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As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple today quietly removed the original iPad mini from its website and its online storefront. Released in 2012, the first-generation iPad mini was innovative when it debuted, sporting the same internal specifications as the iPad 2, its bigger 9.7-inch counterpart. The loss of the non-retina iPad mini is a transition point for Apple as all of its iOS devices and most of its Mac lineup now sport a high-resolution Retina display.
Our take on the news:
With the next generation iPads possibly arriving later this fall, it is time for Apple to phase out its oldest model iPad mini and clear inventory of the device. And with discounts on the iPad mini 2 dropping the price to below to $299, it’s not surprising to see the iPad mini go.