Roger Fingas
In a move potentially intended to push buyers to the budget-priced $329 iPad, Apple on Tuesday gave a minor update to the iPad mini 4, discontinuing 32-gigabyte models in favor of a single 128-gigabyte storage option with a hefty $399 entry price.
A Wi-Fi-only version costs $399, while adding cellular raises the price to $529. The amounts are identical to what Apple was previously charging for less storage.
Apple has otherwise left the tablets unchanged, including the same silver, gold, and space gray color options, as well as the aging A8 processor.
The company appears to be steering people towards its new 9.7-inch budget iPad, which goes on sale March 24 with a faster A9 processor. That product is available for as little as $329, albeit with only 32 gigabytes. Bumping storage to 128 gigabytes raises the cost to at least $429.
Apple has generally neglected the iPad mini line in recent years, perhaps most infamously with the Mini 3, which was essentially a Mini 2 with Touch ID, new storage tiers, and a gold color option.
The iPad mini 4 was originally released in Sept. 2015, and did make some more substantial upgrades including an A8 processor, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, an extra gigabyte of RAM, and a thinner body. It was still much less powerful than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro launched around the same time, which for example had an A9X chip.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
63 Comments
Apple knows better but would have been good to keep ipad mini at 32GB or 64GB and reduce price under $300
It could also be possible that that has been the most popular model.
It's a shame. The mini is perfect for the kids
Apple appears to be cutting off its niches to spite its cost structure.
The iPad Mini might not be a huge seller, but my impression is that kids (and perhaps small-handed people of all ages) really like the iPad Mini.
For a company that has used "ecosystem" as the metaphor for its business model, they might want to think more carefully about the unintended consequences of mass extinctions.
The iPad mini is the perfect size to attach to the remote for my drone. My iPhone 6S+ is too small and my iPad Air 2 is too big.