“Starting at $249, the iPad Mini 2 was the simplest, most affordable iPad, according to CNET reviews,” Katzmaier reports. “Now it’s getting replaced by something much more expensive.”
“The Mini 2 is gone from Apple’s website, signaling its demise,” Katzmaier reports. “The only Mini you’ll be able to buy new and direct from Apple is the Mini 4, starting at $399.”
“The culling of the Mini 2 comes amid Apple’s quiet refresh of its tablet lineup, highlighted by the introduction of an improved full-sized iPad starting at $329.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We consider a new 9.7-inch iPad for $329 more than compensatory for the death of an old 7.9-inch iPad.
SEE ALSO:
Why Apple announced its new, low-priced iPad with such little fanfare – March 21, 2017
Apple’s new $329 iPad is thicker and slightly heavier than iPad Air 2 – March 21, 2017
Apple unveils new 9.7-inch iPad starting at new low price of just $329 – March 21, 2017 – March 21, 2017
Raising the price of the cheapest oPad by $110 is sending a lot of buyers to Samsung.
Can you read? The cheapest iPad is the new base 9.7″ iPad starting at $329. That is a difference of $80 for a larger and more capable device.
If Apple continues to offer the iPad mini in the 7.9″ form factor, then I would anticipate the release of an updated version costing less than the new 9.7″ version. It would not make any sense, otherwise. But the demand for a new 7.9″ iPad may be rather low given the popularity of the larger iPhones. The plus version of the iPhone is large enough for most people to use in place of the iPad mini, or even the larger 9.7″ iPad. The big step up is with the iPad Pro models offering the Apple pencil and other advanced functionality and performance.
Today’s quiet release of the updated base iPad simply sets the stage for the release of a new lineup of advanced iPad Pro models with the A10X and other features.
So, the cheapest iPad mini is now more expensive than the larger full-size iPad (the ‘just iPad’). It’s great that it comes with 128GB of storage, but for many iPad buyers, mini used to be the only choice due to their pricing (for some, $250 is absolute ceiling, and $330 is simply too high).
I’m sure there will be some more developments at the bottom of the iPad line in the coming weeks.
This is Cook’s Apple. He doesn’t want to serve those customers.
This is Apple’s Cook-ing. He doesn’t want to serve iMeals to those customers. He wants those customers to save a little more and get themselves a much better iPad.
Cook is much smarter than you give him credit for. Otherwise the CEO of Apple would be Mike. But it ain’t. So – shaddapayuface. Thanks.
The iPad mini was the perfect size for many reasons. One reason I had the iPad Air 2 was because of the split screen at the time was only on that device. Kind of sad to see the mini go.
The Mini hasn’t gone. The Mini 2 is gone. And considering it’s age I’m surprised it lasted this long.
Exactly. People sad about iPad models too old to run iOS 11 properly are sad about the wrong thing.