Ipad Air (aka Ipad 5), Ipad Mini Retina Thread

[cronos]

Because they hit a wall when they named the last one "iPad with Retina." "iPad with retina 2" would be a confusing mess. I wish they just stayed with calling it 2, 3, 4, etc.

They already changed the naming to 'The new iPad' with the 3rd gen, and then iPad with retina display for the 4th gen. It's just easier for us to refer to them with their generation's numbers.

 

[Roland00Address]

However, because the Nexus 7 exists, all other devices are therefore overpriced. /s

I am an owner of the nexus 7 fhd 32gb, and past owner of the original nexus 7 16 gb. I do not own any apple ipads or phones.

The ipad mini retina will be a different tier of device due to it being bigger screen in comparable weight/size as well as faster (a7 is comparable to s800 which has a 50% clock speed advantage over s4 pro in nexus fhd)

You can make an argument these improvements should make the tier only worth $50 or $100 more instead of $170 more. That is your arguement, whatever.

People are going to buy the ipad mini retina in droves, it will sell like hot cakes this is why apple prices the higher tier at $170 more.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Because they hit a wall when they named the last one "iPad with Retina." "iPad with retina 2" would be a confusing mess. I wish they just stayed with calling it 2, 3, 4, etc.

The iPad 3 was renamed to iPad with retina and they continued that with the iPad 4. So that was done a couple generations ago. The idea was to just drop the squential numbers and keep the same name like they do with the Macbooks. We get new Macbooks each year, but don't affix a number after each new year.

So I was expecting the change to iPad Air to have more significance than the lame excuse they gave.

 

[cronos]

The iPad 3 was renamed to iPad with retina and they continued that with the iPad 4.

iPad 3 was marketed as 'The new iPad', it was never called iPad with retina display.

 

[Staples]

Newer version's of Samsung's Android does apps2SD and saves photos to the SD card. What else do you need?

Nothing if you can save apps and their data to the SD cards. My Android devices have not been able to do that.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

this new apple stuff looks pretty nice, esp w/a7, i think they have the best tablets

 

[Ravynmagi]

iPad 3 was marketed as 'The new iPad', it was never called iPad with retina display.

According to Apple.com, they aren't calling it "The New iPad" anymore.
http://support.apple.com/specs/#ipad

iPad
iPad 2
iPad (3rd generation)
iPad (4th generation)

 

[Staples]

Only if you are happy with a 7 inch screen. I love the Nexus 7 and have one. But I also want something with a bigger screen on it.

Not to mention the aspect ratio of the iPad. I find it better for web pages of sites that do not have mobile response.

 

[goog40]

T-Mobile is offering a free 200 MB/month data plan for the new iPads. Pretty good deal for people who usually have wifi access but might occasionally need a data plan on the road.

 

[Roland00Address]

One more thing and this is very important I want to state for the record I was RIGHT that if the iPad does go retina for the next ipad mini it makes more sense for Apple to use the a7 soc, instead of an older process and larger due size a6x soc.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35547606&postcount=9

I was wrong though on the ipad air for I assummed tthy would have an a7x so the iphobe 5s will not have such a higher onscreen graphic score due to having over 4x the number of pixels

 

[Synomenon]

I hope they put TouchID in next year's models. Will be skipping the retina mini because it doesn't have TouchID.

 

[Mopetar]

Here is what I don't get:

So with a more than 50% smaller screen, finger print reader, better camera, and a smaller battery, the iPhone costs $20 more than the iPad air?
We know a smaller screen is at least a $100 cheaper which means that the finger print reader and better camera equals a $120 premium?

One of them is small enough to fit in your pocket. The other isn't. Often, shrinking the size of something makes it more expensive. It's debatable as to whether that equates to an additional $120 in value, but people seem to have no problem paying that amount. I doubt that the screen is $100 cheaper as well. If you're going to make that claim, at least link to a cost estimate for the BOM. From what I can find with a quick Google search it looks like around ~$50.

People need to start raging hard over 16GB models being the entry model. Thats just not acceptable in 2013. And Google, Samsung, and LG are all guilty. Launch a 16GB model to advertise the lowest price, than add a dollar's worth of flash memory to jack the price up in 50 dollar increments.

The problem is that no one is doing this so there's no pressure for other companies to respond in kind. I think that they all realize that they can squeeze a lot of extra money out of consumers this way so no one is in much of a hurry to change, especially the Android manufacturers who aren't making high margins. The extra profit from the flash storage is probably what allows them to stay in the game.

The other reason is that there might not be enough supply of NAND flash in the necessary sizes to make the jump to 32/64/128. Going from 16 to 32 might only cost an extra $10 or so, but the jump to get to $128 might cost a lot more if they want to use larger modules, which might not even be available in quantity.

I'm really interested in why Apple has renamed the iPad to iPad Air.

Ever since the third generation iPad (which they called The New iPad) they've been really weird with the naming scheme. You're probably right that they might be releasing an even larger iPad in the future so they're just adjusting the name now to draw a comparison between their tablet and notebook lines. Maybe they'll even call the larger iPad the the "iPad Pro" or something like that.

 

[Skurge]

People need to start raging hard over 16GB models being the entry model. Thats just not acceptable in 2013. And Google, Samsung, and LG are all guilty. Launch a 16GB model to advertise the lowest price, than add a dollar's worth of flash memory to jack the price up in 50 dollar increments.

Samsung's Note phones and tablets are 32GB and more only. Google on the either seems to not get the picture.

 

[cronos]

According to Apple.com, they aren't calling it "The New iPad" anymore.
http://support.apple.com/specs/#ipad

iPad
iPad 2
iPad (3rd generation)
iPad (4th generation)

That's obviously the logical move after there are now two more generations of iPads that are newer 🙂

That was not what we were discussing though. He was making a statement how they changed the naming of the iPad starting from the 4th generation, and both you and I correctly commented that the name change has already started with the 3rd generation. However, I mentioned that Apple marketed the 3rd iPad as 'The new iPad', while you incorrectly stated that it was called 'iPad with retina'. The 3rd generation iPad was never called that by Apple.

 

[Oyeve]

I hope they put TouchID in next year's models. Will be skipping the retina mini because it doesn't have TouchID.

Why? Apple sold millions of devices without it for years. Why, all of a sudden, is it a must have?

 

[Ravynmagi]

That's obviously the logical move after there are now two more generations of iPads that are newer 🙂

That was not what we were discussing though. He was making a statement how they changed the naming of the iPad starting from the 4th generation, and both you and I correctly commented that the name change has already started with the 3rd generation. However, I mentioned that Apple marketed the 3rd iPad as 'The new iPad', while you incorrectly stated that it was called 'iPad with retina'. The 3rd generation iPad was never called that by Apple.

Well I don't agree with that. It's just been the "iPad" since the third generation. "New" was just a temporary place holder to help Apple customers get over the change.

And it seems we are nitpicking pretty hard on a non-issue.

I don't think the iPad Air name has anything to do with Apple wanting to avoid using a number in the name. They've already stopped using numbers a couple generations ago (I think we can agree on that much).

 

[cronos]

Well I don't agree with that. It's just been the "iPad" since the third generation. "New" was just a temporary place holder to help Apple customers get over the change.

Well you mentioned above that it was called 'iPad with retina', and now you said it was just 'iPad'. So which one is it? Either way, both are incorrect.

I feel silly arguing about iPad names but the 3rd generation iPad seriously was called 'The new iPad' and marketed as such by Apple. It was repeatedly mentioned in the announcement event by Steve Jobs (iinm it's his last event).

 

[ivwshane]

One of them is small enough to fit in your pocket. The other isn't. Often, shrinking the size of something makes it more expensive. It's debatable as to whether that equates to an additional $120 in value, but people seem to have no problem paying that amount. I doubt that the screen is $100 cheaper as well. If you're going to make that claim, at least link to a cost estimate for the BOM. From what I can find with a quick Google search it looks like around ~$50.



The problem is that no one is doing this so there's no pressure for other companies to respond in kind. I think that they all realize that they can squeeze a lot of extra money out of consumers this way so no one is in much of a hurry to change, especially the Android manufacturers who aren't making high margins. The extra profit from the flash storage is probably what allows them to stay in the game.

The other reason is that there might not be enough supply of NAND flash in the necessary sizes to make the jump to 32/64/128. Going from 16 to 32 might only cost an extra $10 or so, but the jump to get to $128 might cost a lot more if they want to use larger modules, which might not even be available in quantity.



Ever since the third generation iPad (which they called The New iPad) they've been really weird with the naming scheme. You're probably right that they might be releasing an even larger iPad in the future so they're just adjusting the name now to draw a comparison between their tablet and notebook lines. Maybe they'll even call the larger iPad the the "iPad Pro" or something like that.

Have you seen the logic boards for an iPad and an iPhone? They are nearly identical and my guess us that all devices using the new a7 chip will be using the same board. The screen on the 5s is the same that was used on the 5 and is closely spec'd to that of the retina ipad screens except its a smaller piece of glass, the tech begind it hasnt been shrunken.

You are right that people will pay for it.

 

[bearxor]

I'm really interested in why Apple has renamed the iPad to iPad Air. That announcement had me kinda wondering if Apple was going to announced another 9.7 inch or larger iPad. That didn't happen, but with rumors of Apple looking at larger sizes, I wonder if a larger iPad is imminent?

I'm putting my token on a larger iPad and iPhone sometime in the March-April time frame.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Well you mentioned above that it was called 'iPad with retina', and now you said it was just 'iPad'. So which one is it? Either way, both are incorrect.

I feel silly arguing about iPad names but the 3rd generation iPad seriously was called 'The new iPad' and marketed as such by Apple. It was repeatedly mentioned in the announcement event by Steve Jobs (iinm it's his last event).

Correct:

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/apple-ipad-3-liveblog/

The only reason I had that handy was because I doubted you initially as well and I googled it just to not make a fool out of myself before calling you out 😀

 

[Ravynmagi]

It was for advertising. Ya'll couldn't possibly think the 2012 iPad would going to be "The New iPad" forever and last years iPad the "New New iPad"?

/confused

The real product name was obviously the "iPad (3rd generation)" as Apple's website shows.

 

[badb0y]

I expected iPad Mini to get a A6 but it got an A7. Feature-wise it's literally a miniature version of the iPad Air.

 

[Mopetar]

Why? Apple sold millions of devices without it for years. Why, all of a sudden, is it a must have?

Yeah, I feel the same. I suppose it's a feature that's nice to have, but it's not something that I would consider make or break, especially since they'll probably have an improved version next year.

 

[SAWYER]

Why did the old 16 gig mini only get a $20 drop? Also, why is the ipad 2 still being sold at $399? Shouldnt the last year version be $399 and not a version two years older?

 

[Roland00Address]

Here are the dimensions of the new ipads compared to other tablets (the tablets are sorted by weight)

Height x Width x Depth / Weight / Model

• 7.87 in x 4.49 in x 0.34 in 0.64 lbs ---- Nexus 7 FHD 2013
• 7.87 in x 5.30 in x 0.29 in 0.73 lbs ---- Ipad Mini with Retina
• 9.09 in x 6.22 in x 0.31 in 0.82 lbs ---- Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
• 9.45 in x 6.67 in x 0.30 in 1.03 lbs ---- Ipad Air
• 9.57 in x 6.75 in x 0.31 in 1.18 lbs ---- Galaxy Note 10.1” 2014
• 10.31 in x 7.09 in x 0.35 in 1.32 lbs --- Original Galaxy Note 10.1”
• 09.50 in x 7.31 in x 0.34 in 1.33 lbs --- Ipad 2
• 09.50 in x 7.31 in x 0.37 in 1.44 lbs --- Ipad 4
• 10.81 in x 6.77 in x 0.37 in 1.50 lbs --- Microsoft Surface
• 09.45 in x 7.48 in x 0.54 in 1.63 lbs --- HP Touchpad
• 10.81 in x 6.81 in x 0.53 in 2.00 lbs --- Microsoft Surface Pro