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BGR Rumor: Apple to phase out iPad Mini / JPN blog: Apple to phase in mini iPad Pro
- Thread starter Majine
- Start date
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
That sucks. I get that larger phones might take away from tablet share, but the Mini screen is still quiet a bit bigger than the Plus.
It's also still a smaller compact size than the regular 9.7".
It's also still a smaller compact size than the regular 9.7".
Kabuki Quantum Lover
Member
Considering how large phone screens are these days (Apple's included), the 7"/8" tablet doesn't make as much sense as it used to.
sixteen-bit
Member
Shrinking tablet market plus margins must not be as high as on the Pros.
TheCochese
Banned
The Mini makes for great car installs. That sucks.
I also miss (with my 9.7 vs the Mini) being able to put it in my back pocket.
I also miss (with my 9.7 vs the Mini) being able to put it in my back pocket.
badcrumble
Member
I get the argument that it cannibalizes higher-end iPads and/or that it's a product without a real niche now that Apple has Plus-sized iPhones, but even though it isn't a product for me, this is a shame, IMO.
Tim Cook is too interested in raising the average sale price of Apple's devices and, combined with Jony Ive's less-than-great impulses, it's gradually turning Apple into a boutique brand instead of a luxury-for-the-masses one.
I'd much rather see them identify their problems with the iPad mini and fix them than kill the product outright. iPad hardware has been and continues to be excellent; if they want to encourage people to upgrade more often, they need to foster an environment in which iPads will get higher-end software on them. There's no hardware-power reason Civilizations VI can't be running on iPad Pros, but the App Store is wildly inhospitable to any software priced above $5.
We're gonna see touch/gyro games come to the Switch that could perfectly easily be ported to the iPad but won't be because the business model isn't supported.
Tim Cook is too interested in raising the average sale price of Apple's devices and, combined with Jony Ive's less-than-great impulses, it's gradually turning Apple into a boutique brand instead of a luxury-for-the-masses one.
I'd much rather see them identify their problems with the iPad mini and fix them than kill the product outright. iPad hardware has been and continues to be excellent; if they want to encourage people to upgrade more often, they need to foster an environment in which iPads will get higher-end software on them. There's no hardware-power reason Civilizations VI can't be running on iPad Pros, but the App Store is wildly inhospitable to any software priced above $5.
We're gonna see touch/gyro games come to the Switch that could perfectly easily be ported to the iPad but won't be because the business model isn't supported.
The Albatross
Member
Just bought one like... a month ago with a gift card I had. W/e, I like the 7.9" form factor way more than the 9.7" (or w/e they are)
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Is it? Is the usage rate shrinking or just the sales market due to consumers not needing to upgrade at the same clip as phones?
NYR
Member
iPad mini was a novel idea and fit a particular niche of customers that wanted something that was sized like an e-reader. Things have changed, the mini came out well before an iPhone with a 5.5 inch screen existed, so the business has changed incredibly since then, the iPhone Plus model is more or less the new mini.
DOWN
Banned
iPad mini sucks in a world where you can have an iPhone 7 Plus and a big iPad for those big screen moments
If you thought Mini was a good screen size compromise to dodge tablet monsters but couldn't just work on iPhone 5S sized devices that were major back when Mini launched, you arguably should just have merged the needs into an iPhone 7 Plus by now once the big screen phones took hold.
If you thought Mini was a good screen size compromise to dodge tablet monsters but couldn't just work on iPhone 5S sized devices that were major back when Mini launched, you arguably should just have merged the needs into an iPhone 7 Plus by now once the big screen phones took hold.
AlexMeloche
Member
...iPad Mini are like half the price of the iPhone though. :/
Nazgul_Hunter
Member
It is, in unit sales, but there's been reporting that it's SMALL tablets that are shrinking. Large iPads are actually growing I think.
Also; the Plus phones killed the mini, I think
TheCochese
Banned
The one where they were completely wrong up to this point?
NYR
Member
Jeez. Totally missed that, thanks for pointing this out! This is actually awesome news if true.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
The Mini screen is still quite​ a bit bigger in terms of usable area though.
If we aren't going square footage there actually is a greater jump 5.5 to 7.9 than 7.9 to 9.7.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
The pro line seems like a way to upsell Apple customers into something that most really don't need while Apple makes mad bank on bigger margins.
Lil'DigiOp
Member
I have an android tab but i always wanted a lil iPad mini just to hold
The Greek Freak
Member
Well I guess when my mini dies I'll finally be free of IOS (only got a mini for the 1ish ios only mobile game a year that I felt mad I couldn't play).
Gladly will buy a cheapo amazon tablet next since all I actually care about is light browsing + video.
Gladly will buy a cheapo amazon tablet next since all I actually care about is light browsing + video.
Why would they have a 9.7 inch Pro model still if they are replacing it with the 10 inch model that's the same size and smaller bezel? Also, seems short sighted to get rid of mini entirely. It still feels much larger in size than a 5.5 inch screen, and not everyone wants a massive phone. Heck, the iPhone SE is still popular because it can actually fit in the pockets of women's jeans.
Gravy Boat
Member
Unless you're wearing jeans for clowns I don't see how an iPad mini would fit in your pockets.
shiftplusone
Member
I had a mini and it was great, but with the 329 9.7 non pro, not sure where a ~300 dollar mini would really fit considering it was older hardware at that price
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
I had a mini for a while (Until someone borrowed it and refused to return it.) but wasn't using it at all towards the end.
I have a 7+ now and that's enough mini for me. I just wish Apple would make/allow devs to treat the Plus iPhone as a hybrid for app development so we can get some iPad versions of things on the Plus.
I have a 7+ now and that's enough mini for me. I just wish Apple would make/allow devs to treat the Plus iPhone as a hybrid for app development so we can get some iPad versions of things on the Plus.
2-in-1s were growing which is what prompted the Pro to align with the Surface, now though I think those are also sliding back. Tablets across the board are falling, the only ones that buck the trend are Kindle Fires because Amazon changed their strategy from premium to as cheap as possible and it worked. It's unclear if even that will hold though.
minor effort
Banned
And with the discontinuation of the Mini goes any lingering interest I had in the iPad line.
Holding a Mini in portrait mode felt absolutely perfect. I owned a few 9.7" iPads before, but the iPad Mini 2 was the first iPad that really clicked with me. It's aging now, and the Mini 4 has some pretty dated specs for 2017, so spending $400 on one seems difficult to justify.
If they do kill off all 7.9" iPads, I have a feeling the Mini 2 will have been my last iPad purchase.
Holding a Mini in portrait mode felt absolutely perfect. I owned a few 9.7" iPads before, but the iPad Mini 2 was the first iPad that really clicked with me. It's aging now, and the Mini 4 has some pretty dated specs for 2017, so spending $400 on one seems difficult to justify.
If they do kill off all 7.9" iPads, I have a feeling the Mini 2 will have been my last iPad purchase.
Ephemeris
Member
haha right?
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
The original title was Rumor: Apple to discontinue iPad Mini
The article claims they're going to phase out the iPad Mini, and then separately that another source cited in the article claims they're phasing in a mini iPad Pro.
Let's see what I can fit to make this clearer. Edit: I think this is a little closer.
SodiumBenzoate
Member
Just stick some cellphone guts in it and rebrand it as the iPhone Plus Plus
minor effort
Banned
"Discontinue" implies too much immediacy, "phase out" seems to more accurately describe Apple letting the aging Mini 4 continue to fester.
At a certain point it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The sales of the Mini line are dwindling in-part because it has 3.5 year old hardware inside of it.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
The Pro line is such a scam for the average user.
As an average web/email/consumption device it's such overkill.
Plus while there will be a new Mini Pro it'll be priced higher than the current regular non pro iPad.
I can only assume margins weren't worth it for Apple to try and go cheaper than the current new non pro iPad.
As an average web/email/consumption device it's such overkill.
Plus while there will be a new Mini Pro it'll be priced higher than the current regular non pro iPad.
I can only assume margins weren't worth it for Apple to try and go cheaper than the current new non pro iPad.
Yup. And the new cheaper iPad is a step backward with no laminated screen.
I'd love a cheaper 12.9" iPad for consumption