iPad mini Real thoughts on iPad mini 5?...

[JBGoode]

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.

Except this is the same price as a 4 year old device (-64 gb storage) and has much better specs so your point is not relevant to the new iPad mini. I'm sorry that it's not what you wanted or thought it should be but this is not a minimal upgrade and the price is quite reasonable for a quality tablet, that is arguably the best on the market and will be updated and viable for years.

 

[RevTEG]

What other tablet is better for $399 that’s going to get years of support?

And we’re talking about Apple here. The company that always makes us overpay and now they finally throw us a bone for once, IMO.

I agree with your point but just think of it this way... with those YEARS of support people will be getting, they will still be stuck using a 3+ year old and counting pencil and will still be stuck with a lighting connector... think 30 pen counter. I’m not a mini hater but I’m also not living with the idea that an already 4 year old design is something that I want. Options are great. Glad Apple released a spec bump mini, but they’ve shown by their other products that they’re moving on from the bezels, home button and old pencil. I priced the new mini 256/cellular/ re-purchasing gen one pencil/Apple care and tax is over $930. At $930 dollars I’m expecting current tech. Again, that’s just my opinion and what I’m willing to spend THAT kind of money on.

 

[rui no onna]

I agree with your point but just think of it this way... with those YEARS of support people will be getting, they will still be stuck using a 3+ year old and counting pencil and will still be stuck with a lighting connector... think 30 pen counter. I’m not a mini hater but I’m also not living with the idea that an already 4 year old design is something that I want. Options are great. Glad Apple released a spec bump mini, but they’ve shown by their other products that they’re moving on from the bezels, home button and old pencil. I priced the new mini 256/cellular/ re-purchasing gen one pencil/Apple care and tax is over $930. At $930 dollars I’m expecting current tech. Again, that’s just my opinion and what I’m willing to spend THAT kind of money on.

Current tech is ~$1500, though (256GB Pro 11 LTE + AC+ + AP2 + 10% tax) and a Pro level mini would likely have been ~$1400 with those specs and accessories.

Besides, all that stuff is optional.

 

[dgdosen]

In spite of your wishes for one, there isn't a market out there for a Mini Pro (with the accompanying Pro pricing).

If Apple were going to release both, I think they'd have gone with the more expensive model first (iPad mini pro) in order to meet the yolo demand. THEN they would have released the cheaper, potentially market-cannibalizing semi-pro...

Either way - Apple wants service revenue, so they want cheap devices that support service revenue. Because of that, I think the mini is now here to stay.

 

[RevTEG]

Current tech is ~$1500, though (256GB Pro 11 LTE + AC+ + AP2 + 10% tax) and a Pro level mini would likely have been ~$1400 with those specs and accessories.

Besides, all that stuff is optional.

I agree. I completely understand the Mini wasn’t intended to be be a pro line device. Totally understand that. But for me, there’s just no way I can justify $930 for tech features Apple moved away from several years ago on their phones and this year on the pro iPads. Call it a mental thing, but spending almost $1,000 to GO BACK to an iPhone 8 home button and a 3 year old pencil that I would have to repurchase since I’ve bought the new one, just doesn’t make since FOR ME.

Apple at a minimum could have change the shape and added charging for the new pencil. They had how many years of this same mini design? My kids have mini 3’s and the mini 5 looks the same... now performance will for sure be much better.

 

[Cape Dave]

Why would you want a 12mp camera in an iPad??!?

Because the price difference between an 8mb and a 12mb is like what, 12 cents? This is 2019. And if you need to take a photo, it may as well be a good one.

 

[mollyc]

Because the price difference between an 8mb and a 12mb is like what, 12 cents? This is 2019. And if you need to take a photo, it may as well be a good one.

When I think “good photo” I never think iPad. Regardless of the megapixels.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

IMO, the people who wanted the mini refreshed are complianing it didn’t come with this or that and wanted pro features, failing to recognize that the cost will shoot up (more complaints) and that apple needs to differentiate Pro features from regular features or no one is going to buy pros. It’s hilarious seeing all the ignorant comments about apples decisions that are quite understandable to the logical person

I do not think the mini should exist in 2019. Apple refreshed it for a minority group of people just to shut them up, the fact that it has the A12 from the XS, suggest apple is not going to refresh it for at least another 4 years. (Which in two years th mini/air fanboys will be complaing about apple “forgetting” the mini/air, leading us back to where we were a month ago)
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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.

It’s called an iPhone XS Max, minus penci support and a little over 1inch if less screen. Boom their is your high end mini

 

[davidinva]

I have the 2017 10.5 iPad Pro and like. Had a Mini 4 and am thinking about the 5 (256gb) for portability and my photo editing when I am out snapping pics with my iPhone 8+ and my little Canon Point and shoot. I like the headphone jack and home button. Would prefer smallest bezels, but that’s not a big concern. iPad apps are good enough for my editing needs. Waiting to see how much RAM. Probably 2gb.

 

[mwhals]

I think Apple upgraded it to cut costs. I am not aware of anything that used an A8 other than the iPod touch. By replacing those devices, they have one less processor to inventory. Of course the fact Apple has not yet discontinued or announced a replacement iPod touch destroys this thought. If they do replace or discontinue the iPod touch, this will possibly be the reason.

 

[Marshall73]

I didn’t expect apple to change much on the mini and I didn’t expect an A12 driving it. Normally Apple would have put the last gen chip in the mini but the fact they went with the A12 bodes well for iOS 13.

The only thing stopping me getting a mini at this point is lack of Face ID. Face ID was the driving force behind my iPad Pro 12.9 purchase, having Face ID on the iPhone and not on the iPad, was a pain. Once Face ID comes to the mini I will certainly pick one up for reading but until then I am more than happy with the Pro, which I use more now than any previous iPad I have had.

 

[coops]

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.

Me too.

I have the Mini 4, my wife has the previous generation Mini. I love my iPad Mini (for work, and for TV/movies on flights, web browsing) but there is no need at all for me to upgrade to this update (it's still a great iPad of course).

I would have (or will... still hopeful) upgraded to an iPad Mini 'Pro' is we have to call it that.
FaceID would allow the same chassis size to have a very worthwhile increase in screen size - especially in landscape letterboxed tv/movie watching.

 

[Kal-037]

Me too.

I have the Mini 4, my wife has the previous generation Mini. I love my iPad Mini (for work, and for TV/movies on flights, web browsing) but there is no need at all for me to upgrade to this update (it's still a great iPad of course).

I would have (or will... still hopeful) upgraded to an iPad Mini 'Pro' is we have to call it that.
FaceID would allow the same chassis size to have a very worthwhile increase in screen size - especially in landscape letterboxed tv/movie watching.

I do wonder when Apple celebrates the 10-year anniversary of iPad in less than a year, if they will update all the iPads or just the 2018 9.7”.
I hope they bump up the Pros at least.

 

[m00min]

I prefer the iPad to have fingerprint unlock, having to peer over my iPad if its flat on my desk is not a user friendly feature.

 

[Fenhalls]

1) Apple refreshed it because they believe they can make money out of it.

2) I would find a mini useful for reading purposes because of the size. I own a Paperwhite, but I much prefer reading on tablets. Currently, I'm using a 9.7 Pro for this and will also be using a 10.5 Pro which I have just ordered.

3) I imagine I'm pretty much alone in this, but I like the look of the mini (the bezels don't bother me one bit) and think the upgrades excellent.

I'm really tempted. I spend a lot of time reading ebooks. I'm sure I'd get much use out of it.

 

[kindaichi81]

the new ipad mini 2019 is excellent. totally no complaint. coming from an ipad mini 2 that i had used for more than 5 years now.

 

[lcseds]

Personally, I don't think putting a finger on a button to log is requires all that much effort. As far as bezels, they don't bother me much. In fact they make a border, or separation of sorts, between what I am looking at and the background. After seeing what Apple has done lately in the way of "upgrading and design improvements" on their products, there's something to be said for riding an older design. My opinions of course.

 

[Marshall73]

Personally, I don't think putting a finger on a button to log is requires all that much effort. As far as bezels, they don't bother me much. In fact they make a border, or separation of sorts, between what I am looking at and the background. After seeing what Apple has done lately in the way of "upgrading and design improvements" on their products, there's something to be said for riding an older design. My opinions of course.

Its what you get used to. You need to move your hand to touch the sensor, which seems like for everything when you have all your passwords in keychain. When with Face ID you are already looking at the screen to unlock passwords etc.

 

[sracer]

Its what you get used to. You need to move your hand to touch the sensor, which seems like for everything when you have all your passwords in keychain. When with Face ID you are already looking at the screen to unlock passwords etc.

...and once the iPad is unlocked/passwored, etc., what does a person do next? Use their finger to tap the screen to take some other action. Using FaceID merely delays the point in which a person needs to touch the device.

 

[Marshall73]

...and once the iPad is unlocked/passwored, etc., what does a person do next? Use their finger to tap the screen to take some other action. Using FaceID merely delays the point in which a person needs to touch the device.

But you are prompted for it for entering the password on web pages. Dunno about you but I log into a hell of a lot of pages and it’s just much easier with Face ID, you don’t need to adjust your grip to move down to touch the sensor It’s the primary reason I bought a new iPad Pro because Touch ID On the 10.5 felt so backwards and awkward to use compared to my iPhone. Pretty much the same progression from no Touch ID to Touch ID, easier/quicker to log in, Face ID is the next step and to go back to Touch ID at this point is just awkward.

 

[lcseds]

Things are moving forward for sure. I don't complain. But I try and keep personal expectations in check. I can turn my room lights on by asking Alexa to do it. But I don't think flipping the switch on the wall would ever be considered awkward. But then again, I admit I'm over 50....

 

[Fenhalls]

But you are prompted for it for entering the password on web pages.

I opted out of that recently. It was becoming annoying.

 

[Ladybug]

Things are moving forward for sure. I don't complain. But I try and keep personal expectations in check. I can turn my room lights on by asking Alexa to do it. But I don't think flipping the switch on the wall would ever be considered awkward. But then again, I admit I'm over 50....

Agree... the whole iPad is a touch screen device. But what do I know...also over 50

 

[Jim Higgins]

I'm very happy with the updated specs, don't care about bezels or Touch ID, and often listen through headphones so speakers aren't a big issue for me. I already own the first Apple Pencil and have mini 4 cases I can reuse. Can't wait to get it in my hands!

The case was a big question for me. I didn't want to get one (space grey, 256GB) until I had a very good case for it-I have an STM case for my Mini 4. Sooner or later I WILL drop it, it is inevitable.

 

[ctg7w6]

I think the new Mini 5 is such a lazy ass minimally viable product update. If it works for you, good for you. I am not touching it, not for $399. $250, maybe I will consider just for the bathroom.

Funny, I came in here to say exactly this.