Mobile Technology

Apple introduces Retina Display iPad Mini

Apple introduces Retina Display iPad Mini
The second iPad Mini gets its first "Retina Display"
The second iPad Mini gets its first "Retina Display"
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The new iPad Mini comes in two hues, including silver
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The new iPad Mini comes in two hues, including silver
The new iPad Mini comes in two hues, including "space gray"
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The new iPad Mini comes in two hues, including "space gray"
The second iPad Mini gets its first "Retina Display"
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The second iPad Mini gets its first "Retina Display"
The latest iPad Mini comes with a higher price tag, at $399 for 16 GB
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The latest iPad Mini comes with a higher price tag, at $399 for 16 GB
The new iPad Mini is a smidge thicker than its predecessor
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The new iPad Mini is a smidge thicker than its predecessor
Side view
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Side view
A cellular-capable model will start at $529
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A cellular-capable model will start at $529
The new family of iPads
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The new family of iPads
The new resolution packs thousands of more pixels into a 7.9-inch display
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The new resolution packs thousands of more pixels into a 7.9-inch display
View gallery - 9 images

As expected, Apple unveiled a new iPad Mini with an improved display upgraded to "retina" status, and a complement of new colored covers and cases for both the smaller slate and the new iPad Air.

The new little brother to the iPad appears to offer little more than iterative hardware improvements, but they promise to be pretty substantial improvements. The addition of an A7 chip will make it four times faster than its predecessor, Phil Schiller told the crowd, while new Wi-Fi technology will offer double the speed for data.

The other big upgrade is, of course, the addition of a 2048 x 1536 Retina Display to the 7.9-inch tablet, which is perhaps responsible for the fact that the new model will be a smidge thicker and heavier than last year's – by 0.3 mm and 24 grams, to be exact.

The new iPad Mini will be priced starting at US$399 for a 16 GB model in silver or space gray, up from the $329 tag on the original, but that rookie Mini will hang around and remain available at a new price of $299. In addition, a new mini with cellular capability will set you back $529.

Also new to the lineup introduced at today's event in San Francisco is a selection of colorful colors and wrap-around cases for both size iPads – covers cost $39, while cases are set at $79.

According to the Apple website, the iPad Mini is "coming later in November." Pre-orders don't seem to be happening just yet.

View gallery - 9 images
1 comment
1 comment
barrettjet
Sounds like I need it for my jet cockpit running Foreflight and a Stratus II ADS-B.