After Apple has all but announced that they are holding an event on October 23rd, rumors around the internet went crazy about a new iPad mini. I for one happen to disagree about an opinion made apparent by Dillon a few months ago about the iPad mini. He disagreed so much with the idea that he even sent an email to Tim Cook. I am not as quick to jump the gun and send Cook an email. It is my opinion that Apple should enter the 7 inch tablet market because it would allow it to enter another market it could easily succeed at. After all, many Android tablets are 7 inch tablets so it would help Apple take over the industry further. With all that said, what will Apple include in the iPad mini anyways? Let’s find out.
Name
Just what will this device be called? So far, it’s been called the new iPad mini, iPad mini, iPod touch pro, mini iPad, iPad air just to name a few with the first one being the one most people agree with. It will probably be called the iPad mini but hey we were all wrong when we said “the new iPad” would be called the iPad 3. We’ll just have to see.
Screen
While I stated that the new iPad mini will be 7 inches, I am slightly off. It is believed that the new iPad mini will actually be 7.85 inches, closer to 8 than 7 actually, but still smaller than the almost 10 inch iPad. I feel that the screen size is a compromise between now-deceased Jobs and the other execs. At first, Steve Jobs completely denounced the idea but it was revealed that in an early 2011 email from Eddie Cue, that Jobs became more and more interested and open to the idea. I believe that he ultimately fought the idea of the 7 inch tablet so they compromised to a slightly bigger 7.85 inch. Of course, that may not be what happened, but it isn’t unlikely. It is also not believed that the new iPad mini will have a Retina Display since Apple still needs to keep it’s famously high margins.
Lightning
I believe that Apple will never introduce a product with a 30-pin dock connector again. I believe this to be the case because once Apple drops something, its never brought back again. Therefore, one must conclude that the new iPad mini will have the new smaller, lighter Lightning connector. This is a good thing because unlike current iPhone users who have accessories with their iPhones that need an adapter, no accessories will need an adapter for the iPad mini, because there aren’t any to begin with! It’s a new, unreleased design. I’m glad I won’t need the adapter should I buy the iPad mini.
Design
The design will be very similar, if not identical to that of the iPad. There will be a few changes, such as the most apparent one, the screen size! Also, it will be lighter and thinner than the regular iPad. There is even speculation that it will be multi-colored like the new colored iPod touch that definitely would add a “fun” element to the device but let’s remember there are a lot of people who aren’t kids who use the iPad. A lawyer with a baby blue iPad just doesn’t seem right. Of course should they offer color, it wouldn’t matter anyways since they would offer the bland white and black one, so it actually isn’t a bad idea. A kid can have a blue iPad and a lawyer can have a blander white iPad, unless of course the lawyer wants the blue iPad, it’s his choice after all.
Processor
What power could this new device possess? The current iPad runs on a A5X chip and I think it will run on the same chip as we move to next March where the iPad will sport the A6 chip that is now only on the iPhone. Both the A5X and the A6 chips are incredible. The A5X chip provides great graphics and the A6 provides insanely great graphics. The A6 on the iPhone 5 is the most powerful processor they have shipped and it makes the graphics look stunning. They did an amazing job with both chips.
Camera
I believe that, like the iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch that Apple will put a front facing FaceTime camera and a back facing camera on the new iPad mini. I believe that the new mini will sport a 4-5 MP camera, similar to that of the one in the iPad now. Of course, it is possible that it may only have a FaceTime camera or no camera at all with the latter of the two choices more likely since Apple’s gotta place a difference between the iPad and the mini.
Storage and Pricing
In order for Apple to keep profitable margins, they may need to move back a space. They may need to go to 8, 16 and maybe a high end 32 GB model. It’s been said that the 16 GB would cost $299 and the 32 GB would be $399, the price of the to-be-discontinued iPad 2. The 8 GB model would probably be at $249, but it remains to be seen what the pricing will be. They could of course pull a MBA vs. MBP, making the iPad mini close in price to the iPad now, just appealing to different markets. The MacBook Airs and Pros are priced fairly close together, especially the lower-end models. For instance, both the low end 13 inch MBA and MBP cost the same, they just appeal to different people, Air for consumer and Pro to Professionals or people who need more power. It would be the mini for the consumer and the iPad for the person who can afford the little bit more money for more features, a person who would need those features and be able to afford them. I am very interested to see how exactly Apple prices this thing.
3G/4G service?
I think that Apple will probably only ship the iPad mini with wifi as to keep the prices down. Of course, it is possible that it will have 3G/4G but Apple’s gotta make a profit so they probably will not.
Who will this appeal to?
I think the iPad mini will appeal to people will can’t quite afford an iPad but want an iPad. People are strapped on cash and how perfect it is for Apple to release a more affordable iPad right before the holiday season. There are a few groups of people that it will particular appeal to when buying in mass. Businesses will buy it because of it’s cheaper price from the iPad. The iPad may finally get it’s biggest break in education yet. Many schools around the country use iPads and now with the mini, more and more school districts will be able to afford to get iPads into classrooms.
Conclusion
The new iPad mini has been speculated and debated about for some time now and it appears to be around the bend. With a 7.85 inch screen, lower price, hopefully colored chassis, thin body, Lightning connector, fast A5X processor, acceptance by more educational facilities, the new iPad mini will be an exciting new addition to the iPad family and I can’t wait to see it in person come a few months.
Thanks for reading,
Joe