I certainly would pay more for a device this size or a bit smaller but with a larger screen (i.e., no bezels), Face ID, and Pencil 2 support. I don't care about the camera and have no idea what ProMotion is, but a high-end Mini would be an instant buy for me.
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iPad mini Real thoughts on iPad mini 5?...
- Thread starter Kal-037
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I certainly would pay more for a device this size or a bit smaller but with a larger screen (i.e., no bezels), Face ID, and Pencil 2 support. I don't care about the camera and have no idea what ProMotion is, but a high-end Mini would be an instant buy for me.
Essentially an iPad Pro mini. I can definitely see the appeal of that. Apple has decided to launch the mini as a "budget" variant unfortunately.
ProMotion = 120Hz display
Would it still be an "instant buy" if that device started out at $700?
I don't recommend buying an iPad with less than 4GB RAM if you plan on using Affinity Designer. It it a memory hog. I use "Graphic" instead on the iPads I own... even ones that have 4GB RAM.
For me, yes. That's about the starting price point I would expect for such a device. (And for what it's worth, I know others who are pining for a device like this.)
I think most people would balk at a $700 starting point for an iPad mini even if it's a Pro.
I think $650 is a good starting point. $700 gets a bit close to the price of the 11" iPad Pro. It's mostly psychological though, I admit.
People spend twice that much on phones that are even smaller. Of course those of us who need phone-like devices in this size would pay that much if the device is good enough.
That's true, but if Apple thought they could make more money making the iPad mini a Pro model with a higher price they would've went that route. Most people that want the iPad mini are businesses or causal users that wouldn't be willing to pay that much.
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I know if Apple went the route of making only one iPad and making it a Pro with that starting point I and many others would have been really upset. I never buy the base model and always go cellular, so that would've been close to $1K.
Yup I am not suggesting that. There would be an iPad Mini and an iPad Mini Pro.
However that would make Apple's iPad lineup absurdly complicated.
Hopefully they keep the mini line going because I love the mini and have 2 versions down the road.
I think Apple knows there's a market for a high-end iPad mini. The question is: is it a large enough market for Apple to bother with?
As it is, iPhones sell ~50 million units per quarter while iPads sell ~10 million units per quarter. I think last time Apple had the data available in their SEC filing, ASP (average selling price) for iPad is around $400 so that suggests sales are definitely skewed towards less expensive models.
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I was delighted with the announcement and have ordered an iPad mini. I have a 12.9” pro but the pencil support makes it ideal for doing illustration work on the go (not that the Pro is cumbersome, only it’s my primary illustration device and I am a little precious about it). To think the iPad mini has stylus support and will (presumably) be able to run Photoshop. Truly a golden age for digital art at the moment. Can’t wait to get my hands on it, and live my dual-iPad life.
People complaining keep comparing the new mini to the wrong models.
The ones saying it is too expensive are comparing it to the 2018 iPad. I think Apple probably could have went with a non-laminated screen, and less storage and made one for $249-299 or so, but I guess they didn't think that would sell well enough. I personally think it could have done pretty well for schools and parents with younger children where the mini size/weight does fit a bit better for them.
Others are complaining about it not having Face-ID, pro-motion, 4 speakers, or Pencil 2 support. That would have required a new design, and would put it in line with the iPad Pro models, which probably would have meant $699 or more for pricing. I think Apple probably could do this, but again they must have felt this wouldn't have sold as well (or maybe they are waiting for this fall and they will release 3 all new Pro models in 7.9", 11" and 12.9" sizes).
People need to compare the Mini 5 to the iPad Air 3 (or new iPad Air, whatever they end up calling it). When you compare those two you see they have very similar specs, and the mini is $100 cheaper, then this model makes sense.
The ones saying it is too expensive are comparing it to the 2018 iPad. I think Apple probably could have went with a non-laminated screen, and less storage and made one for $249-299 or so, but I guess they didn't think that would sell well enough. I personally think it could have done pretty well for schools and parents with younger children where the mini size/weight does fit a bit better for them.
Others are complaining about it not having Face-ID, pro-motion, 4 speakers, or Pencil 2 support. That would have required a new design, and would put it in line with the iPad Pro models, which probably would have meant $699 or more for pricing. I think Apple probably could do this, but again they must have felt this wouldn't have sold as well (or maybe they are waiting for this fall and they will release 3 all new Pro models in 7.9", 11" and 12.9" sizes).
People need to compare the Mini 5 to the iPad Air 3 (or new iPad Air, whatever they end up calling it). When you compare those two you see they have very similar specs, and the mini is $100 cheaper, then this model makes sense.
Nah, I expect the reason for not releasing something like you're describing is not enough profit.
I'm sure there are plenty of companies buying iPad minis in bulk for warehouse, inventory, retail, etc. operations. If an entry level $249 iPad mini were available, they'd likely opt for that rather than the mid-range $399 model. I expect Apple's analysts figured the $399 iPad mini is the best compromise between sales volume and pricing.
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Well, aren't spec updates the norm? I mean, when have they released any updated product without a spec update along with it? I don't think I've ever seen Apple release a new generation of a particular product without some processor update...
I'm not saying that I needed the most current processor on the Mini 5, but we have to remember that they halved the storage memory as well. Like I said, I personally didn't need Pencil support or USB C, so I would've liked the whatever processor update they would've given it at a $299 starting base price (64 GB even).
In terms of your second comment, I agree. I forgot about the aspect ratio. But I still think I could've personally gone with a bigger screen in the same physical form had they done it. At the end, Apple did what they did. It's just not the Mini for me
Hmm, well that might mean no more iPads for me then. I'm not interested in another full sized tablet to carry with my laptop. Designer + pencil + small size would be my only reasons for wanting one.
Also, cost would not be a factor for me. I want a small device because it's small, not cheap. A full specced Mini is £700 in the UK, I'd pay that in a heartbeat if it met my requirements.
Those vertical markets are the only reason why the Mini continues to exist. In spite of the handful on MacRumors who want a premium Mini, the average consumer out there doesn't.
Those vertical markets are the reason why Apple stuck with the Mini 4 chassis rather than go with a 2018 iPad Pro-type design. Because, not only are those markets price sensitive (due to the volume of units they purchase) but because of their investment in peripherals that connect to the Mini via the Lightning port and headphone jack.
I think its actually pretty nice
Kept lighting/ headphone jack / first pencil for people who dont want to shell out for 2nd gen, those are all good in my view
P3 True Tone display, 64gb base. I dont think there’s been a bigger SoC leap going from A8 4th generation to A12 5th generation. It would be really cool if this was the XR of iPads, battery life wise, but I have never had an issue with iPad battery life anyways, and not sure what the verdict is on that.
Dont care about tablet camera specs. 2 speakers given its size is plausible. I just wish it wasn’t first generation Touch ID , should be 2nd, thats about all i have to complain about on paper. EDIT;
Wooo! Weird apple doesn’t prominently say this on their specs page. 1st gen Touch ID would be weak in 2019.
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Even for $399, its way better value imo than the 2019 10.5 Air which I see as a nerfed 2017 10.5 Pro
I hope an SE2 delivers like this seems to have, even if its a bit late and ‘standard’
This is modern Apple 'generous'
Kept lighting/ headphone jack / first pencil for people who dont want to shell out for 2nd gen, those are all good in my view
P3 True Tone display, 64gb base. I dont think there’s been a bigger SoC leap going from A8 4th generation to A12 5th generation. It would be really cool if this was the XR of iPads, battery life wise, but I have never had an issue with iPad battery life anyways, and not sure what the verdict is on that.
Dont care about tablet camera specs. 2 speakers given its size is plausible. I just wish it wasn’t first generation Touch ID , should be 2nd, thats about all i have to complain about on paper. EDIT;
Wooo! Weird apple doesn’t prominently say this on their specs page. 1st gen Touch ID would be weak in 2019.
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Even for $399, its way better value imo than the 2019 10.5 Air which I see as a nerfed 2017 10.5 Pro
I hope an SE2 delivers like this seems to have, even if its a bit late and ‘standard’
This is modern Apple 'generous'
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Too many people with this mentality, is the reason why Apple will continue to raise prices to unreasonable levels while trickling out minimal improvements and get away with it.
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I don’t think it’s an unfair price for what’s in it, what you can do with it, and how long you can expect iOS updates. If they’d released a $299 mini would it have had an A12? Or a laminated screen? Or Pencil support?
The Pencil support is the big deal for me in particular, and wild that in three years the pencil went from being a Pro-only tool, to full compatibility with the entire iPad line. You can no longer buy a new iPad that doesn’t support a Pencil. I really wouldn’t be surprised to see a 2nd iteration of the Lightning Pencil at this rate.
The Pencil support is the big deal for me in particular, and wild that in three years the pencil went from being a Pro-only tool, to full compatibility with the entire iPad line. You can no longer buy a new iPad that doesn’t support a Pencil. I really wouldn’t be surprised to see a 2nd iteration of the Lightning Pencil at this rate.
All product updates have spec updates of course, but they always maintain the same price or higher. What I was saying was that they never come with both spec updates AND price decreases. The only exception is if it’s a DOWNGRADE in most areas, like the 2017 iPad, which was worse in every way except that it had a half generation newer processor. This Mini 5 is better in every way than the 4, in some ways MUCH better, so to expect a price decrease is unreasonable. (They didn’t halve the storage, they doubled it.)Well, aren't spec updates the norm? I mean, when have they released any updated product without a spec update along with it? I don't think I've ever seen Apple release a new generation of a particular product without some processor update...
I'm not saying that I needed the most current processor on the Mini 5, but we have to remember that they halved the storage memory as well. Like I said, I personally didn't need Pencil support or USB C, so I would've liked the whatever processor update they would've given it at a $299 starting base price (64 GB even).
In terms of your second comment, I agree. I forgot about the aspect ratio. But I still think I could've personally gone with a bigger screen in the same physical form had they done it. At the end, Apple did what they did. It's just not the Mini for me
Has this been confirmed somewhere? Another MR user was saying that a video reviewer acknowledged that it’s Touch ID 2. I didn’t see the video, but in the couple video reviews I did see, it indeed looked like Touch ID 2.
Yeah i corrected my post it seems like its 2nd generation from what that guy said about videos haven’t watched hands on, etc.
Can’t tell from the website tho
Coming from an iPad 3 I am pleased with either Touch ID (Face ID doesn't appeal to me and I was perfectly happy with the 1st gen Touch ID on my iPhone 5s.)