←back to thread

Apple introduces iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence

(www.apple.com)
252 points diwank | 1 comments | 15 Oct 24 14:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
Show context
metadat ◴[15 Oct 24 22:07 UTC] No.41853604[source]▶
Why is the bezel so thick? A 1-2cm bezel around the entire "mini" device seems a bit odd, given that the iPad Mini is a relatively tiny device and phones these days come with a 1-2mm bezel (10x less useless border).

Is it a cost saving measure / sneaky margin increaser, or what might be the motivation?

Edit:

Touch interference is a good idea. Still, from the picture, it looks like the bezel could be half as thick and work well. Sorry to be such a stickler, I am genuinely curious if Apple is chasing better margins, the best feasible UX, or something else.

Could it be that since this device is only $650 USD, it isn't expensive enough to warrant a premium display? (Like the iPhone SE https://www.apple.com/iphone-se/)

If so, I wish there was a fancier "Pro" model with premium components. IIRC, I paid $1000 for my first iPad, it was the first super high-resolution one back in 2012. Perhaps there aren't enough customers who are sensitive to wasted screen real estate on an 8-inch device.. and FWIW I have noticed a constant stream of toddlers pacified by iPad Minis whenever I'm at Costco.

replies(19): >>41853643 #>>41853654 #>>41853864 #>>41854028 #>>41854106 #>>41854111 #>>41854212 #>>41854291 #>>41854340 #>>41854341 #>>41854347 #>>41854476 #>>41854529 #>>41854606 #>>41854806 #>>41854900 #>>41855025 #>>41855655 #>>41856746 #
hankman86 ◴[15 Oct 24 23:07 UTC] No.41854028[source]▶
So that they can release a successor model with thinner bezels.

In reality this may be to (1) to keep costs down and (2) to distance the iPad mini from the more premium iPhone Pro Max.

All in all, this device leaves me wondering who this is for? iPads are mostly used for media consumption, no matter how Apple wants to position them. Not sure why this necessitates AI hardware, but perhaps people really start using iPads for productivity/creativity workloads that can make use of “Apple Intelligence” (the silliest moniker since “Spatial Computing” and “Retina Display”).

The comparatively small difference in screen real estate between an iPhone Pro Max and the iPad mini makes the latter rather pointless. Perhaps they are targeting people with a smaller iPhone who want another device to watch YouTube. What could have made a difference is a folding display. I think the iPad mini would have been the ideal candidate for that.

replies(9): >>41854069 #>>41854124 #>>41854146 #>>41854369 #>>41854492 #>>41854623 #>>41854638 #>>41854677 #>>41855059 #
1. theshackleford ◴[16 Oct 24 00:29 UTC] No.41854492[source]▶
> The comparatively small difference in screen real estate between an iPhone Pro Max and the iPad mini

Due to the aspect ratios, there are significant differences in viewable area. It is not a "small" difference at all. Once you add in the ability to deal with specific aspect ratio content, the difference becomes even larger.

https://displaywars.com/6,9-inch-d%7B19,5x9%7D-vs-8,3-inch-d...

> All in all, this device leaves me wondering who this is for?

Not for everyone I would suggest. But I have people in my circle who will be very pleased. As they use a Mini as their phone/portable machine out of the house. They have little keyboard cases and use VOIP services for communication.

> but perhaps people really start using iPads for productivity/creativity workloads

Part of the appeal for most people is the seamless usage of features and functionalities across their sweet of products. People expect to be able to pick up where they left of, and have access to the same functionality as they largely do on the rest of the devices.

It's nice even if something is not your primary productivity device, to be able to execute or perform things on them if that's what happens to be in front of you at the time.