Apple on Tuesday announced a much-anticipated update for its iPad mini, giving the diminutive iPad a Retina display. The new iPad mini will feature a 2048×1536 display, bringing it to par with similarly-sized competitors like the Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX. At the same time, though, Apple revealed that its first-generation iPad mini would be sticking around, and available at a lower price. At the same time, Apple announced new cover options for buyers of the new iPads, including a premium leather Smart Cover.
In addition to its 2048×1536 display, the new iPad mini will have an A7 processor of the like seen in the iPad Air, which had been announced just minutes before. Apple says that the 7.9-inch device’s processor will be four times faster than its predecessor. For graphics operations, the mini will prove eight times faster than its predecessor. The new mini should also be capable of up to 10 hours of operation, similar to the first-generation model. It will feature Wi-Fi connectivity, and customers will also have an option for a cellular-enabled unit.
The first-generation iPad isn’t going away, though; Apple announced that it would be keeping the first-generation iPad around at a lower price. The older mini now drops to $299 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model, making it the lowest entry-level price for an iPad that Apple has announced. The new iPad mini, though, will sell for $399 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model. That device will become available later in November.
The iPad maker also announced new covers for both the iPad Air and the iPad mini. The new covers include a standard version that is similar to Apple’s current Smart Cover. That version will sell for $39. Apple is also making a leather version, which will sell for $79. Apple also announced a Product Red version, though the company did not specify price for that model.
