It was more about where Apple could focus to generate more profit and have the fewest models they would need to support.
If they decide they want to produce 4 general models (like with the 15), they produce the 4 they will sell the best and generate the most profit.
Even if a 5th still has some market as a mini there’s diminishing returns for tooling up another full model they already know won’t have the same profit potential.
My guess is that Apple tools up a mini just often enough to have 1 mini model that can support the most current iOS version, so every 5 or 6 years they’ll make a mini model that die hard mini fans can keep until iOS is no longer supported on it.
It’s not really that people weren’t buying.
It was more about where Apple could focus to generate more profit and have the fewest models they would need to support.
If they decide they want to produce 4 general models (like with the 15), they produce the 4 they will sell the best and generate the most profit.
Even if a 5th still has some market as a mini there’s diminishing returns for tooling up another full model they already know won’t have the same profit potential.
My guess is that Apple tools up a mini just often enough to have 1 mini model that can support the most current iOS version, so every 5 or 6 years they’ll make a mini model that die hard mini fans can keep until iOS is no longer supported on it.