Is iPad mini 2 coming soon?

[afv011]

Originally Posted by CHAUWAY

What do you think of the iPad mini. So many rumors about the nxet-gen iPad mini are overwhelming the web. Yesterday several photos of the alleged back cover of the iPad mini 2 were leaked, too. Is the iPad mini really coming soon?

Considering that the ipad mini was 3 years late, then no, the 2 is not coming out too early.

[HansTWN]

If Apple comes out with a Mini 2 very soon, that would mean sales of the original mini aren't doing too well --- otherwise they would be milking that until June, at least.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

If Apple comes out with a Mini 2 very soon, that would mean sales of the original mini aren't doing too well --- otherwise they would be milking that until June, at least.

Well, hmm.

You might be on to something there.

[Tacty]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

If Apple comes out with a Mini 2 very soon, that would mean sales of the original mini aren't doing too well --- otherwise they would be milking that until June, at least.

it makes sense...

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Battery life, weight and supply issues with the display.

And yet they managed to solve all of those issues in less than 5 months? Come on.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

And yet they managed to solve all of those issues in less than 5 months? Come on.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

And yet they managed to solve all of those issues in less than 5 months? Come on.

The most likely *technical* reason for the mini to ship with an XGA screen is that the QXGA screens weren't available in big enough quantities for a launch. Which is something 5 months could fix.

The most likely *non-technical* reason for the mini to ship with an XGA screen was to minimize cannibalization of the 10inchers. That is why I fully expect the QXGA Mini to cost $400+.

The Mini 2 is coming. Probably before June.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

-That is why I fully expect the QXGA Mini to cost $400+.

-

sacré bleu!

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by frahse

sacré bleu!

天

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

That is why I fully expect the QXGA Mini to cost $400+.

That would be unfortunate. I'm not a fan of Apple but I could see myself buying a retina Mini just for access to the app store. I could maybe make myself pay the already overpriced $329 for a retina but a price bump to $400 would stop me cold. I might as well just buy a full sized iPad at that price. I don't know if Apple is as afraid of cannibalizing the 10 inch tablets as you suggest. Isn't Apple the company famous for cannibalizing their own sales before the competition does it for them?

[fjtorres]

Apple pricing is all about getting the consumer to stretch the budget that extra bit.

The XGA Mini is a perfect example; everybody expected it at $249 to $299... they stretched it out to $329. And it sells.

A QXGA Mini2? Everybody wants it at $329, maybe $349. So, they'll stretch it to $399, maybe $429. And it will sell. In fact, that is *why* they'll go $400: the market will easily bear it now that it clear that the Mini's size is a *feature* not a cost reduction. The Mini is not a cut-rate iPad, but rather the conveniently portable iPad.

Don't forget, the Mini2 is going to *need* the A6X to keep the screen fed. So it'll run the latest CPU, latest screen, and probably updated WiFi. All that screams: "Premium!". Which is why I don't see the Mini 2 replacing the XGA Mini. The existing Mini is the entry-level model for those that won't stretch to $399.

So, my WAG is the XGA Mini stays and moves to $299. The Mini 2 slots in at $399 for 16GB and points north. And the iPad 4 stays at $499 for 16GB until the iPad5 comes out in the fall. Then Apple can do tablet intros in spring and fall.

Fits their MO and the market as it stands today: closest competition (spec-wise) for the QXGA mini being the FireHD8.9 at $299, the Galaxy Tab 8 (with 1200x800) screen, and the rumored Nexus 7.7 (specs unclear). Going by their existing price structures, neither Samsung not Google have shown any interest in running their prices to Fire and Nook territory so why should Apple?

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Don't forget, the Mini2 is going to *need* the A6X to keep the screen fed. So it'll run the latest CPU, latest screen, and probably updated WiFi. All that screams: "Premium!". Which is why I don't see the Mini 2 replacing the XGA Mini. The existing Mini is the entry-level model for those that won't stretch to $399.

Except that their history is of doing exactly the opposite, introducing an upgraded model at the same price, and dropping the price of the older version. Introduce the new model at $329, drop the original Mini to $279.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Except that their history is of doing exactly the opposite, introducing an upgraded model at the same price, and dropping the price of the older version. Introduce the new model at $329, drop the original Mini to $279.

A $50 premium for 4X the resolution and GPU power?
Okay...
If you say so.
But I'm not seeing it.

It's not as if Apple *wants* the XGA mini to compete with Archos.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

A $50 premium for 4X the resolution and GPU power?
Okay...
If you say so.
But I'm not seeing it.

Shrug. Maybe they'll drop it to $259.
They currently sell the iPad 2 at a $100 (20%) discount to the iPad 4, which has about the same improvement. A 20% discount from $329 would be $263.

[fjtorres]

The iPad2 is two years old.
The mini is four months old. 20% drop in six months? After pretty good launch sales?
(shrug)
It *could* happen, I suppose.