No, the iPads won't have NFC. They only will support online apple pay with certain websites that supports it. My guess is the mini 2 will do the same but you will have to enter e password and not have the Touch ID simplicity. Ohhh, another 2 seconds to type a password. The mini 3 is not worth the update just for that Touch ID.
Nothing else is updated. If you don't need 128GB then save he money, get a mini 2 with 32gb.
In fact nothing else is different, i just confirmed with the specs. I don't even know why they call this the iPad mini 3 and changed the name just for the Touch ID. First time I've ever seen apple rename something and add practically nothing different for the hard ware. Same processor, same motion processor, same H2 64 video coprocessor, same battery, same cameras, same everything.
For me I have the 128GB mini 2 and won't "upgrade" (if you can even call it an upgrade" just for the Touch ID.
It's a joke that they even renamed it.
If you only looking for the 16Gb or 32gb mini then don't bother spending the extra money just for a Touch ID and get the mini retina 2.
The only reason to get the mini 3 would be if you need the 128gb. But then the extra money is worth justifying the cost different. But more money just for the Touch ID, realy. What are they thinking.
So last year the mini retina and Air were essentially the same, now this year Apple's reversed that with the A8X in the Air only. Couldn't they have thrown the A8 in the retina mini? I don't see what compelling reason there isn't get a 3rd generation mini.
Basically they kept the price the same as last year and added Touch ID. They also dropped the price of the 64GB and 128GB models by $100. So they aren't targeting upgraders from last year, but are just keeping pace so that it isn't completely outdated. They seem to be saying they don't mind that iPad growth has stalled, and want to prioritize their supplies of the A8 for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Very disappointing...if it retains the A7 then it probably retains that sub-par display (colour gamut wise I mean) of last years iPad mini Retina...can't believe they didn't at least upgrade the SoC to the A8 from the latest iPhones... its just last years model with Touch ID and a gold finish added...why bother? It seems the iPad mini isn't selling in high enough quantities to warrant a decent upgrade anymore. A bit cynical of Apple to add that Touch ID and extra colour finish and claim that its a new model.
If you only looking for the 16Gb or 32gb mini then don't bother spending the extra money just for a Touch ID and get the mini retina 2.
The only reason to get the mini 3 would be if you need the 128gb. But then the extra money is worth justifying the cost different. But more money just for the Touch ID, realy. What are they thinking.
I'm guessing that their internal research said that adding the A8 wouldn't have made much difference (i.e. it would still be cannibalized significantly by the iPhone 6 Plus), so they decided to make only minimal upgrades and push the pricier iPad Air 2.
The big news seems to be the $150 price drop on the 32GB iPad Mini 2. That seems to be the sweet spot for anyone who needs a little more than the basic storage, but doesn't need TouchID.
Kuo was right, I guess, that the Mini 3 would see only minor updates. I'm surprised the Mini 3 didn't even get the base A8. Stepping back, they kept the price the same for the base from last year, dropped the 64GB and 128GB models by $100, and added Touch ID. But since they are keeping the mini 2 around at $349 for a 32GB model, it's a bit of a wonder how many will opt to pay $399 for a 16GB Mini 3 or $499 for a 64GB Mini 3.
I guess they are just accepting that the mini line will be the most cannibalized by the 6 Plus, and keeping it around for those who want it, not expecting a real boost in sales. This is a sign that Apple sees the iPad market and tablet market in general as stabilized and low growth.
Seems to me Apple doesn't know what to do with iPad. The Air 2 seems like a great device (and I'll probably get one If it has more RAM than the current Air) but I can't see how it will stop the flat to negative growth trend.
I'm guessing that their internal research said that adding the A8 wouldn't have made much difference (i.e. it would still be cannibalized significantly by the iPhone 6 Plus), so they decided to make only minimal upgrades and push the pricier iPad Air 2.
The big news seems to be the $150 price drop on the 32GB iPad Mini 2. That seems to be the sweet spot for anyone who needs a little more than the basic storage, but doesn't need TouchID.
I'm not sure the Touch ID will ever be a "Needed" requirement even for the financial or health industry.
We push a policy requiring a complex password and it meets all security requirements.
Oh, and the retina mini 3 still has the air gap which the Air 2 does not. So A7 chip, most likely 1GB RAM, same display, same body. Anyone that buys a retina mini 3 is nuts IMO.
Yes, my min 2 128 does have the air gap, you know what that means. It's cheaper to fix.
Last year I wrote that the iPad mini retina should not have identical specs as the iPad Air and cost $100 less!
I am glad that the iPad Air 2 is the premium model this year, with all of the extra, added upgrades!
Of course, my comment is purely based on my own egotistical interests, as I am getting an iPad Air 2, so screw the iPad Mini Retina!" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
So last year the mini retina and Air were essentially the same, now this year Apple's reversed that with the A8X in the Air only. Couldn't they have thrown the A8 in the retina mini? I don't see what compelling reason there isn't get a 3rd generation mini.
Maybe they should have called it to 2S rather than the 3. Smaller upgrade than the iPhone 5 to 5S.
the iPadMini margins are so horrible they don't want you to buy the Mini unless absolutely necessary. Apple is obviously steering people to either the Air or Plus
Must be for sure. The Air 2 is a huge upgrade (to me). Primo product. Priced fair, but too expensive to be a regular consumer product.
Seems to me Apple doesn't know what to do with iPad. The Air 2 seems like a great device (and I'll probably get one If it has more RAM than the current Air) but I can't see how it will stop the flat to negative growth trend.
I'm thinking one or more of the below needs to be done:
1) Make and sell it cheaper (while keeping most of the
2) Add more features that make it more compelling to buy ("a must buy")
3) Give people a reason to buy one (new buyer or someone upgrading)
Unfortunately, people don't want tablets all that much when they have their smartphone. Your smartphone does "everything" and it fits in your pocket (not sure about the new Google phone).
We have an iPad and two laptops (MacBook and Chromebook). We all have iPhones. Most of the time, we just use our iPhones. Even to watch movies and consume all other content.
Sometimes a tablet feels like a "tweener" now. You either reach for your phone or your laptop/desktop.
I think someone here said it before that if you have a smartphone and a computer, you are not likely going to buy a tablet. And if you do have a tablet, the one you have is good enough (and you hear this from original or Ipad 2 owners - no compelling reason to upgrade).
It just doesn't seem like tablets are going to grow all that much anymore. Grew fast and matured fast.
The iPad is going to have to do something very, very unique to make its share going up much higher and stop the decline or flatlining.
Oh, and the retina mini 3 still has the air gap which the Air 2 does not. So A7 chip, most likely 1GB RAM, same display, same body. Anyone that buys a retina mini 3 is nuts IMO.
I agree with your conclusion, but what's "the air gap"?
Update: if you're referring to whether the LCD is laminated to the glass, then according to the hands-on article just posted, the mini 3 does eliminate that. But perhaps they eliminated it for the mini 2 as well since the on-line comparison shows no difference.
My prediction was that the Mini wouldn't get refreshed...almost correct...Touch ID for $100? This's lame. Anyway, I think Apple will let iPad Mini to phase out slowly by not upgrading it. It's strange to me that they keep the Mini 1 at $249 while Retina Mini is $299 with a lot better specs (CPU, screen camera...). Unless one is stupid enough not to realize, there's no reason to buy the Mini 1.
the iPadMini margins are so horrible they don't want you to buy the Mini unless absolutely necessary. Apple is obviously steering people to either the Air or Plus
Not steer. Apple want to phase out the Mini eventually, so they won't bother to upgrade it. They will test drive the Mini 3 for another year and if sale is not great, no more Mini.
I personally think the Mini has been useless and now with 6+, it's going no where but dead end.
So, basically, the only differences between the iPad Mini 2 and 3 are Touch ID and dual microphones. It is still the same form factor and weight as the iPad Mini 2. It does not have the screen improvements that are in the iPad Air 2, but it is priced $100 less than the iPad Mini 2.
Is this right that the Mini 2 will now be $100 less than it is now? If so, the $100 price difference better be because they need to clear existing inventories of Mini 2. This can't be something permanent because most educated consumers would probably opt to save that $100 than to gain Touch ID technology!
As for the iPad Air 2, they have a much stronger product, compared to the original. They should have increased the resolution, though, to make it on par with the IPhone 6 Plus (in terms of PPI and contrast ratio).
No larger display iPad model? Either it wasn't ready or Tim decided there wasn't a stong enough market for it.
I currently own the first generation WiFi iPad Mini with 32GB, as I got it for Christmas right after it came out two years ago. I love its size, portability and form factor and take it everywhere with me. I use it for work, internet surfing, reading, and entertainment. Once I got an iPhone 5 last year with wireless hotspot, it became even more indispensable as I now had a "poor man's" cellular model.
However, by now I was waiting to upgrade to the 3rd Generation with 64GB. I was also looking forward to Touch ID, being that I get tired of typing in that 4-digit code over and over again. And I am security conscious enough not to want to turn it off. I have nearly filled out the storage on the original Mini and being a middle-aged man, I get occasional eyestrain from the smaller screen and non-retina resolution. The clincher was the mistake I made installing iOS 8 on the mini last month. It ran well enough for my needs with IOS 7, but now it lags and runs like a lame dog.
I wasn't expecting the same level of upgrade this year as the Air, but I was at least hoping for an A8 and some other spec bumps. As it is, I will probably hold my nose and upgrade to the Mini 3 anyway, because I really like the size and design of the Mini, and I have no plans to ever own a phone as large as the 6+.
I am still getting Touch ID with 64GB on the Mini 3 for less than the Mini 2 had cost yesterday for the same storage without Touch ID, so it is not a terrible deal, at least by Apple standards.
If I already owned the second generation model, I probably would not bother upgrading to the so-called third generation for only the Touch ID. But since I have a first generation model, I will probably buy the new one anyway. Besides, I have little confidence that waiting for Apple to further improve the Mini will pay off in the long run. If I want a faster Mini, I had better get it now. I fear that Apple will neglect the iPad mini line and let it slowly die, like it did the iPod Classic, and like it appears to be doing with the iPod Touch. Screw their profit margins, I just like the Mini. And I won't upgrade the iOS version on it for no good reason, since you can't go back to the old one.
Comments
In fact nothing else is different, i just confirmed with the specs. I don't even know why they call this the iPad mini 3 and changed the name just for the Touch ID. First time I've ever seen apple rename something and add practically nothing different for the hard ware. Same processor, same motion processor, same H2 64 video coprocessor, same battery, same cameras, same everything.
For me I have the 128GB mini 2 and won't "upgrade" (if you can even call it an upgrade" just for the Touch ID.
It's a joke that they even renamed it.
If you only looking for the 16Gb or 32gb mini then don't bother spending the extra money just for a Touch ID and get the mini retina 2.
The only reason to get the mini 3 would be if you need the 128gb. But then the extra money is worth justifying the cost different. But more money just for the Touch ID, realy. What are they thinking.
So last year the mini retina and Air were essentially the same, now this year Apple's reversed that with the A8X in the Air only. Couldn't they have thrown the A8 in the retina mini? I don't see what compelling reason there isn't get a 3rd generation mini.
Basically they kept the price the same as last year and added Touch ID. They also dropped the price of the 64GB and 128GB models by $100. So they aren't targeting upgraders from last year, but are just keeping pace so that it isn't completely outdated. They seem to be saying they don't mind that iPad growth has stalled, and want to prioritize their supplies of the A8 for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Of course. Until the 12.7” comes along.
If you only looking for the 16Gb or 32gb mini then don't bother spending the extra money just for a Touch ID and get the mini retina 2.
The only reason to get the mini 3 would be if you need the 128gb. But then the extra money is worth justifying the cost different. But more money just for the Touch ID, realy. What are they thinking.
I'm guessing that their internal research said that adding the A8 wouldn't have made much difference (i.e. it would still be cannibalized significantly by the iPhone 6 Plus), so they decided to make only minimal upgrades and push the pricier iPad Air 2.
The big news seems to be the $150 price drop on the 32GB iPad Mini 2. That seems to be the sweet spot for anyone who needs a little more than the basic storage, but doesn't need TouchID.
I'm not sure the Touch ID will ever be a "Needed" requirement even for the financial or health industry.
We push a policy requiring a complex password and it meets all security requirements.
Yes, my min 2 128 does have the air gap, you know what that means. It's cheaper to fix.
How about the anti-reflective display? Does the mini get that at least? There's no mention of it.
Last year I wrote that the iPad mini retina should not have identical specs as the iPad Air and cost $100 less!
I am glad that the iPad Air 2 is the premium model this year, with all of the extra, added upgrades!
Of course, my comment is purely based on my own egotistical interests, as I am getting an iPad Air 2, so screw the iPad Mini Retina!
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
So last year the mini retina and Air were essentially the same, now this year Apple's reversed that with the A8X in the Air only. Couldn't they have thrown the A8 in the retina mini? I don't see what compelling reason there isn't get a 3rd generation mini.
Maybe they should have called it to 2S rather than the 3. Smaller upgrade than the iPhone 5 to 5S.
Nope.
Go buy an iPadAir if you want that.
the iPadMini margins are so horrible they don't want you to buy the Mini unless absolutely necessary. Apple is obviously steering people to either the Air or Plus
Must be for sure. The Air 2 is a huge upgrade (to me). Primo product. Priced fair, but too expensive to be a regular consumer product.
Seems to me Apple doesn't know what to do with iPad. The Air 2 seems like a great device (and I'll probably get one If it has more RAM than the current Air) but I can't see how it will stop the flat to negative growth trend.
I'm thinking one or more of the below needs to be done:
1) Make and sell it cheaper (while keeping most of the
2) Add more features that make it more compelling to buy ("a must buy")
3) Give people a reason to buy one (new buyer or someone upgrading)
Unfortunately, people don't want tablets all that much when they have their smartphone. Your smartphone does "everything" and it fits in your pocket (not sure about the new Google phone).
We have an iPad and two laptops (MacBook and Chromebook). We all have iPhones. Most of the time, we just use our iPhones. Even to watch movies and consume all other content.
Sometimes a tablet feels like a "tweener" now. You either reach for your phone or your laptop/desktop.
I think someone here said it before that if you have a smartphone and a computer, you are not likely going to buy a tablet. And if you do have a tablet, the one you have is good enough (and you hear this from original or Ipad 2 owners - no compelling reason to upgrade).
It just doesn't seem like tablets are going to grow all that much anymore. Grew fast and matured fast.
The iPad is going to have to do something very, very unique to make its share going up much higher and stop the decline or flatlining.
Stuck share.
Oh, and the retina mini 3 still has the air gap which the Air 2 does not. So A7 chip, most likely 1GB RAM, same display, same body. Anyone that buys a retina mini 3 is nuts IMO.
I agree with your conclusion, but what's "the air gap"?
Update: if you're referring to whether the LCD is laminated to the glass, then according to the hands-on article just posted, the mini 3 does eliminate that. But perhaps they eliminated it for the mini 2 as well since the on-line comparison shows no difference.
My prediction was that the Mini wouldn't get refreshed...almost correct...Touch ID for $100? This's lame. Anyway, I think Apple will let iPad Mini to phase out slowly by not upgrading it. It's strange to me that they keep the Mini 1 at $249 while Retina Mini is $299 with a lot better specs (CPU, screen camera...). Unless one is stupid enough not to realize, there's no reason to buy the Mini 1.
Nope.
Go buy an iPadAir if you want that.
the iPadMini margins are so horrible they don't want you to buy the Mini unless absolutely necessary. Apple is obviously steering people to either the Air or Plus
Not steer. Apple want to phase out the Mini eventually, so they won't bother to upgrade it. They will test drive the Mini 3 for another year and if sale is not great, no more Mini.
I personally think the Mini has been useless and now with 6+, it's going no where but dead end.
Is this right that the Mini 2 will now be $100 less than it is now? If so, the $100 price difference better be because they need to clear existing inventories of Mini 2. This can't be something permanent because most educated consumers would probably opt to save that $100 than to gain Touch ID technology!
As for the iPad Air 2, they have a much stronger product, compared to the original. They should have increased the resolution, though, to make it on par with the IPhone 6 Plus (in terms of PPI and contrast ratio).
No larger display iPad model? Either it wasn't ready or Tim decided there wasn't a stong enough market for it.
I currently own the first generation WiFi iPad Mini with 32GB, as I got it for Christmas right after it came out two years ago. I love its size, portability and form factor and take it everywhere with me. I use it for work, internet surfing, reading, and entertainment. Once I got an iPhone 5 last year with wireless hotspot, it became even more indispensable as I now had a "poor man's" cellular model.
However, by now I was waiting to upgrade to the 3rd Generation with 64GB. I was also looking forward to Touch ID, being that I get tired of typing in that 4-digit code over and over again. And I am security conscious enough not to want to turn it off. I have nearly filled out the storage on the original Mini and being a middle-aged man, I get occasional eyestrain from the smaller screen and non-retina resolution. The clincher was the mistake I made installing iOS 8 on the mini last month. It ran well enough for my needs with IOS 7, but now it lags and runs like a lame dog.
I wasn't expecting the same level of upgrade this year as the Air, but I was at least hoping for an A8 and some other spec bumps. As it is, I will probably hold my nose and upgrade to the Mini 3 anyway, because I really like the size and design of the Mini, and I have no plans to ever own a phone as large as the 6+.
I am still getting Touch ID with 64GB on the Mini 3 for less than the Mini 2 had cost yesterday for the same storage without Touch ID, so it is not a terrible deal, at least by Apple standards.
If I already owned the second generation model, I probably would not bother upgrading to the so-called third generation for only the Touch ID. But since I have a first generation model, I will probably buy the new one anyway. Besides, I have little confidence that waiting for Apple to further improve the Mini will pay off in the long run. If I want a faster Mini, I had better get it now. I fear that Apple will neglect the iPad mini line and let it slowly die, like it did the iPod Classic, and like it appears to be doing with the iPod Touch. Screw their profit margins, I just like the Mini. And I won't upgrade the iOS version on it for no good reason, since you can't go back to the old one.