Apple iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3: Specifications, prices and UK release date. Which rumours were true?
After releasing the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 unofficially and erroneously yesterday, Apple has lifted the curtain again with far more fanfare.
We already knew what both iPads would be called and that they would feature touch ID.
With revamped cameras, boosted processing power and updated designs Apple was branding the ne iPad Air "the thinnest, most powerful iPad ever."
What the pictures didn't show is that the iPad Air 2 is 18 per cent thinner than the first iPad Air. The screen is also designed to be less reflective to allow for usage in sunlight.
As expected, the whispered-about iPad pro and a Macbook Air with retina display are left on the bench for another evening.
What else was new?
Updated hardware
The units feature updated innards, with the new A8x chip, 40 per cent faster than the one before. It's a whopping 180 per cent faster than the firts gen iPad when it comes to rendering graphics.
Camera
The iPad camera has been given a big boost. It's 8 mega-pixel and takes HD video. Apple are saying that the processor is the brains behind the pictures, and showed some impressive images.
You can also take burst mode pictures for the first time on iPad, and take time lapse and slow motion videos.
OSX Yosemite – available today
The new operating system for MacBooks and iMacs allows users to make And receive iPhone calls from their Macs. The feature works even if the phone is some distance from the computer.
Email drafts will now be synced across devices, as will Safari, allowing users to switch between devices with ease.
OS X Yosemite is the most advanced version of OS X we’ve ever built, with a brand new design, amazing Continuity features and powerful versions of the apps you use every day,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “OS X Yosemite ushers in the future of computing, where your Apple devices all work together seamlessly and magically. It’s something only Apple can do, and it’s available today.
Pricing:
- iPad Mini: $249
- iPad mini 2: $299
- iPad Mini 3: $399
- iPad Air: $399
- iPad Air 2: $499
iMac:
Apple has also released a new iMac with a new retina display, to go with the new, crisp colours of OSX Yosemite.