Apple launches iPad Air 2 & iPad mini 3 tablets, prices starting at Rs 28,900

Apple has further expanded its iPad range of tablets with the launch of two new devices. While one of them is the successor to the original iPad Air, the other one is a third generation iPad mini. According to the company, the iPad Air 2 is 18 per cent thinner than its predecessor and weighs less than a pound. It also comes with a new iSight camera that Apple claims is its best iPad camera yet.

Interestingly, while Apple is yet to announce an India launch date for the new iPads, in a first, the company has already announced their prices in the Indian market (see table). This could mean that you could get your hands on one of them sooner than expected- a Diwali launch would work best.

Here is a look at the specifications of the new devices.

iPad Air 2

The latest addition to the iPad family features a 9.7 inch IPS LED-backlit multi-touch retina display (2048×1536 resolution) and 264 ppi pixel density and is powered by Apple's A8X processor with M8 motion co-processor. It runs on the iOS 8 operating system and will be offered in 16GB, 64 and 128GB internal memory options.

iPad Air 2 sports an 8 megapixel auto focus iSight camera that can record full HD videos (1080p) at 30 frames per second as well as slo-mo videos at 120fps. It also has a 1.2MP front-facing FaceTime camera that can also record HD videos (720p). The rear camera comes with five-element lens, backside illumination, and f/2.4 aperture. Additional features of the camera include time-lapse video, video image stabilisation, photo & video geotagging, panorama (up to 43MP), and burst mode, among others.

On the connectivity front, it has Bluetooth 4.0 and comes in a Wi-Fi and a Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The dimensions of the tablet are 240mm x 169.5mm x 7.5mm and it weighs 437 gm (444 gm for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model), making it 1.4mm thinner and 32 gm lighter than its predecessor. Apple claims that the tablet's battery can provide up to 10 hours of web surfing (on Wi‑Fi), video watching and music. It will be available in silver, gold and space grey colours. Also, similar to the iPhone 5S and later models, a fingerprint identity sensor has been built into the home button of the tablet.

The Wi-Fi only model is priced at Rs 35,900, Rs 42,900 and Rs 49,900 for the 16, 64, and 128GB models respectively. In comparison, the Wi-Fi + Cellular model will be available for Rs 45,900, Rs 52,900 and Rs 59,900 for the 16, 64 and 128GB models.

iPad mini 3

The iPad mini 3 features a 7.9 inch IPS LED-backlit multi-touch retina display (2048×1536 resolution) and 326 ppi pixel density and is powered by Apple's A7 processor with M7 motion coprocessor. It will run on the iOS 8 operating system and users can opt between 16, 64 and 128GB of internal memory that is non-expandable.

The device sports a 5MP auto focus iSight camera that can record full HD videos (1080p), and a 1.2MP front-facing FaceTime camera that can also record HD videos (720p). The rear camera comes with five-element lens, backside illumination, and f/2.4 aperture. On the connectivity front, it has Bluetooth 4.0 and comes in a Wi-Fi and a Wi-Fi + Cellular model.

The iPad mini 3 measures 200mm x 134.7mm x 7.5mm and weighs 331 gm (341 gm for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model). According to the company, its battery can provide up to 10 hours of web surfing (on Wi‑Fi), video watching and music. A fingerprint identity sensor has also been built into the home button of the tablet, and this one will also be available in silver, gold and space grey colours.

The Wi-Fi only model is priced at Rs 28,900, Rs 35,900 and Rs 42,900 for the 16, 64, and 128GB models respectively. In comparison, the Wi-Fi + Cellular model will be available for Rs 38,900, Rs 45,900 and Rs 52,900 for the 16, 64 and 128GB models.

Prices slashed of earlier models

The company has also slashed the prices of its earlier iPad models. The original iPad Air's Wi-Fi only model is now priced at Rs 28,900 and Rs 32,900 for the 16 and 32GB models, while its Wi-Fi + Cellular model is available for Rs 38,900 (16GB) and Rs 42,900 (32GB).

In comparison, iPad mini 2's Wi-Fi only model is priced at Rs 21,900 and Rs 25,900 for the 16 and 32GB models, while its Wi-Fi + Cellular model is now available for Rs 31,900 and Rs 35,900 for the 16 and 32GB models respectively.