Today Apple announced two new iPads: the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Some pricing adjustments were also made across the entire iPad lineup, with the first-gen iPad mini now costing only $249.
Apple news overload? Fear not. Here’s everything you need to know about today’s new iPads:
iPad Air 2: Even better on the eyes
Apple’s flagship tablet is now just 6.1 mm thin. The design looks basically the same at first glance, although Apple has done away with the mute switch. You can now it in gold like the iPhone.
Spec wise, the iPad Air 2 features a 64-bit A8X processor and 2.5x the graphics performance of the first Air. Faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi is supported alongside up to 50% faster LTE speeds around the world. Apple is still claiming that you’ll get 10 hours of battery life with regular use.
Apple has upgrade the iPad Air 2’s camera considerably and added many of the software features found in iOS 8 on the iPhone. The iPad’s 8MB sensor can capture Time Lapse footage and 1080p Slo-Mo video. The improved front-facing camera takes in more light and supports burst mode for selfies.
The same M8 co-processor and barometer in the latest iPhones means that the iPad will be able to track your precise movements, including the air pressure around you for measuring elevation.
An anti-reflective coating on the device’s Retina display will improve viewing angles and reduce glare. Perhaps most notably is the addition of the Touch ID fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device and iOS 8 apps. Touch ID can also be used to make online purchases with Apple Pay, which is going live on Monday, October 20th.
iPad mini 3: Now in gold
The third-gen iPad mini got considerably less stage time than the Air 2, so we’ll break its changes down more simply:
- Gold color option
- Touch ID
- A7 processor
- 5MB iSight camera
There you have it.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 begin in 29 countries Friday, October 17th. The Air 2 starts at $499 for 16GB and the mini 3 starts at $399 for 16GB. The iPad mini 2 has been bumped down to $299 and the original mini costs $249.
A full price breakdown is available on Apple’s website. If you’re contemplating a cellular version, take a look at the new Apple SIM.
Sales will begin later next week in the following countries: the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China (Wi-Fi only), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau (Wi-Fi only), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Apple’s international rollout will continue throughout October in more countries around the world.
