Apple announces the iPad mini and the 4th gen version of the iPad, which was unexpected.
The iPad mini features were pretty much as expected due to various rumours. It will come with a 7.9-inch display, but to keep the cost down it will not come with a retina display instead it will have the screen resolution of 1024 x 768, which the ipad 2 has. But in reality the screen will appear sharper, due to the pixels being crammed in to a screen which is 2 inched smaller.
It comes in both black and white and measures 7.2mm thick and weighs 0.68lbs, which is 23% thinner and 56% lighter than the full sized iPad.
However the specs inside the iPad mini are also a little let down and some would say it a downgraded smaller version of an iPad 2, because it uses the iPad 2’s A5 dual-core processor, it also comes with the same 5-megapixel iSight rear camera, which is from the iPad 2. However there are a few differences from the previous ipad 2 model, now the face time camera has been upgraded to a new FaceTime HD front camera. The iPad mini now also comes with LTE support which now is compatible in more countries outside the US, such the UK. The other major difference is that now it comes with the new Lightning connector port, which the iPhone 5 and iPad 4 currently has.
Some would say its a downgrade, but some things had to be downgraded to keep the cost down and to make it competitive with the Kindle fire and Nexus 7. Even with its compromises, it’s handy size and weight and it’s connection with Apples excellent eco system will make it a winner.
The Prices of a 16GB iPad mini will start at $329 (£269) for the Wi-Fi model, and $459 (£369) for cellular. 32GB and 64GB models will also be available for $429 (£349) and $529 (£429) in turn. Cellular models will be priced at $559 (£449) and $659 (£529) for the 32GB and 64GB models respectively. The wifi model will be will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, October 26 and it will be released November the 2nd and the cellular model will be available within 2 weeks time.
Apple also announced the new 4th generation iPad today, which came as a surprise because the Ipad 3 was only released last March. However the iPad 4 only comes with only a few upgrades. The new iPad comes with a A6X CPU, which the company claims provides twice the performance of the iPad 3 processor. Like the iPad mini, its Facetime camera has now been upgraded to a FaceTime HD camera. The other difference is that LTE capabilities for the cellular model will now be able to support a wider range of networks across North America and Europe. Lastly the other change is in the connector port now it has apples new Lightning connector port.
The iPad 4’s 5-megapixel iSight rear camera and the retina display is the same what is in the ipad 3.
In reality it is only worth upgrading if you are an avid gamer, because the new processor will render the gamer better. But it your an ordinary iPad user who uses the Ipad for digital media and web browsing stick with the ipad 3, because the difference in speed will be hardly noticeable.
The 4th generation iPad will be priced the same as the previous iPad, which is a surprise with the 16GB model starting at $499 (£399) or $629 (£499) for cellular support. 32GB and 64GB models will also be available at similar prices to the iPad 3.
The 4th generation iPad will be available for pre-order starting on this Friday, October 26, the Wi-Fi model should be available on November 2. Apple said that cellular models will begin shipping in a few weeks time.
