“The last time Apple updated the iPad Mini was back in September 2015. The upgrade to that tablet at the time was reasonable. Apple outfitted the new device — the iPad Mini 4 — with a brand-new liquid crystal display that offered superb color accuracy, good brightness, and reasonable contrast, according to testing performed by DisplayMate,” Ashraf Eassa writes for The Motley Fool. “The tablet also enjoyed a reasonable improvement in internals, such as a move to the A8 processor, which was then one generation old.”
“Since then, Apple hasn’t updated the product,” Eassa writes. “In fact, the only update to the product line itself — if you can even call it that — is that Apple now offers the iPad Mini 4 in just a single storage configuration (128GB) at a relatively steep $399.”
“This leads to an interesting question,” Eassa writes. “Is the iPad Mini product category dead?”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We suspect we’ll find out next spring. If there’s no update to the 7.9-inch iPad mini then, get ’em while they last!
SEE ALSO:
Wired reviews Apple’s new iPad: Offers plenty for just $329 – May 8, 2017
The Daily Express reviews Apple’s new iPad: ‘World’s greatest tablet just got more affordable’ – April 22, 2017
Macworld reviews iPad (2017): With a stripped-down iPad for $329, you may not need to go pro – April 10, 2017
Ars Technica reviews Apple’s $329 iPad: ‘For people who have never upgraded’ – April 6, 2017
It’s just plain old iPad, and it’s cheap – starting at just $329! – April 3, 2017
Apple’s new iPad is actually more than ‘just’ an iPad Air – March 30, 2017
Apple unveils new 9.7-inch iPad starting at new low price of just $329 – March 21, 2017
I hope not. I use my Mini every day. Small, light, screen isn’t too big when held close. I am waiting for the Mini 5!
I too hope it’s not dead. My mini3 gets more use than my Mac or my full size iPad. Only gets beat by my iPhone 7 Plus (hopefully soon iPhone X)
I do notice it’s getting slow, probably in need of a processor upgrade.
Its the best size for kids under 12, a 299 mini should be in the pipeline
If the base iPad 9.7 is $329, then I think it should be even less, $279 at most.
We at Amazon sincerely hope the iPad mini is dead. It’s the strongest competitor for the Kindle. When the mini is gone, Kindle will cement its rightful position as king of the reading devices!
I have two iPad Minis in my airplane; they’re perfect for panel and kneeboard. With Stratus 2S and Foreflight, you have navigation, synthetic vision, ADS-B In traffic advisories & weather and attitude backup.
A perfect aviation companion.
Do you have cellular versions?
Agree with the others . My iPad Mini is by far my favorite E-Book. I have an iPad Air2 and will no doubt get a similar size pro at some point.
But in addition, I’d really LOVE to be able to get a high powered mini. No better E-book on the market IMO.
Its really a pleasure to hold in its small light form factor
Given that large-screen iPads are moving to more productivity-based workflows, I don’t see any reason to have a low-cost 9.7″ iPad. Maybe a better lineup would be:
iPad – 7.9″ (A10 Fusion SoC)
iPad Pro – 10.5″ & 12.9″
Of course there is: the value!
As bad as I want one, 10.5 iPad pro’s cost too much and the mini is smaller than I’d like. The 128GB 9.7 for $429 US is a killer value. Wish it was priced similarly in Canada, rather than being “Canada taxed” (priced artificially higher than the exchange rate).
Big Brother giveth, then Big Brother taketh away.
Apple also killed off iPods, Airports, Displays, and other stuff that people loved. Mac Mini left on the vine to rot. Totally inexplicable.
I was under the impression that it had been discontinued and Apple was just selling the remaining 128GB stock. Working in IT for education, it doesn’t make sense to purchase a $399 iPad mini with an A8 processor when I can I can get the 9.7 inch model with an A9 processor for $299. I know I am giving up storage space, but the speed gains are worth it. I love the mini form factor and have owned one, but once I got my iPad Pro the idea of going back just isn’t an option for me. I know a lot of people like the smaller tablet. I could go either way on this.
We may not have an iPad Mini anymore but we do have those fantastic drone photos of the new Apple headquarters building. Why bother with an iPad we might buy and use when we can look at photos of the new headquarters?
It is the perfect companion to carry in my briefcase to work. Better than a full blown ipad.
I still use my iPad Mini 1 a fair amount, but its showing its age. Hopefully we’ll see a 6″+ iPhone next year, that’ll just about satisfy the small tablet segment.
Although I don’t use my iPad mini as often since adding the new iPad Pro to the mix, I’m still very glad I still have it. It’s smaller size is better for me when reading in bed, using with DJI Mavic remote control (fits perfectly), and when I don’t carry a bag and have one of my jackets that the mini fits in. It’s also just more pleasant to hold, and is extremely light requiring no stretching the thumbs out to mid screen when typing and holding.
I would buy one, but not until it is updated.
With the iPhone displays growing larger to 5.8″, there is less room between the big iPhones and the 9.7″ iPad to position the iPad mini.
That is not to say that I am in favor of ditching it. Apple is a big enough company to retain a relatively low volume device, especially since it can consume previous generation A-series SoCs and memory modules and such. I don’t want Apple’s product lineup to get too cluttered, but it seems to me that there is still plenty of room for the iPad mini.
My guess is they will give an iPad Pro 10.5 inch like treatment to the next iPad. That is, they will shrink the physical size of the device, and maintain close to the same display area. A little larger than the current mini, but with similar display size of the current iPad. That would basically keep everyone happy, and streamline the offerings.
Just when my sister wants to buy a mini!
If they would update the iPad mini I would buy one tomorrow.
With the watch gaining almost autonomous status, there is no reason the iPad mini could not morph into a VOiP machine- iPhone replacement for some of us.
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