A note by Barclays Research analysts says that the 7.9-inch iPad Mini range will not get a new addition alongside other iPads in March – putting the future of Apple’s small tablet line in doubt.
In the note obtained by MacRumors, the analysts – Blayne Curtis, Christopher Hemmelgarn, Thomas O’Malley and Jerry Zhang – say, citing Asian supply chain sources, that 9.7-, 10.9- and 12.9-inch iPads will all be launched in March, but not be joined by a new iPad Mini.
Instead, they say that Apple will continue making and selling the iPad Mini 4. This, the most recent Mini, was released in September 2015 – and, the MacRumors report suggests, will remain as a “low-cost” model. This hints that the tablet could at least get a good price cut in March.
At the same time, however, the iPad Mini 2 might be discontinued, given its aging components and the analysts’ apparent decision not to even mention it in their note. That tablet originally hit retail in November 2013 and so would be due for the axe by next March.
