The End Of iPad Mini Clones Because The End Of iPad Mini

Apple to discontinue iPad mini as device gets squeezed from both ends

Not one to ever be shy about disrupting the company’s own lineup, our source beats the Apple drum and states that there’s “fierce cannibalism of our own products” and that the iPad mini has just been “sized out of its own category.” We’re also told that the numbers are “very clear” as far as sales are concerned, which is most likely the biggest reason the company plans to eliminate the littlest iPad.

It’s not clear if Apple plans to continue selling the iPad mini for a period of time without further updates, or if it will pull the device at some point in the near future.

Um, well. Hm.

Samsung did it first, killing the Tab S2 8.0 by not updating it to an S3. Or did Asus do it first, by never widely releasing a ZenPad 8.0 sequel? Or did Best Buy do it first, by having a single batch of the Insignia Flex Elite 7.85 made and no more? Or did practically all of the iPad Mini clone makers in China do it first, by dumping that form factor?

Whatever the case, the entire tablet market is in jeopardy.

I can’t help recalling the lavish praise the iPad Mini got — price aside — at its introduction.

Pogue:

You could argue that the iPad Mini is what the iPad always wanted to be.

Gruber:

I prefer the Mini over the full-size iPad in every single regard other than display resolution

And now look at the state the Mini is in five years later!

And there’s basically no clone market. I’d be shocked if FNF ever releases their ultimate iPad Mini clone. At this point, it seems suicidal.

For all the talk of putting a 10.5-inch screen in a bezeless 9.7-sized iPad, the price will not come close to matching that of the iPad Mini or a clone. Apple is bound to make it a Pro model with exorbitant pricing.

And reading Google Books that would be fine on an iPad Mini will seem to have gigantic type on a 10.5-inch screen.

Let’s not even get into how long someone would want to hold such a large tablet for reading.

Let’s see what happens at the Apple WWDC next month. But I expect the worst.

Goodbye, iPad Mini.

In the meantime, the Memorial Day holiday weekend will be here soon. Will there be a blowout sale of the single model of iPad Mini 4? If so, better grab it.

Previously here:

The iPad Pro Mini Will Be Killer!
Video: iPad Mini 4 Extreme PDF Test (Plus Tablet Thoughts)