“The iPad mini has long had a rather odd position in the model lineup, but things got weirder still with the new iPad mini launched today,” Ben Lovejoy writes for 9to5Mac.
“In updating it, there were two routes Apple could have taken: [1] Make the iPad mini a cheaper version of the entry-level iPad; [2] Make it an ultra-portable iPad Pro,” Lovejoy writes. “The former route would have required pricing at around the $299 level, with specs equivalent to the 9.7-inch iPad. The latter approach would have been creating a true premium model in ultra-portable form – which would have included near-bezel-free design with Face ID, and support for the Apple Pencil 2.”
“The model Apple announced today is some odd in-between device. Price-wise, it’s still more expensive than the 9.7-inch iPad, ranging from $399 to $679. Spec-wise, you get some of the iPad Pro features, but not all,” Lovejoy writes. “So … who is this model for? If you’re buying on price, and are happy with basic features, you’ll buy the 9.7-inch model. But if you want an iPad Pro in 7.9-inch format, you’re out of luck.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re perplexed, but, then again, we’ve never been in the market for an iPad mini. We could definitely see how a low-price, entry-level iPad mini would be attractive as devices for kids. If you pushed the specs up to “Pro” level, we’d remain unconvinced as 7.9-inches is just too small for most pro-level work.
It’ll be interesting to see if the new iPad mini sells or if this is the last iPad mini we’ll ever see.
Do you want the new 7.9-inch iPad mini? If so, why would you choose it over the 9.7-inch iPad or the new 10.5-inch iPad Air?
SEE ALSO:
Apple launches all-new, A12 Bionic-powered 10.5-inch iPad Air and 7.9-inch iPad mini – March 18, 2019
Grrrrrrr….and still, waiting for the iMac!!, could care less about the iPad announcements. Just saying!!
me too!
At WWDC… just a few monhs away …..
Hopefully with “Bionic inside”!
The iPad Mini is perfect for flying. I keep two in my cockpit; one on the panel, the other on a kneeboard.
The iPad Mini is used by a lot of retail establishments to play their music although you could do that with an iPod.
Someone who prefers the original Apple Pencil compared to the new one. I really can’t believe that Apple released a new product where only the old Apple Pencil works. I find it ridiculous that they did something so stupid. This is yet another example of the mess Tim Cook has made
It’s also, greedy, as it will force anyone buying the original pencil to have to upgrade it sooner than the pencil2 will likely require. Perhaps Apple has some extra pencil1 inventory?!?!
Per Pencil not working…yes, and the farking thing is premium-ly priced. Paying top-dollar for an item is in-line, IF said item “just works” and customers aren’t left bewildered like this.
Mr. Schiller; are you reading?
My son has always preferred the mini … got himself a new one last year. This will not cause him to update.
I agree that I would NEVER buy one but I have an older family member who LOVES the form factor and will def be getting one of these for her birthday. I also suspect that a lot of businesses use them like an iPod Touch PLUSs. Playing music, providing access to software, etc – more of a general utility machine.
Markets: Pilots, Doctors, Nurses, Building inspectors, Fire departments. There are many more. Just because you don’t need one, your imagination should not be limited. Sometimes size does matter.
It is the perfect size for people who read books. The rest of you will never underdtand.
They probably can’t read. 😉
The rest are probably very satisfied with their e-ink Kindles, nooks, etc. for long bouts of reading w/o having to plug in.
For me. Thank you Apple.
Me too. I want a smaller iPad, not the huge pro. I just use my MacBook Pro if I want something that big. I travel a lot…
I have an iPad Pro 12.9 (3rd Gen) and will be adding one of these to the mix.
My pref would have been to go all in with the latest as in the new Ipad Pros, but this is a great improvement.
Kids. Seems like I’m missing something, but if pro level features wouldn’t make sense on a mini, then this is the most premium you can get in a mini. Seems to be the best fit for kids at the highest level of features that should exist at that form factor.
And 5-10 year olds can port around a mini in their bags, handles them better, etc etc.
Been waiting years since iPad mini 2 for this model. But now that I have a XsMax with 512GB storage seems like I no longer need a slightly larger mini with only 256GB of storage.
It’s not just for kids, silly rabbit.
My wife carries a mini 2 with her in her purse. She wanted a new one for Christmas but I told her to hold off as there were rumors that an upgrade was coming. It’s here, so she’ll probably get it.
I have an XS Max and it’s still not quite big enough for reading. I’ll probably get a base mini WiFi model to replace my Kindle. My Air 1 is a bit unwieldy for quick stashing during my commute.
I think the mini is the ideal size, it’s so manageable, for so many things, I actually prefer it to the larger iPads and it can fit in a jacket pocket.
I will definitely be buying one, I have a 1st Gen 2012 iPad mini 1 which still provides sterling service, which I have purposely not upgraded whilst waiting for Apple to launch a worthwhile update to the mini 4.
I loved my second-generation iPad mini! While I still worked in an office job, it made a great lunchtime book reader. Also came in handy on the weekends in the office if I was stuck working overtime but wanted to have a ballgame on with my iPad propped up on my desk.
It fit in my lunchbox, too – making it completely inconspicuous.