iPad Air 2 & iPad Mini 3 - Full Specs, Features & Price Rundown : What was your impression today? [POLL]
As predicted, Thursday morning's Apple event centered around its iPad line of products. The tablet devices have faced a slight slip in sales over the last few business quarters, but Apple looks to get things back on track with the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
Thickness
First and foremost, the company confirmed that the newest full-sized iPad will even thinner and lighter than its predecessor. At only 6.1 millimeters, it is obvious why Apple advertised the device to be thinner than a pencil. The iPad Air 2 is 18 per enter thinner than the first tablet.
Display
In addition to upgrading the form factor, the screen is also getting an improvement. The Retina display is as sharp as ever, but the 9.7 inch display will also feature a new anti-reflective coating that will make the device 56 percent less reflective, per Apples claims. This should help the tablet's use in brighter sunlight, something that few manufacturers have managed to accomplish when it comes to the devices.
Camera
The camera of the iPad Air 2 is also getting some familiar upgrades as well. The much touted "burst" mode for taking selfies will be present, making use of the 1.2 MP front camera. Many users have also been requesting a new camera for the tablet and they are in luck. The new rear-facing camera will be 8 MP will help the iPad maintain it's place as its place as a solid point-and-shoot option.
Processor
For internals, Apple is continuing its major push for gaming on its devices, the iPad Air 2 will come equipped with the A8X chip, allowing for 64 bit graphics. The M8 motion coprocessor is also coming with this device after being used in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
The iPad Mini 3 is on the way, but consumers should not that while it is a fully-functional iPad, many of the features that are gracing the full size device are not going to be making an appearance. For instance, The rear camera will stick to 5 MP and slow-motion video is not going to be an option. Staying on lacking camera features, the burst mode will not be available nor will the anti-reflective surface on the screen. Also, the A8X chip is not going to be inside of this device, somewhat limiting its gaming potential.
Price
The iPad Air 2 and Mini 3 will be available for preorder on Oct. 17 and will go on sale on Nov. 24. The iPad Air 2 will start at $499 iPad Mini 3 will be $399 for the 16GB models.