Upcoming iPad Mini 5

[spinedoc77]

The 18% number is based on the U.S. market only. Sort of like iPhone SE, it sells because of price. The mini receives a $100-125 price cut every other month from Walmart and Best Buy.

There may be a huge difference between a phablet and iPad mini, but most users don't carry around their tablet.

Tablets are being used most often at home for relaxation. That's the conclusion drawn from the research data referenced in this Adweek article from 2015. Tablets are used outside of the home less than 15% of the time. Given the "stay at home" role, the portability aspect of an iPad mini has little value. A few posters have emphasized the "pocketability" benefits of iPad mini, but in reality few people do that.

Given this information, we see Apple's focus on 9.7, 10.5, and 12.9-inch tablets.

All fair points of course. I'm sure for those who commute and/or travel a lot it's still easier to pocket a phablet than an ipad mini, although there is a definite loss of functionality when trading off to a smaller screen. I've always loved the smaller tablets because they can fit into a back pocket, suit pocket, scrubs pocket, purse, etc all in situations which free up your hands. Unless you have a bag a larger tablet is going to take up one of your hands, which can be a major inconvenience.

For home use I'd rather have the largest tablet I can find. My surface pro is actually too small and I'd rather have something larger, probably 15" or so as long as they could keep it light and keep the battery life decent. For me a 10.5" ipad is tiny, much too small to be enjoyed if I'm in the comfort of my own home.

It makes you wonder also about the difference in profitability. Of course Apple would rather sell a $999 phone versus a $399 tablet. They would rather sell you BOTH, but since that's not working they seem to be falling back on selling the more profitable one, and pushing possible ipad mini consumers to buy a phablet instead. With the 10" and above you almost have no choice as you truly cannot compare any phone to a 10" screen with a keyboard case.

 

[Greenmeenie]

It's not about effort, the problem is poor sales of iPad mini 4.

Since 2016, iPad mini 4 has received regular price drops to $275-299. Right now, Walmart is selling iPad mini 4 for $299. Last week, it was $275 at Best Buy. That's an indication of Apple pulling the price lever to move iPad mini rather than it selling due to merit.

The iPad mini goes against the current Apple strategy of elevating iPad as a computer with productivity features.

Dropping an A11 into iPad mini does nothing to solve the consumer preference for phablets nor does it advance the role of the iPad family.

I don’t believe that. Nobody knows the exact figures of iPad mini sales. I have heard contradictory sales figures than yours that it’s sales numbers are decent. And that’s a 3 yr old device! But I live here in NYC, and i’ve Seen more iPad minis in cafes than regular iPads. We can all speculate, but Only Apple knows what it will do with the iPad mini. The Mac Pro hasn’t been updated in nearly 6 yrs...and Apple recently announced an update is coming in 2019. Rumor just dropped today that Apple plans to update the mini desktop with a pro version soon. So until Apple officially announces the iPad mini is discontinued, I will continue to believe an update is possible.

 

[spinedoc77]

There is always hope. Look at the strong rumors on the mac mini and the MacBook air, I don't think either of those are huge sellers these days, yet they are being refreshed.

 

[PBMB]

We can all speculate, but Only Apple knows what it will do with the iPad mini. The Mac Pro hasn’t been updated in nearly 6 yrs...and Apple recently announced an update is coming in 2019. Rumor just dropped today that Apple plans to update the mini desktop with a pro version soon. So until Apple officially announces the iPad mini is discontinued, I will continue to believe an update is possible.

Exactly. And let us not forget that iPod touch, the mini's little brother, is still around, while for a long time it was thought to be dead.

So, indeed only Apple knows the mini's fate. However, I am afraid that they will leave it for another year at least without update.

 

[eVolcre]

Exactly. And let us not forget that iPod touch, the mini's little brother, is still around, while for a long time it was thought dead.

So, indeed only Apple knows the mini's fate. However, I am afraid that they will leave it for another year at least without update.

One thing everyone is missing is what exavtlt the article said. The iPad MINI is dead. What if next year they lop the beZels off the current 9.7 and give it faceid. We now have an iPad mini sized chassis (which is the real point) called iPad. The old style remains as iPad SE or ePad...

Nice lineup then.

iPad (9.7 bezelless with a mini sized chassis)

iPad Pro 11”
iPad Pro 12.9

EPad 9.7 bezelled with Touch ID and multiuser support. Classroom focused.

 

[PBMB]

One thing everyone is missing is what exavtlt the article said. The iPad MINI is dead.

Where? When?

What if next year they lop the beZels off the current 9.7 and give it faceid. We now have an iPad mini sized chassis (which is the real point) called iPad.

Fine by me. Only problem is that 9.7" cannot fit the mini physical size. That would be more like 8.5"-9", but again it is fine (in fact better than an updated plain mini) if really Apple goes that way.

 

[Boyd01]

Look at the strong rumors on the mac mini and the MacBook air

But the point is, there are rumors about the mac mini and MacBook Air and the only iPad Mini rumors I've seen are that it will be discontinued.

 

[eVolcre]

Where? When?


Fine by me. Only problem is that 9.7" cannot fit the mini physical size. That would be more like 8.5"-9", but again it is fine (in fact better than an updated plain mini) if really Apple goes that way.

Or a 9.7 screen in a slightly larger chassis. That way they can use the same screen and resolution across two models.

Where? The front page article from a couple of days ago where they talked about the September updates. “No changes expected to iPad mini” I’m paraphrasing. Makes sense if they just call it iPad. After my highly speculative bezel lop off idea of course.
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Where? When?


Fine by me. Only problem is that 9.7" cannot fit the mini physical size. That would be more like 8.5"-9", but again it is fine (in fact better than an updated plain mini) if really Apple goes that way.

Or a 9.7 screen in a slightly larger chassis. That way they can use the same screen and resolution across two models.

Where? The front page article from a couple of days ago where they talked about the September updates. “No changes expected to iPad mini” I’m paraphrasing. Makes sense if they just call it iPad. After my highly speculative bezel lop off idea of course.

 

[PBMB]

Or a 9.7 screen in a slightly larger chassis. That way they can use the same screen and resolution across two models.

Where? The front page article from a couple of days ago where they talked about the September updates. “No changes expected to iPad mini” I’m paraphrasing. Makes sense if they just call it iPad. After my highly speculative bezel lop off idea of course.

OK, thanks.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Exactly. And let us not forget that iPod touch, the mini's little brother, is still around, while for a long time it was thought to be dead.

So, indeed only Apple knows the mini's fate. However, I am afraid that they will leave it for another year at least without update.

True. You’re probably right about Apple not updating it for another year. However, I know iOS 12 is suppose to like make older devices run faster and all...but still...i hope they at least quietly replace the A8 chip in the ipad mini 4 with an A10 chip this fall. If they don’t then I think it’s safe to say this will be the last year the ipad mini 4 will be able to remain in the line up. By the time Apple releases iOS 13 in the fall of 2019 they better have an update to the ipad mini or it will officially be the end. So at least we will find out the fate of the ipad mini soon. The clock is ticking.

 

[eVolcre]

True. You’re probably right about Apple not updating it for another year. However, I know iOS 12 is suppose to like make older devices run faster and all...but still...i hope they at least quietly replace the A8 chip in the ipad mini 4 with an A10 chip this fall. If they don’t then I think it’s safe to say this will be the last year the ipad mini 4 will be able to remain in the line up. By the time Apple releases iOS 13 in the fall of 2019 they better have an update to the ipad mini or it will officially be the end. So at least we will find out the fate of the ipad mini soon. The clock is ticking.

Upgrade the internals so it last another 3 years and perhaps the camera. That’s pretty much all I ask for. Not even pencil support. I’d buy it as a couch browser, drone remote, ebook reader and music control. It’s a great adjunct device for the 12.9 Pro which can be a bit unwieldy in tablet mode.

The 10.5 has too many compromises (for me). Not large enough for serious work and too large for a tablet or book reader. May as well go large on the pro for the full experience and add a mini for tablet duty. Right tool. Right job.

 

[JPack]

I don’t believe that. Nobody knows the exact figures of iPad mini sales. I have heard contradictory sales figures than yours that it’s sales numbers are decent. And that’s a 3 yr old device! But I live here in NYC, and i’ve Seen more iPad minis in cafes than regular iPads. We can all speculate, but Only Apple knows what it will do with the iPad mini. The Mac Pro hasn’t been updated in nearly 6 yrs...and Apple recently announced an update is coming in 2019. Rumor just dropped today that Apple plans to update the mini desktop with a pro version soon. So until Apple officially announces the iPad mini is discontinued, I will continue to believe an update is possible.

If iPad mini sales were decent, retailers wouldn't need to chop $100-125 off the price tag every other month. Apple would be refreshing the device every year.

I have no idea why you used Mac Pro as an example. That's a computer with a starting price of $3,000. The desktop computer market has been declining or stagnant since 2012. Do you really think the replacement cycle for a desktop computer is comparable to a $300 tablet?

 

[AZhappyjack]

If iPad mini sales were decent, retailers wouldn't need to chop $100-125 off the price tag every other month. Apple would be refreshing the device every year.

I have no idea why you used Mac Pro as an example. That's a computer with a starting price of $3,000. The desktop computer market has been declining or stagnant since 2012. Do you really think the replacement cycle for a desktop computer is comparable to a $300 tablet?

I would argue that this is not necessarily true. It seems these days that Best Buy ALWAYS has Apple stuff on sale... iMacs, MBPs, iPads, etc...

 

[JPack]

I would argue that this is not necessarily true. It seems these days that Best Buy ALWAYS has Apple stuff on sale... iMacs, MBPs, iPads, etc...

The markdown % on iPad mini is the highest of any Apple product not on a contract.

Here are some examples from Best Buy:

• $200 off $1,099 iMac (18%)
  
• $100 off $999 MacBook Air (10%)
  
• $30 off $329 iPad (9%)
  
• $125 off $399 iPad mini 4 (31%)

 

[spinedoc77]

I would argue that this is not necessarily true. It seems these days that Best Buy ALWAYS has Apple stuff on sale... iMacs, MBPs, iPads, etc...

I don't think a week goes by that Best Buy or other comparable retailers don't have the newest macbooks or ipad/ipad pro's on sale. Often the discounts are substantial, not much less than the mini discounts. They just had the $429 ipads on sale for $329 last week, and I believe they had $200 off the ipad pros, among other pretty steep discounts.

 

[onepoint]

The markdown % on iPad mini is the highest of any Apple product not on a contract.

Here are some examples from Best Buy:

• $200 off $1,099 iMac (18%)
  
• $100 off $999 MacBook Air (10%)
  
• $30 off $329 iPad (9%)
  
• $125 off $399 iPad mini 4 (31%)

To be fair, I imagine the profit margin on the $399 iPad Mini is substantial (comparatively speaking) given the maturity of supply chain and dated internals

 

[Atomic1977]

iPad minis are so cool.

 

[Hater]

Heaps of people buy Minis, heaps of people don't know or care what processor is in their iPad, they see the iPad Mini in stores and figure it's the latest model, so must be good.

It's by far the best iPad, as being a tablet it's main use is out and about. Anything bigger than it is a pain, just use the laptop.

 

[darkazcura]

I really would love an update to the Mini. :/ You could probably fit close to a 9 inch screen in the chassis as is, shrinking the bezels. I guess my only hope is that they eventually shrink the bezels down on the 9.7 inch to get it closer to the Mini size.

 

[The Game 161]

Heaps of people buy Minis, heaps of people don't know or care what processor is in their iPad, they see the iPad Mini in stores and figure it's the latest model, so must be good.

It's by far the best iPad, as being a tablet it's main use is out and about. Anything bigger than it is a pain, just use the laptop.

If that was true Apple would still be updating it.

 

[Hater]

If that was true Apple would still be updating it.

It hasn't been discontinued, why would you assume they're not?

 

[The Game 161]

It hasn't been discontinued, why would you assume they're not?

Because it's not been updated for a year and there are no plans to update it. So why would you think they will ever update it again?

 

[Hater]

Because it's not been updated for a year and there are no plans to update it. So why would you think they will ever update it again?

god you English are a bunch of miserable sods.

They were hella quiet about the Mini 4, loads of people said it was going to be axed after the 3.

 

[The Game 161]

god you English are a bunch of miserable sods.

They were hella quiet about the Mini 4, loads of people said it was going to be axed after the 3.

Miserable for stating the obvious? The mini is not going to be updated. Sooner it’s accepted the better

 

[Shanghaichica]

If Apple were going to update it they would have just done it silently on their website. When they announced the 2018 would have been the most likely. I don’t think there is really a place for the mini in the current line up. They would have the price a new one below $300 as it shouldn’t be more than the budget iPad.