First introduced in 2012, Apple’s iPad mini was a welcome alternative to the much larger, thicker, and heavier 9.7-inch iPad. There was no 5.5-inch iPhone Plus, so the iPad mini made a great choice for light reading and effortless web browsing, email, and gaming. The market doesn’t stand still, however, and we’re now looking at a redesigned iPad Pro to be launched this summer that should offer everything the current 9.7-inch iPad features, but in a smaller footprint with a larger 10.5-inch display.
On the other side, there’s the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, which is large enough to negate the need for a tablet for many users. The device you take everywhere, that’s always with you, that has the best camera, and that has everything else you need. The device that you already own. Therein lies the problem, and that’s why we have heard from a source close to Apple that the iPad mini is being phased out.
That’s a shame. I love my iPad mini. I use it to read ebooks in bed, because the larger iPad is much too heavy. The iPad mini is the paperback to the iPad Pro’s hardcover. It’s a bit bigger than a Kindle, but the typography is so much better…
It’s also used a lot in education with small children for whom the full-sized iPad is too large. And I’ve seen stores where people use it as a point-of-sale device.
I understand that it’s a niche device, but it would be a shame if they kill it off.
Source: Apple to discontinue iPad mini as device gets squeezed from both ends — BGR
Sad!
Sad!
A shame. I love my iPad Mini. I also have a 6S+ but when I want to read anything more than an email I reach for the mini. I was hoping for one more generation.
I bought my 6+ specifically to replace my iPad mini. Two years later, I still have the mini and use it almost as much as I did before. It’s a great little device.
A shame. I love my iPad Mini. I also have a 6S+ but when I want to read anything more than an email I reach for the mini. I was hoping for one more generation.
I bought my 6+ specifically to replace my iPad mini. Two years later, I still have the mini and use it almost as much as I did before. It’s a great little device.
The iPad mini is my most frequently used Apple device. It is ideal for reading.
The iPad mini is my most frequently used Apple device. It is ideal for reading.
I see a *lot* of stores using iPad minis as POS devices in Edinburgh, and elsewhere. Seems like a decent sized market, I’m surprised this hasn’t bolstered sales enough to make the mini viable. I also love mine, great size.
I see a *lot* of stores using iPad minis as POS devices in Edinburgh, and elsewhere. Seems like a decent sized market, I’m surprised this hasn’t bolstered sales enough to make the mini viable. I also love mine, great size.
Eh, it’s BGR. Take this with a grain of salt.
Eh, it’s BGR. Take this with a grain of salt.
Just bought the 128 gig Mini 4 & it’s perfect for a traveling tablet. iPads are too big & I can’t read for long on my 6 anything other than email. I think with the 128 gigs it’s perfect for music & books.
Just bought the 128 gig Mini 4 & it’s perfect for a traveling tablet. iPads are too big & I can’t read for long on my 6 anything other than email. I think with the 128 gigs it’s perfect for music & books.