iPad Mini 7 - is this the second-most uninspiring iPad update ever?

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Handsomedan

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#317464 17-Oct-2024 11:37

As a card-carrying iPad Mini fan and regular user, I was excited to see what may come in the next refresh of the iPad Mini.

To say that the 7th Gen iPad Mini is an underwhelming refresh is an understatement.

Effectively, there's more RAM, a new mobile processor, which doesn't allow for a number of features that other iPads have and...well, not much else.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/15/apple-unveils-new-ipad-mini-apple-intelligence/

Oh yeah - there's support for a feature that's not yet available. But it's the absolute minimum viable proposition according to Apple's own press, so they are quite literally just scraping the barrel to get it across the line.

The last time I saw such an underwhelming update was when they updated the iPad Mini 2 to the iPad Mini 3.

That was when they added Touch ID and Apple Pay. That was it.
This feels very similar, but obviously with enough of a spec bump to be able to dispute the non-upgrade argument.

https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-mini-2,ipad-mini-3,ipad-mini-4

https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-mini-6th-gen,ipad-mini-a17pro,ipad-mini-5th-gen

Oh...and you'll have to get the new Apple Pencil if you want to upgrade.

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clicknz

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#3298477 17-Oct-2024 12:03

An upgrade to Apple silicon would have been really nice... but overall the improvements are pretty good. The faster USB-c port, faster processor, (slightly) better camera and faster wi-fi chip have got me interested. Currently for work I use an 11" iPad Pro to receive preview images sent from my camera and as a wireless second monitor when shooting video, so I'm debating whether the faster radios might make it a useful tool for when I don't need the larger size.

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mkissin

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#3298513 17-Oct-2024 14:06

I wanted a Mini, and was hanging out for the refresh, so I've picked it up.

You're right, there's nothing earth-shattering, but overall it seems.....fine? I was mildly annoyed that it won't use the same pencil as my 13 inch M1 Pro.

lxsw20

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#3298515 17-Oct-2024 14:09

I wish they would do a budget Mini, it was great for things like meeting room occupancy screens, but priced itself out of that market now really.

Nate001

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#3298525 17-Oct-2024 14:43

I think for the size and typical use cases its a perfectly ok upgrade. I have a gen 6 and use it for travelling/general use at home. Its never felt underpowered, if I need to do more I'm on a laptop. Did 5 weeks travelling last year and was perfect for emails, videos, facetime etc. Its my go to for any short trips away.

What more do you expect from an mini iPad? Its was never going to get M chips.

lxsw20

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#3298575 17-Oct-2024 15:13

Looks like the main reason for the upgrade is so it supports apple intelligence.

Dingbatt

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#3298588 17-Oct-2024 16:06

A nice summary

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Handsomedan

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#3298591 17-Oct-2024 16:12

Dingbatt:

A nice summary

The perfect summary.

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tehgerbil

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#3298869 18-Oct-2024 13:47

It's nothing short of an incredibly greedy disappointment.

They've wrapped up 'whatever chips' they had the most of, even using binned iPhone 15 chips! and then reused the same display tech with a few minor tweaks.

For Gods sake at least give us AMOLED or 120hz screens, their profit margin must be phenomenal as every component is mature technology.

mattwnz

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#3298899 18-Oct-2024 16:45

lxsw20:

I wish they would do a budget Mini, it was great for things like meeting room occupancy screens, but priced itself out of that market now really.

It is a budget mini, because it lacks a lot of the features of a Pro ipad such as high refresh rate screen. But the price isn't budget and they can price it how they want because only they produce ios devices..

mattwnz

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#3298900 18-Oct-2024 16:47

tehgerbil:

It's nothing short of an incredibly greedy disappointment.

They've wrapped up 'whatever chips' they had the most of, even using binned iPhone 15 chips! and then reused the same display tech with a few minor tweaks.

For Gods sake at least give us AMOLED or 120hz screens, their profit margin must be phenomenal as every component is mature technology.

To be far, they usually do this with the ipad mini, they did a similar update with the old design. They do the same thing with iphones like the SE2, which was essentially an iphone 8, and then with the SE3

They should release a Pro model IMO, and they could also charge more for it. But apple has got to the point where they now have too many models imo

Handsomedan

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#3298906 18-Oct-2024 17:17

mattwnz:

tehgerbil:

It's nothing short of an incredibly greedy disappointment.

They've wrapped up 'whatever chips' they had the most of, even using binned iPhone 15 chips! and then reused the same display tech with a few minor tweaks.

For Gods sake at least give us AMOLED or 120hz screens, their profit margin must be phenomenal as every component is mature technology.

To be far, they usually do this with the ipad mini, they did a similar update with the old design. They do the same thing with iphones like the SE2, which was essentially an iphone 8, and then with the SE3

They should release a Pro model IMO, and they could also charge more for it. But apple has got to the point where they now have too many models imo

It would be so easy for them to have three/four models of each product:
Pro (Flagship)
Air (Mid-range with most features)
Mini (mini Air)
iPad (budget parts-bin special - full-size)

iPhones could be similar:
iPhone Pro (Flagship)
iPhone (Mid-range with most features)
iPhone SE (Budget model parts-bin special)
iPhone Mini (Mid-range but smaller)

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