More often than not, when Apple has something new to announce, there’s quite a bit of fanfare. There’s usually news releases announcing that there’s going to be an announcement. And once it’s time for the news to drop, there’s normally a conference with reporters from around the world in attendance waiting to see what the Cupertino-based company is going to proclaim next.
Today was a little different, though, as Apple refreshed its iPad Air and iPad Mini with a simple announcement on its website.
New 10.5-Inch iPad Air
Starting with the larger, and thus more expensive, iPad Air, Apple has made some pretty solid changes from the previous version, though the company isn’t reinventing the wheel. First, and most obvious, is the size of the device. Previous versions of the iPad Air came with a 9.7-inch display. Now, Apple has given the device a 10.5-inch screen, which is a nice change.
Internally, the new iPad Air comes with Apple’s A12 Bionic CPU.
In terms of features, it remains mostly the same as the previous model with Touch ID, a Lightning port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, Apple has added support for the Apple Pencil, putting the device more in line with the 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
In terms of cameras, there’s an 8 MP rear camera and a 7 MP selfie camera on the front of the tablet. The screen is a Retina display, toting a resolution of 2224 X 1668.
In terms of price, the new iPad Air falls in the middle of Apple’s tablet range, coming with a starting price of $499 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only version. Buyers looking for cellular capabilities will need to fork over quite a bit more, as that model starts at $629. Buyers can upgrade the storage up to 256GB.
New 7.9-Inch iPad Mini
As for the new iPad Mini, the screen is 7.9-inches, making it comparable in size to the older tablets in the line. That screen features a 2048 X 1536 resolution, which equates to an impressive pixel density of 326ppi.
The other features are actually the same as the new iPad Air—it has Touch ID, a Lightning port, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. It’s powered by the same A12 Bionic chip and it even comes equipped with the same cameras as the larger tablet. There’s also support for the Apple Pencil.
Obviously, the price is the main place the new iPad Mini differs from the iPad Air. The 64GB version sells for $399 with just Wi-Fi and for $529 with Wi-Fi and cellular.
Both models are available right now from Apple’s website, but if you really want a beast of a tablet, check out our review of the iPad Pro.
Read the full article: Apple Quietly Announces New 2019 iPad Air and iPad Mini