Apple has revealed its new iPad Air and iPad Mini models, and many have noted that the mini is in fact the iPad Mini 5. Both share most of the same specifications, yet there are substantial differences between the two. The new models have only been announced by press release.
“Apple wants to get the iPad out of the way so it can hold its first event truly focused on streaming,” Lauren Guenveur, senior research analyst at IDC told CNN Business. “If Apple announced new Pads, it would turn into a hardware event, and that’s not what it wants.”
The new iPad Air includes a 10.5-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2224 x 1668, or 264 pixels per inch, while the new iPad Mini features a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536, or 326 pixels per inch. The new iPad mini looks exactly the same as the 2015 model, but inside everything has been updated.
The company also offers Apple Pencil support on both, though it’s a first for the smaller model. However, the models only support the original Apple Pencil and are not compatible with last year’s wireless charging stylus. Both tablets are available in 64GB or 256GB models, and in silver, space gray or gold.
The iPads, powered by the A12 Bionic chipset, which debuted in the iPhone XS in 2018, promise enhanced performance. Both tablets also include the same camera format with an 8MP shutter button on the back with an f/2.4 aperture, while the front camera on both models is 7MP. It is unclear yet how large the batteries will be, but Apple has announced that both iPads will last for up to 10 hours of “surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music.”
The new models, unlike the latest iPad Pro, include Touch ID fingerprint sensors without Face ID support, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack for headphones and a lightning cable connector for charging and data transfer, instead of the USB-C featured on the latest iPad Pro. Also, only the iPad Air is compatible with Apple’s smart keyboard.
The 64GB Wi-Fi only model of the iPad Air will retail for $499 / £479 / AU$779 / AED 1,999. Meanwhile, the models with 256GB of storage and a cellular connection will retail for $779 / £749 / AU$1199 / AED 3,129. The iPad Mini starts at $399 / £399 / AU$599 / AED 1,599 with the top-end model retailing for $679 / £669 / AU$1019 / AED 2,729. Both models can be preordered online now, though they are expected to be in stores sometime after March 25.
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