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Why does is iPad Mini 4 still for sale?
- Thread starter icemantx
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Only the very first had "terrible" screen quality. After that, all others had the same resolution as the 9.7" models and because they were smaller, that actually meant higher pixel density. Arguably the Mini 4 has a better display than the Air 2, and with its lamination and anti-reflective coating, it is better than the last two generations of non-pro iPads.
As for poorer performance, the Mini 2 launched with the same internals as the then flagship Air 1. The Mini 4's internals and performance nearly match the then flagship Air 2. It kind of seems like every second Mini was really good.
The Mini 1 and 3 were already behind when they launched, but the 2 and 4 were great for their time. As I've said before, the Mini 4 is still good even now, Apple is just asking a bit much for a 2 and a half year old device.
I wonder if for some reason the Mini presented a design challenge for Apple. As others have said, it’s supposedly the smallest size Apple can make for the iPad UI. Perhaps it was too small?
The first gen Mini wasn’t cutting edge at all in its design. It came out around or with the third or fourth iPad, but was basically a smaller iPad 2.
The second gen is literally the only time they managed to make the Mini cutting edge in terms of internals. It shared all the quality of the Air, which was launched simultaneously. Same screen, chip, RAM, etc.
The Mini 3 could’ve been in line with the Air 2, but instead they only gave it Touch ID and virtually nothing else new. No extra RAM, no new chip, no laminated display. It felt like the Mini team designed it at the last minute that year. I remember being quite surprised by it, comparing it to the success of the Mini 2.
By the Mini 4, it was already a year behind the Air 2, and it still didn’t even fully catch up to its A8X chip. If the Mini 4’s design had been the Mini 3, it would’ve been just about as impressive as the Mini 2, but it was a year late.
The Mini 4 should’ve been better than the Air 2, since it came out a year later. I guess it’s possible that they just weren’t good at shrinking down the design or their heart wasn’t entirely in it when it came to the Mini.
Looking back at its history, I don’t expect any big surprises in the Mini department. We’re not even getting cutting edge designs in the 9.7” form anymore. It’s go big or go home with Apple, it seems.
The first gen Mini wasn’t cutting edge at all in its design. It came out around or with the third or fourth iPad, but was basically a smaller iPad 2.
The second gen is literally the only time they managed to make the Mini cutting edge in terms of internals. It shared all the quality of the Air, which was launched simultaneously. Same screen, chip, RAM, etc.
The Mini 3 could’ve been in line with the Air 2, but instead they only gave it Touch ID and virtually nothing else new. No extra RAM, no new chip, no laminated display. It felt like the Mini team designed it at the last minute that year. I remember being quite surprised by it, comparing it to the success of the Mini 2.
By the Mini 4, it was already a year behind the Air 2, and it still didn’t even fully catch up to its A8X chip. If the Mini 4’s design had been the Mini 3, it would’ve been just about as impressive as the Mini 2, but it was a year late.
The Mini 4 should’ve been better than the Air 2, since it came out a year later. I guess it’s possible that they just weren’t good at shrinking down the design or their heart wasn’t entirely in it when it came to the Mini.
Looking back at its history, I don’t expect any big surprises in the Mini department. We’re not even getting cutting edge designs in the 9.7” form anymore. It’s go big or go home with Apple, it seems.
Honestly the last chance saloon was the event on the 27th, alongside the 9.7. As of now I think it's fair to say the 4 is the end of the road for the mini line (as was predicted quite a few months previous).
Sadly, you’re probably right. I doubt they’ll just make the Mini a Pro all of a sudden. It would’ve been appropriate to launch it with the 2018 9.7” for the education sector. It’s never been given specs better than a 9.7” iPad. They won’t start that now. There’s going to be three iPads and three iPhones each year. Probably no new SE phone either.
It does also have four times the storage and a laminated display though
The mini 4 would get a jump start in sales if Apple would’ve just given it the A10. I don’t understand their logic still selling it at $399 with the ancient A8.
My wife and I both want new Minis to take on the go. But it doesn’t seem like this will ever come true.
My wife and I both want new Minis to take on the go. But it doesn’t seem like this will ever come true.
Costs. The mini 4's laminated display costs more than the non-laminated display on the $329 iPad 9.7.
It's the Apple Swan Song routine where the product in question isn't updated, reduced to a single capacity/model (though, technically if you count the option for cellular [which I wouldn't for the purposes of this argument] or colors) and then kept around without update for 120-500% of the usual release cycle before finally getting the unceremonious axe. Apple products that have met this fate in the past have included the iPod classic, the iPod nano, the iPod shuffle, the eMac, the PowerMac G4 Cube, the non-retina/unibody 13" MacBook Pro (though this can arguably be considered a slow phase-out to a successor product within the line rather than a slow death), the white MacBook, the 11" MacBook Air etc. Products in a similar situation presently include the iPod touch, the AirPort Express, the Mac mini, the 13" MacBook Air (having been largely replaced by the Escape Edition/TouchBar-Free 13" MacBook Pro). Apple likes to do this from time to time. Though, seemingly more frequently these days...
Interesting to see the Mac Mini thread filled with endless theories of what the new Mac Mini will look like, which is just around the corner (according to the hopefuls there). Speculation going on now for years.
iPad Mini is just the right size.
iPad is too big to carry around when you're on the go.
iPhone plus size is not big enough for my needs.
The 6th gen iPod Nano was the perfect iPod for me. Especially for gym/fitness. But Apple killed off a product that made such good sense and a product that I can actually say that I still love (as opposed to the Shuffle which I always found frustrating). Like the 6th gen Nano, the iPad Mini is the perfect form factor for me. When the Mini first arrived I thought it was pointless and was in favor of iPad, but until I actually bought one and started using it I began to see how much it would be a part of my EVERY day life. My old iPad I don't touch anymore. Just like cell phones are now something we all carry around with us, for me the Mini is pretty much the same.
If Apple kill of the Mini 4 then I'll buy a discounted Mini 4 before its completely gone, just as an upgrade to my Mini 2.
iPad is too big to carry around when you're on the go.
iPhone plus size is not big enough for my needs.
The 6th gen iPod Nano was the perfect iPod for me. Especially for gym/fitness. But Apple killed off a product that made such good sense and a product that I can actually say that I still love (as opposed to the Shuffle which I always found frustrating). Like the 6th gen Nano, the iPad Mini is the perfect form factor for me. When the Mini first arrived I thought it was pointless and was in favor of iPad, but until I actually bought one and started using it I began to see how much it would be a part of my EVERY day life. My old iPad I don't touch anymore. Just like cell phones are now something we all carry around with us, for me the Mini is pretty much the same.
If Apple kill of the Mini 4 then I'll buy a discounted Mini 4 before its completely gone, just as an upgrade to my Mini 2.
I bought a tab s2 this past Christmas and it had the latest security updates from September 2017, so Samsung is still making them.
My tab s2 now has the android security updates from January 2018, so Samsung is still providing updates to it.
Security updates are different than OS updates, though OS updates do include security updates.
Yeah it’s really silly IMO, I don’t understand why this isn’t a much lower price like $179 or $199.
Kal.
I just sold my 2.5 year old mini 4 for $350 CDN (about $274 USD), so apparently people are still willing to pay a fair bit for one.
Same. I sold my Mini 4 over the Holidays last year to fund the purchase of my 10.5" IPP (only had to pay $235 out of pocket for the IPP). There definitely is still a market for used Mini's at least over on Swappa.
The $70 price doesn’t make up for it? It’s not like it’s some new design and neither is the A10 that’s going on two years old. Put in the A10 and drop the storage to 64gb if costs is an issue.
You were asking why Apple hasn't dropped the price from $399.
Why not bump up to A10? Probably doesn't sell enough units for Apple to spend money on development. It's not like they can just drop in the A10 chipset in the existing board.
ha
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you think? the first one was pretty rubbish - but the 2 was great. Matched the Air I believe.. I loved it anyway. My niece has it now. Still on ios10. I hope she avoids updating it.. Stupid relentless updates...
And a much better physical profile for carrying it around.
Security updates but not major OS updates.
And it’s 3 months behind as we are now in April.
Where did I ask/say why hasn’t Apple dropped the price? I said I didn’t understand their logic selling it at $399 with an A8. I would gladly pay $399 with an A10 with 128gb or even down to 64gb.
It doesn’t sell enough units because it’s been neglected for over two years. If Apple can drop an A10 in 2014 phone and 2013 iPad, surely they can make compatible in the mini.