After much anticipation, Apple has finally announced the long awaited upgraded versions of the new iPad and iPad mini. The 5th generation iPad is called the iPad Air, while the new iPad mini bears the same name as its predecessor. Interestingly enough, only one of the devices managed to be thinner and lighter than the previous version, while the other is actually heavier and thicker.
There's a reason why Apple calls its 5th generation tablet the iPad Air. The Cupertino giant managed to create a device that weighs in at 1 pound, making it the lightest tablet in existence. Amazingly, Apple managed to do this while also improving on the internal specifications, which are far better compared to the 4th generation iPad.
The iPad Air
The iPad Air is 20 percent thinner than the previous model and the display around the bezel is 43 percent thinner, which is great for more screen real estate and an overall better looking tablet. At just 1 pound, the new iPad is 28 percent lighter than its predecessor.
On the inside, fans should expect a 64 bit A7 processor (during the presentation, Phil Schiller said the iPad Air's processor is 8 times faster than the original iPad and graphics is 72 times faster), dual antennas for WiFi, and MIMO technology for wireless data improvements. In addition, Apple states that the iPad Air gets the same 10 hours of battery life found on the 4th generation tablet.
When it comes to design, it is very similar to the first iPad Mini, so it should feel familiar. Moreover, there's a 9.7 inch display with 2048 x 1536 resolution. Some users might not be too pleased with the same 9.7-inch screen real estate, but we believe that for a tablet, 9.7 -inches is quite alright.
On the outside lies a 5-megapixel camera for taking quick images on the go, and then there's camera on the front for having web calls with friends and families.
The iPad Air has a lot to be excited about when it comes down to hardware, but new apps or features that make use of the 64 bit processor are lacking.
The iPad Mini
The second tablet announced by Apple on Tuesday is the iPad mini, which is a worthy upgrade. Finally after a long wait Apple fans can pick up an iPad Mini with a Retina display. The lack of Retina was arguably the main problem with previous device, but Apple has fixed it with the latest version.
The new iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch Retina Display with 2,048 x 1,536 resolution. That's twice the resolution of the original iPad mini. Furthermore, the device comes with the same 64 bit A7 processor found in the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, which should allow for 4 times the performance. In addition, there's a 5-megapixel iSight camera at the back for taking images and videos.
Sorry, No Fingerprint Reader
The biggest disappointment with the new tablets is the obvious lack of the Fingerprint Scanner or TouchID found on the iPhone 5s. It is not exactly certain why Apple omitted from adding the feature, but if the company fails to add it in next year's update, fans may riot.
Pricewise, the iPad Air will start at $499 for the WiFi only version, and $629 for the WiFi plus LTE version. The iPad mini on the other hand, will begin at $329 for the WiFi only version, and $459 for the WiFi plus LTE version.
