Apple needs to make changes to its tablet division, which is seriously wounded and bleeding money, according to data from recent months. Among these changes is the introduction of the iPad Pro, a model focused on business and productivity that would join the already established iPad Air and iPad mini, though only for this year. According to new information published by the Economic Daily News, the iPad mini 4 could be the last iPad mini that Apple releases , due to some incompatibility with larger iPhones.
The iPad mini 3 was a colossal disappointment. Apple simply added a fingerprint reader to the iPad mini 2 and neglected to implement the other improvements found in its sibling, the iPad Air 2. The team led by Tim Cook likely anticipated, as did the analysts, that the iPhone 6 Plus (5,5 inches) would cannibalize sales of the smaller tablet (7,9 inches) , and therefore decided not to dedicate significant resources to its development.
We don't know what will happen this year, whether the iPad mini 4 will be more of the same or bring a significant evolution. What is certain is that Apple's interest in this device is even lower than a year ago, after the figures confirmed the forecasts and iPad mini 3 sales were significantly lower than its predecessors. It is for all these reasons that the iPad mini 4 could be the last of its kind. It seems too soon for even Apple to have decided that this will be the case, but if sales continue on this trajectory and given the great interest generated by the phablet version of the iPhone 6, everything seems headed for an end soon.
The Apple Calendar
The leak not only focuses on the possible end of the iPad mini, but also offers details about Apple's planned release schedule, and there's a surprise. As we told you a couple of days ago, the company is working to unveil the iPad Pro next October and launch it before the end of 2015. The iPad mini 4 , which we mentioned, would be its companion, meaning it would be released around the same time as in recent years.
What about the iPad Air 3? This would initially be the star product of the event, but Apple doesn't want it to be. After the time they've spent preparing the iPad Pro, the company doesn't want anything or anyone, including its most important tablet, to steal the spotlight. That's why the iPad Air 3's launch has been postponed until 2016.
Via: Ubergizmo