mini on the September Apple event

[Digitalguy]

Apple’s OLED roadmap lists the mini getting an OLED screen in 2027: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/21/apple-oled-roadmap/

So the mini 7 as rumored will be a minor spec bump, and the mini 8 in three years will get an OLED screen. (I’m assuming there won’t be any new mini in between.)

In any case, there are no signs of it being discontinued, rather the opposite.

I’ll likely stick with the mini 5 until the OLED version, since I dislike pretty much everything they changed for the mini 6.

Minor spec bump? I don't think so. Doubliing the RAM is a huge spec bump. Much more important than going to OLED in my opinion (this will probably be a simple OLED panel at 60hz)
Personally I'll stick to the mini 5 for as long as I can, since I only use it in bed, and anything else is done on the pros

 

[klasma]

Minor spec bump? I don't think so. Doubliing the RAM is a huge spec bump. Much more important than going to OLED in my opinion (this will probably be a simple OLED panel at 60hz)
Personally I'll stick to the mini 5 for as long as I can, since I only use it in bed, and anything else is done on the pros

Right, I meant “minor” as in “just a spec bump”. While doubling the RAM is nice, OLED would be much more important to me. I don’t see a lot of difference in app behavior with my usage between the iPad mini 5 and the M4 iPad Pro.

 

[mpetrides]

Right, I meant “minor” as in “just a spec bump”. While doubling the RAM is nice, OLED would be much more important to me. I don’t see a lot of difference in app behavior with my usage between the iPad mini 5 and the M4 iPad Pro.

Au contraire. I noticed a major difference simply going from the mini 5 to the mini 6, especially wrt the primary use I have for my iPad mini--reading eBooks. The resolution bump made the text WAY more readable and that improvement would be magnified when going from the iPad mini 5 to an M4 iPad Pro. Once I got my iPad mini 6, my mini 5 was relegated to being mounted on the fridge for use as an Apple Home control center.

 

[Digitalguy]

Right, I meant “minor” as in “just a spec bump”. While doubling the RAM is nice, OLED would be much more important to me. I don’t see a lot of difference in app behavior with my usage between the iPad mini 5 and the M4 iPad Pro.

it's a matter of usage, the way I use the mini 5 the 3GB RAM don't bother me at all, the way I use the 12.9/13" 4GB bother me terribly (I can't pause a youtube video on Safari (I use Safari to block ads) without it reloading and losing where I left when I use the device again, even more so if I have multiple tabs or, God forbids, multiple youtube videos, open).
To the point that I am now selling the 12.9 2018 because of that... while I am keeping my mini 5 for as long as possible

 

[klasma]

Au contraire. I noticed a major difference simply going from the mini 5 to the mini 6, especially wrt the primary use I have for my iPad mini--reading eBooks. The resolution bump made the text WAY more readable and that improvement would be magnified when going from the iPad mini 5 to an M4 iPad Pro. Once I got my iPad mini 6, my mini 5 was relegated to being mounted on the fridge for use as an Apple Home control center.

I was talking about RAM. The display is obviously different. Though personally I found the mini 6 display worse than my mini 5 display (I tested several units). Note that the same model can have different panel suppliers, and display quality can vary even for the same panel supplier. I remember that I exchanged the previous mini 4 two times before the display was acceptable to me.

 

[klasma]

it's a matter of usage, the way I use the mini 5 the 3GB RAM don't bother me at all, the way I use the 12.9/13" 4GB bother me terribly (I can't pause a youtube video on Safari (I use Safari to block ads) without it reloading and losing where I left when I use the device again, even more so if I have multiple tabs or, God forbids, multiple youtube videos, open).

I have to say that tabs still reload much too frequently on the M4 iPad Pro, to the point that it isn’t much better than the iPad mini for me in that respect — it’s annoying on both. But that’s a Safari issue, it almost never happens on my Samsung tablet.

 

[Digitalguy]

I have to say that tabs still reload much too frequently on the M4 iPad Pro, to the point that it isn’t much better than the iPad mini for me in that respect — it’s annoying on both. But that’s a Safari issue, it almost never happens on my Samsung tablet.

they reload even in my 16GB RAM M1 pro (my M4 has 8), so yes it's Safari, but 1000 times less than the mini 5 and the 2018 pro, but maybe you use many more tabs than me.
What Samsung do you have? (I have the S9 11" and S8 ultra)

 

[Apple_Robert]

I have to say that tabs still reload much too frequently on the M4 iPad Pro, to the point that it isn’t much better than the iPad mini for me in that respect — it’s annoying on both. But that’s a Safari issue, it almost never happens on my Samsung tablet.

How many tabs do you typically have open at once? I haven’t seen any reloading with my M4. I do see it a lot on my mini 6 as well as my iPhone 15 pro.

 

[klasma]

they reload even in my 16GB RAM M1 pro (my M4 has 8), so yes it's Safari, but 1000 times less than the mini 5 and the 2018 pro, but maybe you use many more tabs than me.
What Samsung do you have? (I have the S9 11" and S8 ultra)

S9 11" as well.

The most frequent issue I have with Safari is with pages that load additional content downwards on demand, like Google search results or Reddit threads. Such tabs get reloaded by Safari all the time and thereby get reset to their initial state, losing what was previously loaded and the corresponding scroll position.

 

[Digitalguy]

S9 11" as well.

The most frequent issue I have with Safari is with pages that load additional content downwards on demand, like Google search results or Reddit threads. Such tabs get reloaded by Safari all the time and thereby get reset to their initial state, losing what was previously loaded and the corresponding scroll position.

How many tabs do you keep open?
I use the S9 mainly for streaming videos, so I don't use the browser much on it.... By the way mine has 8GB RAM too, but there is a verison with 12GB. The S8 ultra instead has 16.

 

[RoadWarrior56]

I was talking about RAM. The display is obviously different. Though personally I found the mini 6 display worse than my mini 5 display (I tested several units). Note that the same model can have different panel suppliers, and display quality can vary even for the same panel supplier. I remember that I exchanged the previous mini 4 two times before the display was acceptable to me.

I agree with you on the Mini 6 display versus the Mini 5. I had both displays side by side for 2 days, and it was obvious how much sharper and easier on the eyes the Mini 5 was, hence I returned the Mini 6 and kept the Mini 5. It doesn't have to be OLED, but make the Mini 7 display to be at least as good as the current iPad Air display, and I might consider buying one.

 

[flur]

Oi @y'all_who_voted_no_mention_nor_annoucmenet what about this huh?

iPad Mini Stock Dwindling at Apple Stores, Refresh Could Be Coming

Supplies of the sixth-generation iPad mini are dwindling at "many" Apple retail stores, which is a sign that a new model could be coming,...

www.macrumors.com

View attachment 2409735

What do you all have to say to this MacRumors article? Hmmmmm?

🥴

You know the poll started three days before that article, right?

 

[iPadified]

Many here will likely disagree but what is iPad mini place in the current lineup? It gets squeezed by larger phones and there is a tendency that customers seem to gravitate towards larger screens across all lines (iPhones, iPads, Macs). It not cheap anymore so for me it is confusing and hard to place product.

I am pessimistic of the future of the mini.

They are in stock in my country.

 

[*~Kim~*]

Many here will likely disagree but what is iPad mini place in the current lineup? It gets squeezed by larger phones and there is a tendency that customers seem to gravitate towards larger screens across all lines (iPhones, iPads, Macs). It not cheap anymore so for me it is confusing and hard to place product.

I am pessimistic of the future of the mini.

They are in stock in my country.

For those who like small screens. Presumably those who favour a larger screen on their iPad go for phones on the larger end of the options available, and vice versa. I can see that they would sell more iPad minis than iPhone minis hence killing the latter, as iPad minis might be given to children who would be likely to have a basic phone for emergencies or an iPhone SE as their first Apple phone, used as an additional iPad by those who have a larger iPad to use at home/for work, or by people like myself that like my devices to be comfortable to hold. I have a Samsung S22, as I like Touch ID (it gives me the option of face and touch) and not having a home button.

Sure, it’s not Apple’s favoured line but it makes commercial sense to keep it. It is not cheap at the moment as it is 3 years old (and has the same RAM as the base iPad) and retailing for more than it did at launch, but that price point will be an acceptable proposition once it is refreshed.

 

[Fraserpatty]

Apple is aware of the heavy commercial use of iPad minis. Apparently aviation uses them pretty highly, and people on the go all the time like realtors. Little kids use them a lot.

 

[jdb8167]

Oi @y'all_who_voted_no_mention_nor_annoucmenet what about this huh?

iPad Mini Stock Dwindling at Apple Stores, Refresh Could Be Coming

Supplies of the sixth-generation iPad mini are dwindling at "many" Apple retail stores, which is a sign that a new model could be coming,...

www.macrumors.com

View attachment 2409735

What do you all have to say to this MacRumors article? Hmmmmm?

🥴

I’m calling BS on that rumor. I just checked and every iPad mini was available for pickup in-store today near me except one model in Starlight.

 

[Crow_Servo]

I could see a press release announcement in October, but I still hope for an announcement at the September event. We’ll see. The rumors aren’t that strong right now.

 

[joscejrod]

I could see a press release announcement in October, but I still hope for an announcement at the September event. We’ll see. The rumors aren’t that strong right now.

Last ipad mini released was model 6, in September event, with full redesign. As one of my favorite Apple products (great for coach media consumption), I’d love to have model 7 with oled display and face ID. It would be an immediate upgrade for me. However, if rumors are true, only minor spec bump is expected. In this case, little time in next week event or silent upgrade when apple store is update during keynote would be my bet…

 

[flur]

Last ipad mini release was model 6, in September event, with full redesign. As one of my favorite Apple products (great for coach media consumption), I’d love to have model 7 with oled display and face ID. It would be an immediate upgrade for me. However, if rumors are true, only minor spec bump is expected. In this case, little time in next week event or silent upgrade when apple store is update during keynote would be my bet…

I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a basic “we’re also refreshing the iPad mini with an updated chip” and that’s it for the keynote. Which is fine by me. I just want the update, I don’t need them to sell me on it.

 

[Pepsi123]

Am I being too optimistic about a new Ipad mini next week? Now I have sold all my Apple devices except my Iphone 15, hoping to buy the "right" products for the future. I know; it will last half a year, then something new is launched....

A bit excited about the new "regular" iPad too...will it get laminated display? Will it handle AI?
But, my biggest wish must be that the mouse pointer in Ipad os changes to an arrow.

 

[ericwn]

Next week is an iPhone event. That’s where I’m guessing the focus will be.

 

[Digitalguy]

very likely to be announced with the new iPhone and to support AI with the same chips

 

[Apple_Robert]

Not going to happen.

 

[Fraserpatty]

If not, we can hope again for October.

 

[hovscorpion12]

There's a 50/50 chance iPad Mini 7 goes live next week or October. Personally, it will be next week. October is Mac month. I have a gut feeling The M4 Pro/M4 Max is going to be a powerhouse event. It's going to be crazy Apple October.