Apple giveth and it taketh away.
Starting at $249, the iPad Mini 2 was the simplest, most affordable iPad, according to CNET reviews. Now it's getting replaced by something much more expensive.
The Mini 2 is gone from Apple's website, signaling its demise. The only Mini you'll be able to buy new and direct from Apple is the Mini 4, starting at $399, £419 or AU$579.
The culling of the Mini 2 comes amid Apple's quiet refresh of its tablet lineup, highlighted by the introduction of an improved full-sized iPad starting at $329, £339 or AU$469. You read that right: The new 9.7-inch iPad is cheaper than the old 7.9-inch Mini.
The low-key launch of Apple's new iPad underscores the overall decline in the tablet market. Global tablet shipments dropped for a ninth consecutive quarter in the last three months of 2016, according to product tracker IDC, and iPad sales have dribbled downwards for 12 straight quarters.
The iPad Mini 2 is still on sale at numerous third-party sites such as Amazon, starting at $250. If you want one, better move fast.