Will a 5.5 inch iPhone kill the iPad Mini Retina?
With a little more than one week left to Apple’s big reveal of the iPhone 6, the highly anticipated device has been surrounded by a record number of rumors, leaks and market predictions, more than any other Apple device in previous years.
The new iPhone 6 is expected to be released in two sizes, both significantly bigger than the iPhone 5, starting at 4.7 inches, up to an unprecedented 5.5 inch screen size, which will bring the iPhone into Android territory.
Meanwhile, as iPad sales continue to lag, questions arise on the fate of the one successful iPad product that still has significant traction: the iPad Mini Retina. What this has to do with the iPhone 6, is the fact that if indeed Apple will wow us all with a 5.5 version of the iPhone, nothing will keep us from wandering if the iPhone 6 is simply a bigger iPhone, or a tiny, and faster, iPad Mini with Retina display.
When the first Android phablets were introduced by LG and Samsung, among some of the earliest pioneers, most users just couldn't get past the size. Given some time, the need for a bigger screen on smartphones began to surface, with a significant increase in the phablet’s appeal. From games to productivity apps, there are more and more reasons to benefit from a larger screen size on a smartphone, which begs the main question: what impact will a bigger iPhone have on the iPad Mini?
To answer this question, we need to look at how different brands work within the Apple ecosystem.
Every brand has an identity deeply rooted in its iconic origin. The iPod will never fail, and will never be replaced by other Apple brands, like the iPhone or even the fabled iTime, even if these devices offer an equally great media playback experience, due to its reputation as a device designed to play media, and do it well. Nothing beats the appeal of a device with one single job, made by Apple, which is a guarantee that the job will be done well.
By the same token, the iPad Mini is likely to be more susceptible to change, and the introduction of a bigger iPhone could potentially take more wind from the iPad’s sail, as the iPad does not have as big an iconic value as the iPod, at which point, Apple’s ability to improve upon future versions of the iPad Mini becomes invaluable.
Performance, battery life and price are likely to play a considerable role in how the iPad Mini will withstand future products, as the most recent market predictions have suggested.