Apple iPad Mini 4: three good reason to get it while you still can
The iPad Mini reached its fourth iteration well into the midst of rumors of its discontinuation that trace back to the iPad Mini 3. With that said, the iPad Mini is still reasonably successful, with a form factor that fits well those who may want a more compact iPad, as a companion to their oversized smartphones.
There are plenty of reasons to want an iPad Mini, aside from its smaller size and weight, the iPad Mini 4 in particular is powered by a processor faster than the iPad Air 2, by a long shot, at a price range well below both the iPad Pro 12.9 and 9.7 inch.
The iPad Mini 4 is also capable of running iOS 10, and supportive of many of the latest features, including split-view, picture-in-picture, and Slide Over, for apps designed with these functionalities in mind.
The screen of the iPad Mini is also one of its best selling points, as it is one of the best designed for an iOS device, prior to the iPad Pro, which currently holds the crown.
Time may be running out
The first reason to start worrying about missing out on a great iPad model at a still reasonable price, is that the rumors of the possible demise of the iPad Mini come straight from one of the most respected market analysts in the business when it comes to Apple predictions: KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors released this year, Kuo makes barely any mention of the iPad Mini, but he does make some pretty realistic assumptions about other iPad models planned for 2017, including a second version of the iPad Pro 12.9 and 9.7 inch, as well as a brand new 10.5 inch iPad Pro, most likely targeted to business users.
Another obvious clue is the fact that Apple is not going to make the Apple Pencil backwards compatible with any previous iPad models anytime soon, if ever.
Allowing the Apple Pencil to work with an iPad Mini, or an iPad Air, would destroy the standard set by the iPad Pro, as any prior iPad would lack the hardware to support the many advanced features of the pencil that make it such a unique accessory.
Finally, with an A10X processor in the works, it’s very difficult that Apple will be releasing anything less powerful than a 9.7 inch iPad Pro in 2017, or smaller. Considering that consumers already have at their disposal a whole range of smartphones that starts at 5.5 inches in screen size with processors more powerful than an iPad Air, Apple may not feel like investing anymore into smaller screens, aside from the iPhone.
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