“This year, consumers and investors are expecting Apple to launch a larger screen iPad, which many believe will help turn around sales of the struggling tablet line,” Bill Maurer writes for Seeking Alpha. “Also, there are rumors out there about the company testing six-inch screens for iPhones, which could come out in 2016.”
“I think it’s likely in the next year or two that Apple does go to a display of six inches or more for the iPhone. That will have substantially narrowed the screen size disparity between the iPhone and the iPad mini since the tablet has a 7.9-inch display,” Maurer writes. “Many have speculated that the popularity of the larger screen iPhone 6 is a main reason for the fall in iPad sales. An even larger screen for the smartphone would seem to speed up that iPad mini sales decline.”
“By eliminating the iPad mini, Apple can boost average selling prices for the iPad line and most likely increase overall margins,” Maurer writes. “With a six-inch smartphone out, Apple could theoretically push mini users to a large iPhone, as phone margins are reportedly much higher… A major concern for investors would be the sales drop-off of millions of iPad mini units. With fiscal 2016 revenues only expected to increase by about 5%, this would likely kill all of Apple’s revenue growth in the period. For this reason, I don’t think the company will eliminate the iPad mini this year… Last year’s mini refresh was poor, and I think this year’s model could end up being the last one we ever see.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: iPad mini always seemed to be a product searching a bit for a raison d’être and whatever reasons buyers had for choosing it have diminished with iPhone 6 Plus. A 6-inch iPhone wouldn’t help iPad mini in the “Why?” department.
As our poll shows (left column) very few (2.29%) give a rat’s ass about an iPad mini 4.
What do you think? Should the 7.9-inch iPad mini 4 that many expect to appear later this year be Apple’s last iPad mini?
yes maybe the last. thats okay better thing to come our way!~
I love my iPad mini 2. Didn’t buy 3 because only Touch ID difference not enough change. Will definitely be buying iPad mini 4 as well as Air 3. But not the largest model. Too big for me. Also upgrading from iPhone 6 Plus to 6S Plus next month. Thanks to Viggle, Perk and Swagbucks I’m able to get them all for free.😜
I’ve had the original mini and the Retina mini. Aside from wifi connection issues I find it to be a perfect size for reading, watching movies on trips and carrying around.
I love the iPad mini. For me it’s ideal for reading. Better to ha doe than iPad Air and easier to read on than iPhone 6 Plus. I use it daily to read periodicals of all different types as well as books. I hope Apple keeps it around and improves it.
I’m on my second iPad mini. I love it. Maybe Apple will kill the product, but I think it’s great. Some people think an iPhone 6 Plus is a good replacement for an iPad mini. I disagree. I like having an iPad as well as an iPhone. Maybe I don’t want to be interrupted with phone calls, and the iPad mini screen is bigger than the iPhone 6 Plus.
I use the iPad Mini as a moving map and terrain avoidance display in my airplane; it’s the perfect size. It does get VERY hot sometimes but has never shut down.
I hope they keep the size alive.
I second that comment. I run Foreflight on my mini which is connected via wi-fi to my Dynon glass panel display. A standard size iPad would be too large.
I take the iPad Mini on trips to Europe. Don’t need the bigger Pad much on vacation but I do want one on hand for flights, maps etc.
I agree with most posters above. I love my iPad mini. It’s the perfect size for content consumption while still being something I’m reasonably able to touch type on.
A giant iPhone doesn’t cut it for me. My iPhone needs to be able to go with me to a ton more places that my iPad doesn’t. A giant iPhone won’t fit in my pocket for exercise. Just thinking about carting around a mini iPad mini on a jog in order to use my Apple Watch seems ludicrous.
No… It completes the lineup……. Many like the portability of the size… Why send the customer to someone else if they prefer that size.
Exactly, Apple should ship:
4″, 4.7″, 5.5″, new 6.x”, 7.9″ 9.7″, new 12.9″ and someday even larger for artists.
People like me would use: 6.x” and 12.9″
Other people might want: 4″ and 7.9″
There are probably people who would still love a 3″ or 3.5″ device.
Every size is perfect for some people and some uses. When every size sells in millions of units, why frustrate anyone with a hole in the lineup? Aside from screen and battery sizes, most components could remain common across the lineup.
Yup… Could not agree more ..
Add to that a hybrid device with an adaptable/scalable os ..( coherent seamless integration of ios and osx)
8 different screen sizes ?????
Too many choices.
3 iPhones: 4″, 4.7″, and 5.5″ seem to be what people want
iPads, I don’t really see why Apple doesn’t move to 2, and definitely no more than 3 sizes.
Nobody wants a <4" screen.
Note to Apple: remember when you offered Mac displays in 3 different sizes too? We'd like you to get off your increasingly fat duff and show us new displays 4K or greater resolution. 21", 27", and 30" would be nice.
I have both the mini (w retina display) and an iPhone 6+. I love reading on the mini, tolerate it on the iPhone. Love movies, email, web browsing, games (NYT Crossword, pinball) on the mini vs. the iPhone. I prefer the iPhone for voice calling (duh), FaceTime (lighter, not as hard to hold up), solitaire, star walk (again, lighter). Both have their pluses. I use an iPad Air at work, seems like a gargantuan these days. I can’t image a 12 incher…
I hate the arrogance of people who think that anyone cares that they hate the arrogance of …. whatever.
Any more levels of abstraction, we’d have to sit down and diagram it out. Where’s William Safire when you need ‘im?
Got a 1st gen mini and looking to upgrade.
Going to go for the mini 3. I have friends who have the Air 2 and while it’s absolutely awesome, I just prefer the size of the mini. It’s literally perfect for my hands.
Hope they don’t kill it.
Wait for the mini 4. Don’t buy a mini 3 now. Mini 4 will be way more powerful and include 2GB system ram for iOS 9 split screen multitasking.
If I were to buy a new iPad, it would be the mini. A friend has one and I think it is the perfect size. Maybe I’ll get one on a fire sale.
The mini also fits nicely in the pocket of lab coats within the healthcare industry.
Your poll only allows a single choice. I am VERY interested in a new Apple TV, a Skylake MacBook Pro, AND a iPad mini 4.
struggling tablet line
So much rubbish in tech journalism these days. Stick to the facts, dear writers.
I agree. “Struggling” isn’t a term I’d use for my iPad Air. I use it 4-5 hours per day, from the elliptical in the morning, to news browsing throughout the day, to book reading at night.
I haven’t replaced it because it’s perfect for how I use it. To replace it, my battery would have to die, I’d have to accidentally break it out of warranty, or they’d need to add some new gee wiz tech that would encourage me to pass it down to another family member or friend.
In short, I haven’t reached the end of this model’s life cycle. When I do, I’ll replace it.
Even though I’m a shareholder, my focus with Apple products is on their state of the art industrial design and user experience. Talk about making design changes or discontinuing devices just to force premature sales offends me. Let other companies crank out disposable tech that must be replaced yearly, or more frequently. I’m more than happy to use my Apple stuff until I’m bored enough to want to upgrade, not because it was poorly made or designed.
I still have my original Mac 128, my Newton 2100, my first gen iPhone, and several old iPods. None of them died. I just decided to move on when Apple came out with something new that appealed to me.
The iPad mini is definitely needed by healthcare professionals. I lived through carrying my full sized iPad and needed to have custom sized pockets in my lab coat to carry it. The iPad mini has hit the sweet spot relative to size.
I see this product mostly used by elementary students who are too young to own a 6 inch high end iPhone. It seems to be what kids upgrade to from old retired parent iPhones (wifi only use) and iPod Touches.
This is likely unqualified speculation, or I hope so.
My retina iPad mini is my goto device. The 27″ iMac gets some use, especially when balancing the checkbook or paying bills (I use the Macbook Pro for these tasks when away from home). My iPhone 5S is always in my pocket and Apple Watch on my wrist. But for viewing content, email, Facebook, shopping eBay or Amazon, I always go to the Mini. The original size iPad2 rarely gets used anymore, seeming too big.
That would be a stupid idea.
I can see some MBA business man coming up with some chart that shows margins would increase and sales of xxx product would increase, but it would be a dumb idea because people still want it.
We use them for medical students….not sure what we would do without them. Move to chromebooks is what is wanted by some of the boss’s for the cheap price!
The reason you see so many 7-8″ tablets in Asia is, for their hands it’s the full size tablet. My wife used my iPad Air for awhile and bought the mini for that reason.
Well, they did a pretty good job of messing up their other “mini” product, so I wouldn’t put it past them crippling or killing this one too. It would be nice to have all three sizes.
(i.e. Mac mini)
I love my iPad mini. It’s the perfect size for reading books on buses and trains.
I’m with the iPad mini crowd. It is the perfect size. Recently purchased an iPad Air 2, and despite its lightness and thinness, it’s just big enough to be not very portable.
I purchased the Air 2 because the mini 3 wasn’t going to support all the iOS9 things and I think that the iPad Air 2 will be a MUCH more productive machine once split screening comes.
Add me to the list of iPad Mini fans. I have a 2. The 3 isn’t that big a jump for me to want to upgrade. Maybe the 4?
The Mini is just the right size for portability. The latest Airs are nice… but too large when traveling. They are perfect for home use.
Of course, YMMV.