Probably true, but then the question is—do enough people prefer the biggest iphone? I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that the majority of iphone sales are non-plus iphones.
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Upcoming iPad Mini 5
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Probably true, but then the question is—do enough people prefer the biggest iphone? I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that the majority of iphone sales are non-plus iphones.
If their carry options are:
[iPhone + iPad mini] vs. [iPhone Plus]
I think most people will choose iPhone Plus. The display is smaller than iPad mini, but it's a lot more convenient to carry, charge, and maintain a single device.
That's true, but the non-Plus is a cheaper phone. Are consumers buying non-Plus due to price or size? Difficult to say for certain, but probably due to the former because preferences are changing quickly.
Phablets to Overtake Regular Smartphone Shipments by 2019, with Phablets Expected to Hit 1 Billion Units by 2021, According to IDC
As an example, the Google Pixel 3 this year is expected to be a 5.3" device. The Pixel 3 XL is expected to be 6.2". Everyone from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, to Google is upsizing their devices. More than likely this is due to preferences.
For those of us who refuse to have an iPhone, the choice is [Android phone + iPad Mini].
I don't care about screen resolution as much as I do about screen size. Stuff is just bigger on a 7.9" screen than on a phone screen, I don't care how big that phone is.
IF Apple fixes the photo import problem and they release an iPad Mini with the faster lightning port, I would consider getting a new Mini. One photo import that I did recently took 13 minutes on my iPP 10.5 and 72 minutes on my Mini 4.
I don't care about screen resolution as much as I do about screen size. Stuff is just bigger on a 7.9" screen than on a phone screen, I don't care how big that phone is.
IF Apple fixes the photo import problem and they release an iPad Mini with the faster lightning port, I would consider getting a new Mini. One photo import that I did recently took 13 minutes on my iPP 10.5 and 72 minutes on my Mini 4.
I have gone with the various options and in the end, although I liked my iPhone Plus, it was a little too awkward for my small hands at times and didn’t fit into many pockets.... Aside from that, I really much prefer the iPad when it comes to reading and participating in forums, as I can have my usual bookmarks bar for ease of going into a particular forum, and I find typing easier on the larger iPad, even the iPad Mini, as opposed to the iPhone, even the iPhone Plus.......
Only 505 more pages to go and this thread will catch up to the big Mac Mini thread... and there still won't be an iPad Mini 5 
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-new-mac-mini-is-almost-certainly-coming.1681773/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-new-mac-mini-is-almost-certainly-coming.1681773/
Thats left up to interpretation. I look at the iPad Mini as a vegetable on its death bed. So to me for all intents and purposes its dead
If Apple wants to sell more ipad minis, All Apple has to do is give the ipad mini a speed bump and enable it to work with the Apple pencil, and right there It’s got an edge over any iphone plus. The apple pencil doesn’t work with iphones.
For now, that wouldn't be too hard for them to add to a larger iPhone X. I'm not sure if they will or not, but if they do and don't update the mini at the same time it is definitely a sign that the mini is dead.
I’m not saying the ipad mini isn’t dead. From all indications, things aren’t looking good for it’s survival. I’m just making the case why i think it should be updated. Of course, i’m biased. I happen to love the form factor. Bigger and more enjoyable to get work done on it than the largest iphone...yet more portable than any other ipad. I really do hope Apple does update it with pencil support. For me, it’d be the perfect ipad size for travel. But thats me. I am not ready to say the ipad mini is officially dead...but if Apple doesn’t update it soon...then i’d agree, it doesn’t look good.
I hope they update it too. If they do I could be tempted by it. I'm getting tired of carrying a huge phone around all the time so I could be easily tempted to get a non-smart phone, and an iPad mini for when I need iOS features. Of course Apple would probably prefer to make a bigger profit off of me with the iPhone.
Screen size ratio is the killer for me when considering iPhone 'Plus' vs. iPad Mini. Using an iPhone in landscape mode is fairly worthless to me, especially when trending further into long/skinny screens (as evidenced by Apple and devs neutering the promise of iPhone Plus-specific landscape features within apps).
I think any updates in true hardware are done. But don’t fret, IF Apple’s claims of iOS 12 are true about improving performance significantly for older devices... the iPad Mini 4 and even iPod 6 will live much longer... seemingly given an “artificial” hardware bump (if you will.) Would I like a true update like an iPad Pro Mini?... absolutely. But as it stands, I’m happy Apple is showing they care about their old devices at all when other companies are going the other way.
Kallum.
Kallum.
I’m not as convinced that the iPad mini is dead as others are. Like the Mac Mini, it’s been seemingly abandoned for quite some time—but it hasn’t been killed off. That means that Apple is selling enough of them to continue producing new inventory, even without the hardware being up to date.
If we look at what they did with the 2018 iPad, pricing it at $329 as well as the inexpensive iPhone SE, it looks like Apple may be embracing the idea of more moderately priced products being part of their lineup. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a spec bumped new mini come out with something like a $249 price point that maintains the existing design.
If we look at what they did with the 2018 iPad, pricing it at $329 as well as the inexpensive iPhone SE, it looks like Apple may be embracing the idea of more moderately priced products being part of their lineup. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a spec bumped new mini come out with something like a $249 price point that maintains the existing design.
Every one of Apple's current products has a clear purpose. What purpose does iPad mini serve?
- Mac mini - $499 gateway to Mac
- iPod touch - $199 gateway to iOS
- iPhone SE - $349 gateway to smartphone
- iPad - $329 gateway to a "computer"
Apple's current strategy is to position the iPad Pro and iPad + Pencil as a computer, so customers see more value in iPad. As a non-computer, the iPad mini is dragging down the iPad name. Would it make sense for Apple to devalue the iPad family and introduce a $249 mini without Pencil? I would say no.
iPhone SE for example, targets the 200 million customers in India and Africa who bought feature (dumb) phones last year. The iPad mini is in a weird place where it isn't a computer and serves a small population. It's too small to be a computer and the 9.7-inch iPad is already a gateway price.
Id love a mini 5 with the face ID and practically no bezels! But unfortunately Im not expecting either the ipad nor mac mini lines to be refreshed anytime soon.
I would love a new mini with speed bump and pencil, just because I could use it as a true notebook given the size, but the other day I was on my mini 4 after not using it for a couple of months and I have to say that everything just felt too small after using the 2018 iPad. I was thinking about keeping my mini 4, but I am going to give it to my mom instead so she can read books, listen to music, play a game or two and possibly look at Hulu since she is stubborn about using her Fire stick. She just got an iPhone last year and loves it, but I know the bigger screen would enhance her experience.
As for me, I will keep hope alive, but if it happens, it happens. It is what is is. I am used to disappointment and losing the things I love (vanilla Nutrigrain bars were fantastic, but then they were gone).
As for me, I will keep hope alive, but if it happens, it happens. It is what is is. I am used to disappointment and losing the things I love (vanilla Nutrigrain bars were fantastic, but then they were gone).
It's an interesting question. I think, like the iPod touch it's a gateway to iOS, but for users who are more interested in reading, web browsing, media consumption on a larger screen (compared to iPod touch) etc. Who's to say a new version wouldn't support the Apple Pencil? If they can do a $329 iPad that supports it, a somewhat lower priced mini that does the same thing is far from out of the question. Adding pencil support clearly costs very little but creates the possibility of a $100 add on to an iPad.
I'm by no means confident that the mini has more life left in it, I'm just not convinced that it's dead.
we really have no way of knowing but the time since the last update is generally a sign of no more updates. IF there is one I would not expect it to be anything more than a Mini version of the iPad 6th gen. so pencil support and basically no other changes. which for many might be fine.
in fact when they released the 6th gen and positioned it as a 'school iPad' i would have thought they would do the same with the Mini as an option for younger kids for whom the iPad would be a clumsy option but the Mini is just the right size for their smaller hands. and with it perhaps an official Apple "crayon" that was wider and perhaps about 2/3-3/4 the length of the standard pencil. like the fat pencils used in K-2
The mini 4 is becoming a tougher and tougher sell, considering you can get a larger iPad with a 2 generation better internal with pencil support for less (2018 iPad). Apple cannot just keep selling it. They better refresh it or just get it over with and discontinue it.
Personally, I'm still hoping for an update. The mini form factor is excellent for an iPad experience on the go (especially with LTE). I got a very good mileage of my mini 2 (a workhorse before iOS11 is kicking its butt). Who knows, maybe Apple will surprise us with an all new A12 lineup of iPads.
Personally, I'm still hoping for an update. The mini form factor is excellent for an iPad experience on the go (especially with LTE). I got a very good mileage of my mini 2 (a workhorse before iOS11 is kicking its butt). Who knows, maybe Apple will surprise us with an all new A12 lineup of iPads.
An iPad mini with Pencil still wouldn't fit into the "iPad is a computer" story that Apple is telling.
How well does split screen multitasking work? What about attaching a keyboard? On paper, these sound plausible but in practical terms, the mini is poorly suited due to the screen size. I'm not sure Apple would revive the iPad mini just to sell more Pencils if it goes against their larger iPad strategy.
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The idea of iPad mini for preschoolers (ages 3-5) doesn't make much sense as children at this age are participating in sensory play (painting with color paints, cutting paper, playing with shapes, blocks).
By the time children can read and write, they are age 6 and up. They can easily handle a 9.7" iPad. In fact, an iPad mini would be restrictive. Most children's books are large and have pages that are easy to manipulate.
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Indeed.
After allowing for the notch and the rounded corners you pretty much have double the screen on the mini vs. the iPhone.