The iPad Air 2 is the best tablet Apple’s ever made. The iPad mini 3 is good, but it’s also a gigantic ripoff.
Phil Schiller gushed over all the new iPad Air 2 upgrades during today’s keynote, reveling in its improved camera, powerful A8X chip, anti-reflective coating and Touch ID. But when it came to the iPad mini 3, Apple tried to slide quickly past it, and for good reason – there weren’t any upgrades to brag about.
Here are the new iPad mini 3 features:
- Touch ID
- Gold
That’s it! Everything else is the same as last year’s iPad mini 2. Same design. Same cameras. Same Wi-Fi. Same storage. No fully laminated display. No barometer. No Burst Mode. No anti-reflective coating.
Apple didn’t even give it an A8 processor to put it on the same level as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Instead, Apple has kept all the same internals as the iPad mini 2 but left the price at $100 because, hey, that Touch ID and number “3” on the packaging weren’t cheap.
That’s not to say that the iPad mini 3 is a bad tablet. It’s still better than the competition. But when you’re paying $100 for this year’s “top-of-the-line” model, you expect it to at least get some of the iPad Air 2’s most basic new features.
If you’re thinking about getting a new iPad mini, stay away from the mini 3 and grab the cheaper, but just as powerful, iPad mini 2 for $100 less.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
57 responses to “Why the iPad mini 3 is a gigantic ripoff”
Unless TouchID is worth it to you and you want better resale value when the 4 comes out… then the $100 is worth it. It probably comes out in the wash by the time you sell it and upgrade anyway so why not get the latest. Upgrading from the 2 to the 3 may not be worth as much as if you were in the market for a new one anyway.
Oh, don’t forget about Apple SIM, only in the 3. That ads some value to people I’d guess.
I don’t think a special SIM is worth $100. You’ll probably be able to get one soon without buying a new iPad.
I don’t even think that that is in the iPad Mini 3
Due to the oversaturation of apple products upgrading is no longer an affordable proposition. Ipad 3 32GB I paid $600 for it and tried to sell it when I bought my air and couldn’t find any takers for $350… I see they are barely fetching $300 on ebay now days. It used to be you could sell the old model for $100 less then the new one.
Oh no, lets pack up the truck and burn the house down. This is the end.
Extremely disappointed. I refuse to buy the iPad Air 2 NOT because of the price, but because I love the size of the Mini! Why is Apple starting to distinguish these products by more than just screen size.
Me too, I was all set to buy “The New iPad Mini” until I saw that I had the choice between “old” and “old but more expensive”. What really bugs me is that on Apple’s website they make the iPad Mini 3 /look/ as though it’s a real upgrade like the new Air. Unless you compare the specs and see it’s missing everything but the fingerprint scanner, you’d be forgiven for assuming the $100 premium was for more than that.
I need the mini’s size but refuse to buy last year’s model if devs are going to start designing games and apps for the vastly more powerful Air so I won’t upgrade at all.
Agreed, I was set and ready to preorder it tomorrow, even though I have a brand new iPad Mini 2 that works fine. But I really feel as if Apple is just laughing in our faces now, a thinner design, with the new screen optics (no air gap between glass and LCD) would have been awesome with the new internals. But we didnt even get a new A8X chip. What is Apple thinking! First product upgrade that I am not going to buy. I always buy every iPhone and have bought each Mini since 1st Gen.
My guess is that Apple is backing off the Mini as a product. They just released the iPhone 6 Plus and Apple probably thinks that its 5.5″ display will cannibalize Mini sales anyway, so might as well not put too much effort into the Mini.
…or they could just be letting the original iPad have all the glory first. Margins are higher for the bigger device. Maybe it’ll be one year behind its bigger brother from now on.
Isn’t the iPad 3 now equipped with 64GB?
yes. Starts at 16GB. $499 for 64GB, so if you want more storage for your money on the iPad mini that’d be another reason to go with the mini 3
Yes, not to mention that it’s double the storage of the Mini Retina 2 for the same money. Nice deal, IMO.
My goodness a Greek Tragedy in the making. Calm down it’s got touch ID well worth the extra hundred.
You’re supposed to put an lol there – after the funny you made.
I’ll enter my pass code to save 100 bucks
Last year they justified raising the price of the iPad Mini by giving it the same speed and resolution as the iPad Air. Now they’ve taken BACK part of that advantage. It seems to me that they still haven’t quite figured out how to price and spec these products against each other and this is another attempted correction. I’m also pissed personally about the original iPad Mini still existing in the lineup. Granted, I own one… but how long are these users going to get iOS support if they purchase this dog of a product that’s only $50 less. (and it’s a dog at that price) And what’s with keeping 16 GB around at the low end of everything? How are people going to upgrade who just HAVE to do the upgrade over the air? How does this impact fragmentation when you’re required to have over 4 GB of free space JUST to do the software update? What happened to the Apple who said that they didn’t release junk? Seems to me that there’s a little too much focus on up-selling with deceptively priced junk at the bottom end.
No innovation, my ass!
(Let’s make a little fun of it):
I don’t know why are you people whining about the mini upgrade! We have two good things happning today:
1) for the same price we would buy the mini 2 yesterday, we also get a touch id now! Yeah!
2) but if we don’t want the touch id, we save 100$ !! Yeah!
I call this, A Win-Win situation !!
The only good thing about the mini 3 is that it forced down the mini 2’s price.
About buying the mini 2 yesterday, nobody in their right mind would buy a new iPad at full price the day before the event – in fact many retailers were already discounting them.
Wait, I agree….the old A7 processor makes the iPad mini 3 something you might get your kids.
iPad Mini 3 has *5 mp* and iPad Air 2 has *8 mp*
Why is that a big ripoff? It’s an iPad mini with a small refresh They’re not making any claims that aren’t true. If you don’t think it’s worth purchasing at this point don’t. But big ripoff? Get a grip.
It is a big ripoff because all Apple did was add TouchID and an option of gold color. Nothing else whatsoever has changed… Same speed, same (probably) geekbench score, same performance for 100$ more.
iPad mini 3 also supports 801.11ac while iPad mini 2 doesn’t.
No, it doesn’t: http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
The ONLY difference between the 2 and 3 is Touch ID and NFC for ApplePay. And Gold. That’s it.
Who in their right mind would buy the regular Mini with the A5 chip and lower resolution when the 2 is $50 more? If you’re worried about $50 at this level perhaps an iPad isn’t for you…
There’s no NFC in any iPad.
It also looks like they may all have the updated lighter space gray color. The original Mini (non-retina) came in the dark charcoal color (I have one). So, once current warehouse supplies run out, I think they’ll all be the new space grey or silver (& gold for air 2/mini 3).
The gold color isn’t bad, I might go for it if the front was black instead of white (offer a choice Apple).
neither support 801.11ac, just the iPad air http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
&nfc
Solution: Don’t buy it if you don’t want it. You’re welcome.
you forgot to mention the retina display…
Just sold my mini 2 hoping to buy iPad mini 3 with Touch ID, A8 and 802.11ac….thought it would be perfect compliment to my iPhone 6.
Don’t want the huge 6 plus or the huge iPad Air 2…
So, if Apple now plan to give the each new mini last year’s processor and features, then no more iPad for me.
Here’s the rest of the story: Apple doesn’t want you to buy the mini — if you remember the biggest hit to Apple’s margins came when the iPad mini was introduced — the margin’s on the mini were estimated in the 30% range, which is awful for Apple. That’s the beauty of the iPhone 6 plus — the more consumers that opt for a “phablet” solution, the higher Apple’s margins (the margin’s for the Plus are in the 70% range).
ef margin. I hate that apple succumbed to making a “phablet”. I was hoping for 4.3″ & 4.9 (or 5.1)” iPhones max. I wanted one I could one hand and fit in my pocket (4.3″).
Well, I think, by only adding Touch ID, and using last year’s tech, they just increased their margin by a large percentage.
I like the size of the iPad Mini.
if they didn’t want you to buy the mini then why the fu*k would they make one? Idiotic logic you have there. They could easily could have not updated the mini and just wait until next year to give it the A8 chip and other features.
The mini wasn’t updated because they couldn’t handle the screen production for a another new device right now. The iPhone 6 plus is getting all the attention and they are ramping down ipad production.
By keeping the mini 3 mostly the same they simply used the old iPad mini and added Touch ID to it and created a gold
iPad mini 3 TOTAL disappointment. The touch Id is not worth the money. they need it to add the A8x chip and the antiglare screen. sorry Apple no iPad mini 3 for me.
Apple:
You don’t like iPad mini3???
I’m sorry, maybe you can consider the new iPhone 6+, how do you think???
(Nobody ask you to buy the mini3, common)
I disagree. When I look at the appstore, I can buy the ipad mini 2 with 32gb or I can buy the ipad mini 3 with touch id and 64gb of memory for about 100$ more so, so worth it imo
That’s $150 more and if you buy the Ipad Mini 2 refurbished 64 the difference is probably $200
Love my mini2 have had it almost a year. Only 1 complaint… It bends when you squeeze it with an absurd amount of pressure.
You forgot to mention a 128GB option that isn’t available in the Mini 2
The fingerprint sensor only costs $7 to add that in.
Apple should’ve just said the iPad Mini 2 this year gets touch ID and it will start at $100 less. And leave it at that.
Now we have the iPad Mini 1 $249, iPad Mini 2 $299, iPad Mini 3 (which is a gold iPad Mini 2) $399
After the Apple Cube the iPad Mini 3 is the worst device launch in the history of Apple . They are counting on the regular Apple user not to know the difference and get it because it is the new one.
Now to make it even stranger, the iPad Mini 3 (which is an iPad Mini 2) is the same price as the iPad Air 1.
“After the Apple Cube the iPad Mini 3 is the worst device launch in the history of Apple.”
You’re an idiot, a teenager or both. Just buy what you want, and stop worrying about what others can or should do with their money. Apple seems to be doing just •fine• without your technical or marketing advice.
The iPad Mini 3 isn’t the worst device launch in recent memory?
What are you smoking?
They took a 1 year old device and put a new button on it and you’re telling me that’s great?
“The fingerprint sensor only costs $7 to add that in.”
Wait, you’re REALLY starting to quote the price of components versus what a manufacturer spends for R&D, manufacturing, advertising, brick & mortar stores that provide service, shipping, packaging, staffing and all the rest? Grow up kid. It’s not about the cost of the individual parts, and never has been, not for any product I can think of. Hey, air is free, but try to talk the gas station into letting you put it in your tires for free. The air pump costs money to buy and maintain. But if you’re near a Sam’s Club or Costco, they’ll probably let you air up for free.
So you’re saying it took $100 worth of R&D to put a fingerprint sensor on the iPad Mini 2 and call it the iPad Mini 3?
Aaahahahahaha!
They already have a huge markup and are sitting on billions of cash. They don’t need to charge you $399 for a 1 year old tablet. They could’ve just priced the Mini 2 at $299, say that they added Touch ID and leave it at that.
Instead they’re confusing people into thinking the iPad Mini 3 is a new tablet.
It would be only a ripoff and disappointing if they would’ve given the mini a big part in the keynote. But they didn’t. So why such a fuss?
because they called it the iPad mini “3” when it clearly isn’t.
It is a rip off to make you think a 1 year old tablet is new.
Basically they’re selling you the exact same tablet at 2 different price points.
One at $299 and the exact sane tablet with a new $7 home button for $399.
That isn’t a ripoff?
– On one hand, did apple forget something? Why not A8 (not A8X, just A8)? At the very least, they could have put ac wifi in the thing?!? How can you sell any “new” wifi product in late 2014 that doesn’t do ac? (I could care less about camera in a tablet ). All they did was add Touch ID? This is not the Apple we knew, they are starting to rip things apart, market like everyone else. First, I wanted a 4.3″ iPhone, NOT 4.7″, never mind the 5.5 phone that is NOT a phone anymore. I could hold a 4.3″ iPhone in one hand firmly and reach the whole screen, but, I feel like I’m going to drop my iPhone 6 4.7″ if I hold it so I can reach everything. And then, the 1 new iPhone used to be the best, now, the “phablet”, which is too big to be considered a phone, has the best camera optics and battery life, not just a bigger screen, arg!
– On the other hand, if you don’t care about Touch ID, last year’s iPad Mini retina is $100 less! …The A7 processor is no snoozer, but, this is just mucking up Apple’s previous way of giving us screen size options, now it’s more than that, which really kinda sucks.
“Why the iPad Mini 3 is a gigantic ripoff”
Ripoff? That’s quite an unnecessary hyperbole. First, for the extra hundred bucks you get twice the ram as the previous Mini(2) at that price point. The Touch Sensor, while perhaps wanted not or needed by some people, is a pretty big deal for iDevices, and will increasingly become so. Finally, the Mini, due to its smaller size, really doesn’t need the extra bump of the A8. Considering the A5 on the original Mini was very snappy, the A7 is •more• than sufficient for any task. The rest of the things the new Mini lacks (as opposed to the old or new iPad Air), are either things people don’t crave, and/or which they don’t want to pay more for.
Bottom line: if you want a more powerful iPad, get the Air. If you want something smaller and less expensive, get the new Mini. VERY fast for what it does, plenty of memory and a touch sensor.
if the things it’s missing are stuff people wouldn’t pay more for then why would they pay more to not have them? Amazing logic from the apple apologists lol. Steve jobs died and so did Apples connection with its customer base. Now they are getting by on what’s left of the dwindling fanboy loyalty and turning the phones into android phones to try and canibalize the market rather that stick to their guns. Phablets and NFC after saying it was pointless and 3.5″ was the perfect screen size. Protruding cameras and fugly designs. Sad.
You’re right CC, what as I thinking? That crappy Apple company, making products nobody wants or buys, buoyed only by the “dwindling fanboy loyalty.” How could I (and the millions of buyers worldwide) be so wrong? And that awful, HUGE protruding lens! My god, what a nightmare! Since Steve is no longer alive, we better dump these poorly-thought-out devices fast, sell our steadily increasing Apple stock, and go buy phones without NFC because Apple wasted all that time developing Apple Pay and setting up partnerships with retailers. As you point out, it’s all so very sad.
This is what happens when you nominate a bean-counter as your CEO. Absolutely pissed that my fav company would have the gonads to charge 100 premium for last years product and tell you it’s new. If i were to buy this, everything every fandroid ever said about apple fans would be absolutely true. Not doing it, gotohell Tim.
If you’re referring to CEO Tim Cook, he was not “nominated.” He was •chosen• by Steve Jobs. Tim had been Jobs’ long-time employee, confidant and right-hand man, and had his complete confidence. HARDLY a bean-counter.
Don’t want an iPad Mini 3 Retina… then don’t buy one. Don’t want crappy bundled software on Windows machines, good luck. You’ll be working on deleting that stuff for weeks and months, and still not get it all off. On the other hand, if you want a Surface tablet for more money and less support, there’s always that.
Leave me alone! I’m venting! I’ll just wait next year for the iPad mini 4 and hope that it comes with all the trimmings and attention devoted to the air. Sorry Mr. Cook, I lost my cool.
“Sorry Mr. Cook, I lost my cool.”
You’re forgiven Mr. Grinch. Only a suggestion, mind you, but you might wish to vent (as you say) elsewhere. This is “Cult of Mac”, not the “I F’ing Hate Apple For Ridiculous Reasons and Want Everyone to Know It” group. Naturally, as a proponent of free speech, I support your right to say whatever you wish, silly or not.
wow, dude, who said i hate apple? If you’re going to lie (as you have) do it else where. This is “cult of mac,” not the “I F.n. lie to my best friend on forums all day” group. Naturally, as a proponent of lying, i support your right to lie about whatever you wish, silly or not.
–I was bored.
after years of rolling my eyes when people would say this, i finally relent. STEVE JOBS WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THIS.