Apple has announced refreshed versions of the iPad Mini and iPad Air, a week before an official event where it’s expected to launch its much-anticipated streaming service.
The new 7.9-inch iPad mini offers a major upgrade for tablet users who want a compact, ultra-portable form factor. The tablet uses the A12 Bionic chip. This means the device will deliver three times faster performance and nine times faster graphics, compared to its predecessor. The A12 Bionic chip is also found in the latest iPhone range.
The tablet sports a Retina Display with True Tone technology, which has wider colojr support and is 25 percent brighter than the previous iPad mini. The device also has the highest pixel density of any iPad, which Apple claims makes it more visually immersive. The tablet supports the Apple Pencil (first generation), making it possible to take notes, draw sketches, and capture ideas on the go.
The new 10.5-inch iPad Air offers Apple’s high-end technology in a mid-range product, including Apple Pencil (first generation) support and strong graphical performance. As with the iPad Mini, the A12 Bionic chip with Apple’s Neural Engine boosts the tablet’s performance by 70 percent and offers twice the graphics capability of its predecessor.
The display features the latest Retina Display technology with True Tone colour support, and is 20 percent larger with over half a million more pixels, compared to the previous iPad Air. The Apple-designed Neural Engine of the A12 Bionic chip powers the next generation of apps and iPad work flows, using advanced machine learning (ML) and Core ML for AR experiences, photo-realistic effects in 3D games, and better graphics performance within apps.
Connectivity is faster with the latest iPads, which feature the same Wi-Fi performance and Gigabit‑class LTE connectivity built into the latest iPad Pro model. With eSIM technology built in, users can connect to wireless data plans from the iPad when travelling around the world, without swapping SIM cards – where networks support it.
With sharper front- and back-facing cameras, iPad mini and iPad Air capture clear and stable 1080p HD videos. The upgraded cameras offer better low-light performance and HD video recording, which are great for document scanning and connecting on video calls. The iPads capture high-resolution photos and video and make editing 4K films faster and smoother.
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said: “The iPad continues to provide magical new experiences for a growing range of uses where it is the absolute best device, from playing games in augmented reality to note-taking and drawing with Apple Pencil, from streaming HD movies and editing 4K films to learning to develop apps with Swift Playgrounds. The iPad family takes two big leaps forward with an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air that brings high-end size, features and performance at a breakthrough price, and a major upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which also brings Apple Pencil, Retina display and the A12 Bionic chip to the many customers that love its compact size.”