The iPad Mini will be expensive but sell out
With the iPhone 5 roadshow now out of the way, it’s time to focus on the announcement and subsequent release of the iPad Mini. We know it’s coming, even though Apple hasn’t yet confirmed it’s even working on a smaller tablet, and thanks to a series of leaks, we know what to expect from the iPad Mini. We don’t yet know the price, but I can guarantee that 1. it’ll be expensive, and 2. it will still sell like the proverbial hotcakes.
The iPhone 5 went on sale today in many countries, and what a bitter disappointment that product is. An incremental update with a slightly bigger screen apparently passes for innovation at Apple these days. Not that it matters, as thousands of people queued for hours in order to get their hands on one of these lackluster new handsets. Proving the cult of Apple is still alive and well.
This legion of fans, who I like to refer to as iSheep, stand Apple in good stead for its next big launch. At some point in October Apple will reveal the iPad Mini, a smaller version of the iPad boasting a 7.85-inch screen. The specs are likely to be just below that of the full-sized iPad, mainly to keep costs down.
However, the iPad Mini is still expected to sell for somewhere between $299 and $399. Apple cannot legitimately go lower than $299 when the 4-inch iPod Touch resides at that price point. $349 would seem to be the logical conclusion to be drawn. This would make the iPad Mini $150 more than either the Google Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD.
If this were any company other than Apple then entering a market with a device more expensive than the direct competition would spell disaster. But Apple can rely on its millions of loyal customers remaining completely ignorant of the competition and buying an iPad Mini regardless. Steve Jobs will certainly not be spinning in his grave right now, but he probably will be smiling.
September 21st, 2012
Nonsense, entry pricing for the Mini will either be $250.00 or $300.00.
This is not a product to placate the Apple Masses, this is a product to take over the 7″ tablet market.
If they price it over $300.00 their main competition will be their own IPad and even Apple isn’t that stupid.
The IPod Touch, if it survives, will do so in small numbers, the Minis numbers will be astronomical.
September 21st, 2012
Like most people $250 I’d buy it. $350 not worth it. I think if it’s 300 or more, this will be the first Apple product that doesn’t sell well. As much as I love Apple, it’s just an item put in between an Ipad and an Iphone 5. In a year are they going to make a 6 inch Iphone or Ipad and just keep going until they have 1-17 inch displays? It’s getting rediculous and anyone who buys an Ipad mini at 3-4 hundred is as well. You’re losing an inch…come on.
September 22nd, 2012
People can choose whatever they like. Its embarrassing that you would stereotype so many people and devalue them because they love apple. People have a love for technology and the experience of it and waiting in lines. This is a disgrace to attack customers of any company. Terrible article. What kind of person writes this? should be the real question.
September 22nd, 2012
‘The iPhone 5 went on sale today in many countries, and what a bitter disappointment that product is’
It is a bitter disappointment to Samsung…
September 22nd, 2012
Hey, Dave — go fuck yourself.
- an “iSheep”
September 22nd, 2012
Yet one more person that doesn’t understand the superiority of the Apple environment. It’s not just the device and its specs. It’s the entire experience.
When you buy an Apple device, you know that the OS will be updated. You also know that your favorite apps will always be available.
Until Google figures out how to get all the Android devices to update to the latest version in a timely manner and provide a cohesive app store, there will always be people buying Apple. That’s why people pay the extra money. Nobody wants to buy a phone or a tablet, then wait forever wondering if you’ll ever get an update to the OS or if you have to buy another device to get it.
September 22nd, 2012
Wow Dave, still living in the 80′s? There’s a reason Apple is the biggest company in the world and it’s not because of a few die-hard fans. And the iPhone is a bitter disappoinment? Obviously not if it’s selling two million handsets in 24 hours. Get off your high horse, stop discriminating against what are actually very good products and do some decent reporting; not this crap you’ve written here.
September 22nd, 2012
I couldn’t agree with you more on this whole article.
September 22nd, 2012
Dear author, I am fully aware of the other competition out there. I don’t care for android or any other operating software; I am fully content with IOS It does everything I want it to do and More!
I have at one point replaced my computer and survived off an Ipod touch. I’ve never owned a tablet but have anticipated the Ipad mini for a long time now. I think Apple makes smooth, responsive touch screen devices and I prefer app store over the android market. I’ve however, owned various phones including iPhone and various phones running on android. The android phones are overwhelming even for a tech enthusiast like myself. I will anticipate every apple products because I’m convinced they make great products. Now I don’t get ahead of myself, I’m not a mac fan . But I wanted you know that there are apple fans who have made up there mind not because ignorance but actual research and owning another gadget here and there.
September 22nd, 2012
Look, this is a different device for different market, so there is no reason for Apple to be forced to price it in between other devices. The Touch is a fancy music player (yes, with touch screen) that fits in your pocket. The iPad mini will be a more portable tablet that doesn’t fit in your pocket and is used for reading, surfing, etc. I think assuming that there can be no price overlap is a bit silly.
I’m a perfect example. I would’t even consider a Touch (too small and too $ for an mp3 player–it’s not really an e-reader, etc.) and the full sized iPad is too expensive (and too big really). The iPad mini at $250, I will consider— any more and I’m off to get the Nexus 7.
September 22nd, 2012
What a moronic article!! It as no information content whatsoever..how can this jerk talk about a product in any professionsl sense when it has not even been released or priced?
September 22nd, 2012
As an Apple iSheep, I think the author doesn’t realize the reason Apple Fans keep coming back for more, in spite of the competition. Those competing tablets (and computers) are poorly engineered with cheap components and the awful Android operating system (aka Windows 3.1 like). Apple products are amazingly well engineered and though out to every last detail. More importantly, the operating system works flawlessly and is very intuitive and easy to use and navigate. When a single entity has control over the hardware and operating system, the resulting products are astounding and worth the extra price. One can’t just compare price. There are other factors involved which make the investment worth it.
September 22nd, 2012
A lot of people seem to say that it’ll start at $349, just because the new iPod is $299. What they don’t seem to realize, though, is that for the 32GB model, the price is in line with last year’s prices for the 32GB variant. A16GB mini iPad priced at $299 seems likely.
iPod touch prices were $199, $299, and $399 for 8GB, 32GB, and 64GB. For whatever reason, Apple decided not to Make a new 8GB model this year, and instead, they doubled the capacity of last year’s model and priced it starting at $199 (and reduced last year’s 32GB model by $50).
The new iPod touch starts at $299, but it has 32GB of capacity. That’s in line with last year’s iPod touch prices.
The iPod touch line still starts at $199. The iPad, for last year’s model, starts at $399. It’s hard to justify pricing a smaller device with roughly the same specs as the iPad 2 at just a $50 price discount (though maybe the camera will be better, but other than that there isn’t much of an obvious difference between the two).
So that’s why I think it’ll start at $299. But you’re right, people will still probably buy it for $349 without a second thought. They just want the latest thing from Apple to show off to others.
And if they do? That’s fine with me. More people will try to sell their old devices online. Maybe I’ll be able to pick up an iPad 2 for $200 or something, because at $399 it’s still overpriced for what it is.
September 22nd, 2012
This is a clearly biased “article,” if you can even consider it to be such. Try not to insult fans next time, someone might actually take you seriously.
September 23rd, 2012
$150 more than the 8 gb model not the 16
September 23rd, 2012
I agree that Apple is not “innovating” in the true sense, but there is no doubt that their products are state of the art. The designing that goes behind their products is the best in the industry.
People are not mad. If there are thousands waiting in a queue, there is a reason for it.
I being an end user am not “completely ignorant” to competition, but I know that if given a choice, Apple’s user experience still remains unmatched.
iPhone 5 is many things, but definitely not a disappointment. I, having a 3GS would definitely like an upgrade to it.
September 23rd, 2012
This product will be here to compete in the 7″ market. Unless they throw out the iPad 2 in which instance it will replace it.
The comparison with iPod is mind boggling. They are two very different devices aimed at different groups of people with different applications in mind. iPad is never going to be as portable as the iPod. I would not be surprised if the iPad mini enters at $199 and at most $250. This will be a smart move to take control of the tablet market in contrast to Samsung which has the bigger share in the phone market. If iPad 2 and the new iPad remain, if iPad mini is released for > $250, Apple will have shot itself in the foot!
September 24th, 2012
I have to agree that the iPhone 5 is a huge disappointment. It’s the 4s with a .5″ larger screen. Big fucking deal. I got an iphone because of the awful experiences I had with android phones, but the innovation is seriously lacking lately. Even an iPad mini wouldn’t motivate me to buy a tablet unless it was $199 or $250. Otherwise, why not just buy a regular sized iPad? It is true that android devices may have many more features and be further advanced that apple devices, but apple does put out a far better quality product, even if it is a few years behind technology and operating system wise.
November 30th, 2012
Well i bought the ipad mini in mid november. Its awesome!! I paid $489 . This is with the verizon 3g in it. I love it! My dad has the ipad 3 and bro has the second one. We love apple products. Highly recommended!!