* https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/specs/ § Location
The buyer is also signing up for a monthly payment. So clearly they have the cash to make an “extra monthly payment” or two up front.
But any device that has that embedded would have some royalty overhead added to the BOM. Which is why they've always had ipads with and without 5G and have so far never really bothered with adding this on laptops (which actually would make a lot of sense from a technical point of view). Operators would probably love that because it's a nice up-sell opportunity on monthly subscriptions. And with soft sims there would not be a need for a hardware sim card.
For the same reason, you don't see this feature on many other laptops either. There are a few obviously but it's a less common feature than you'd expect given how important good connectivity is to most laptop users.
The C3 modem is just around the corner though, as is the satellite network Globalstar's been building behind the scenes for it.
https://investors.globalstar.com/news-releases/news-release-...
It's now live and on-air for testing...
These prices are insane and there is no sign of things slowing down.
The iPad Mini started with a 7.9" screen, bumped today to 8.5".
The iPhone Duo inner display is 7.6", there are already rumors saying a gen 2 or gen 3 might be 7.9".
It's interesting how smooth the iPhone/iPad continuum is becoming.
Quick look at the Mini dimensions also seems like it barely got bigger overall since 1st gen.
when he goes "iphone small (big)" "iphone big (bigger)" and so on. He has a bunch of them.
But the price is a bit high, that's the history of Apple though. On the other hand, I think this particular screen is probably going to be sourced by cheaper small android tablets at a much more competitive price, and if you're using it for media consumption, there's no difference between an Apple and an Android tablet.
So I'm happy to see OLED on this model.
However, whether you really notice a difference reading on the thing I kinda doubt.
OLED + dark mode after sundown are awesome. On Android we also get the extra dim mode which makes it perfect for lights-out.
In general display technologies are highly subjective. Besides LCD versus OLED, there are people who love nano texture and there are people who hate them. There are people who absolutely need 120Hz and there are people who can’t tell the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz. It’s a shame that we can’t customize the display technology exactly as we want.
Check Porsche 911 / Boxster pricing in Canada over those years or Chanel bags
Luxury inflation > normal inflation
The homeview at $299 is the great value Apple product by far, compared to the price of new iPads
The 512 nano texture iPad mini with a case and pencil and Apple care and tax and tip in Canada is well over $2000!!!
I was considering buying one, but will skip until the older model becomes unsupported or when Apple adds Face ID.
Luckily I didn’t buy a iPad Mini, but I really like the form factor.
It would be great if it can use fingerprint to unlock different profiles.
In reality the back was curved, and they took pictures from an angle that only showed off the edge of the screen and not how far back it curved
You only see the thickness at the back from an angle where you can't actually use the computer (and for many people, that whole angle is going to be against the wall). This is the good kind of design - making something appear beautiful without compromising the core function.
I'm distinctly less convinced about ever-thinner mobile devices that I immediately have to slap a case on...
If they put the tiny "front-facing" camera pointed out the back it would be enough for the vast majority of people I imagine.
Don't get me wrong, I understand it happens - back when I did wedding photography, one of my massive pet peeves were the uncles and grandparents who stepped into the aisle with their massive tablets just as bride is starting her walk... But I do not understand it at all :-/.
I'd absolutely happily completely kill the rear facing tablet camera. I've had at least a dozen android and ipad tablets and I genuinely don't think I took a single photo with them - it'd feel weird and awkward and so ostentious.
(As always as a consumer, clearly I'm in minority here :-})
Though I do hate that bump. I just tried a duo and the bump makes it awkward to hold as a tablet
Keeping up appearances:
Lease from $14.99/mo. per month for 36 mo.months with Apple Upgrade Footnote ※
The iPad mini hasn’t been the budget iPad for quite a few years now. It is more like a small iPad Air now.
asimovDev•55m ago
non-starter
twostorytower•46m ago
cyanydeez•41m ago
This isn't even a "people dont see that fast".
It just, it seems more like a perceptual addiction to a trivial feature. A penis measuring contest more than a useful advancement of technology.
throwaway85825•39m ago
afavour•36m ago
drfloyd51•30m ago
goodmythical•30m ago
The only genuine performance increase I could see is if you're using it for drawing/notes because the Apple Pencil samples at 240/s so you would see a difference in drawing smoothness between 60/120/240hz screens. This would mirror the use case in fast-paced and high action games - more info for your eyes sooner allowing better reaction times.
Also, isn't ProMotion just branded VRR? Allowing for lower battery use in static/low change applications?
speak_plainly•28m ago
kingstnap•27m ago
If you plan to look at moving things, like scrolling, which is a central part of using the device, 120fps makes the scrolling less blurry and therefore more pleasant to look at.
This is like asking why people have a hardon for cars with nicer materials for seats and interiors if a normal cheap plastic interior could pass all the same crash tests.
zfnmxt•7m ago
Less blurry, sure. But does that actually make your experience materially and consistently better?
I think we humans get used to things quickly and settle into a new baseline for spec increases like these. Once the I-got-new-shit high wanes [1], you're just as absorbed in what’s on the screen as you were before the upgrade and have forgotten how smoothly it’s drawn.
Sometimes these bumps do enable new capabilities (e.g., the Vision Pro's very high resolution enables desktop work that isn't really possible on most other VR headsets), but I'm not sure that applies (in current use cases) to high refresh rate mobile screens when compared to their 60 Hz counterparts.
[1] or, if you're sufficiently jaded (or just not that interested in stuff), you'll skip this high entirely
poly2it•26m ago
ezconnect•20m ago
jerojero•38m ago
the price is a bit high, but that's all apple products.
i do think this means a lot of android tablets on this form factor are going to start coming out with OLED screens as well though, which is good, as they will be much cheaper.
bbatha•30m ago
vallerie•31m ago
For the iPad Air (especially the 13" model!) I agree 100%.
pprotas•44m ago
declan_roberts•34m ago