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iPad mini When do you think mini6 will come?
- Thread starter thadoggfather
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That’s a subjective opinion and is really based on an individual’s usage. I personally don’t feel the mini is cramped or claustrophobic at all for how I use it. If anything, I want it smaller for even better mobility.
I don't think that Apple is going to put in the engineering effort to do that. Why bother? The Mini has a captive audience. The options in Android-land don't compare. Sure, they could do it and I would love it if they did. But engineering resources are scarce. They could just update the processor, add some RAM and they'd sell like crazy.
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The thing I like is the aspect ratio. Yes, phone screens are getting bigger but I don't want a really tall display for content consumption or even writing.
This is exactly why I bough the iPad Mini 5. I was debating between the Air and the Mini. I thought the Mini might be too small. I went to the store to look at both the Air and the Mini and immediately knew the Mini was for me. The Air is really nice but it’s too big for what I need. The Mini offers a nice Apple Arcade experience. The Air would be too big for that IMO. And the Mini is super portable which is important for me. I can take it with me to do some more involved work that would be kind of difficult on a phone, especially with a good portable Bluetooth keyboard. There’s lots of times I wished I had something bigger than a phone but my MacBook Air would be overkill. The Mini fills this spot perfectly. I absolutely love the Mini 5.
I agree with much of this. I just got the Mini 5 and it's great in serving its purpose. For me, portability is key, especially when travelling by car, train, bus, or whatever. But I'd still rather reach for my 9.7" 5th or 6th generation when at home because of the larger display that's easier on the eyes and fills the field of vision better without bringing it up close.
But I agree, expanding the display via narrower bezel while keeping the exterior dimension similar would be a great improvement.
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The previous iPad mini 4 has an A8 that is still being supported on iOS 13. The current mini 5 runs an A12, the same chip as the iPhone XS. Imo we won’t be seeing another mini until we the A16.
The iPad mini literally has no competition in the market. I mean that’s how Apple managed to keep the mini 4 for so long. Let’s just count our blessings for now with the amazing mini 5.
The iPad mini literally has no competition in the market. I mean that’s how Apple managed to keep the mini 4 for so long. Let’s just count our blessings for now with the amazing mini 5.
I've looked at Samsung and Asus for small tablets. Google invented the category with the Nexus 7 and it was a great device which Google abandoned after two years. So yeah, Apple has no competitive pressure to update the Mini for quite some time. And, when they update it, I'll buy another.
I have had a few iPads, and for me the Mini is the optimum size. I use it about 80% for reading books, so it's the closest match to a printed book yet. I hope Apple continues to update (but I am predicting they do not).
Just bought a iPad mini 5 yesterday so I'm hoping not for a while, lol.
But seriously, I think it will be a couple years at least. I don't think Apple sees a ton of interest around the iPad mini (which is crazy cause it might be the perfect size).
But seriously, I think it will be a couple years at least. I don't think Apple sees a ton of interest around the iPad mini (which is crazy cause it might be the perfect size).
Apple has a monopoly in this form factor and I do think that they sell a lot of them. Imagine a marketing campaign based around people traveling on subway, commuter rail or airplane where you can just stick it in your pocket, or handbag. I know that the Kindle is very popular for strictly readers but the iPad Mini give you so much more - and so much more compute power. It's great as a big-screen SatNav too.
Apple stuffed a very powerful processor. They don't need to really add any features to sell these things and they could even just update the processor and RAM for the Mini 6. Apple is very busy too. They just released the 16 and the Pro. They will need to work on the Air and the 13 and probably update the Mini and iMac in 2020.
Also, the watch, the other accessories and iPads and iPhones too. Very busy company - no wonder their marketcap is stratospheric.
But yeah, I don't see a Mini 6 in 2020. I would buy one if they did. It would be my way of correcting my mistake of not getting a cellular model and I could just leave the current one around the house.
I'm pretty sure the mini 6 will come out 1-day after the return window for my mini 5 closes. (For the record, my wife loves her mini 4, but is starting bump up against the 64GB limit. We had planned to skip this generation but the space issue might force the upgrade much sooner.)
I bought the Mini 5 when they were first available. Got the 256GB WiFi model. It’s absolutely perfect in every way. It runs iPadOS 13 perfectly. If Apple releases a Mini 6 in 2020, I wouldn’t buy it - Mini 5 is more than adequate right now. It if they released a Mini 6 in 2021, I’d be all over that like butter over popcorn.
Going to be optimistic and say ~2 years, think Apple might have learned their lesson with the complaints over leaving products on sale unchanged for 3+ years? Having said that, the mini 5 is the most able to go on 3 years without changes as it's pretty well specced to begin with.
I'm very tempted to get one, primarily to take to the library with me when I need something to take notes on but don't want the distractions entailed with keeping open my MacBook Pro next to me. That said, I wish they'd done something about the size of the bezels on the non-Pro iPad lineup. They look extremely dated.
Apple has zero competition in this space. They can basically do what they want to when they want to. I personally think that the Mini 5 was a very nice gift from Apple - I'll take what I can get in this space.
That's a good point. Especially given the size of the iPad Mini as well which appeals to people like myself who already have a MacBook and an iPhone and want something in-between which is small and portable.
What's the display quality like on the latest model? Comparable to looking at a recent MacBook Pro or iPhone?
I don't have a recent MacBook Pro or iPhone.
One other benefit of the iPad Mini 5 is that I feel less of a need to upgrade my MacBook Pro and iPhone.
The mini already has that. The 10.5” Pro and Air 3 have copied that tweak to the design from the iPad mini form factor.
I have the Mini 4 too, and got a Mini 5 from work. I only use my own iPad for media consumption and browsing, and for that the 4 is absolutely fine. The difference between the 4 and 5 is there, but not by any means huge for these tasks. Keep the 4 if you’re happy with it!
I joined the iPad mini 5 crowd. Giving my Air 3 to family. It was too big to take on trips. Loving the size factor of the mini. Perfect for my reading. I hope Apple continues to update this iPad. I’m sold on it.
They really need to use Face ID on the mini. It’s such a dated design. I’d love a full screen mini.
I love Touch ID on my mini. No regrets with this old style