Wednesday, Sep 15, 2021, 22:16
iOS: Hardware
New iPad & iPad mini Shown During Apple's California Streaming Event
Apple Updates The Base iPad…
The basic 10.2” iPad lies at the bottom end of Apple’s iPad portfolio, as opposed to the smaller iPad “mini”, the middle spectrum iPad “Air”, and the top tier iPad “Pro”. Yesterday's announced hardware update gifts the base iPad a faster processor, whilst also making improvements to a few other areas. Whereas the iPad was earlier equipped with an A12 chip, it now has an A13 Bionic – and Apple promises at least 20% more performance. Photo quality is also increasing thanks to the A13 chip, which possesses the appropriate hardware to support image enhancement and an increased resolution. “Center Stage” will now also be supported on the iPad, unlike the Apple Pencil 2 which is only compatible with the more expensive series in the iPad lineup.
The basic configuration iPad will still offer 64 GB, however, the 128 GB upgrade option has been removed and only the 256 GB configuration remains for those in need of more storage space. This also means that the only option with more than 64 GB of storage now costs more as well. Previously, an option with 128 GB was purchasable for just US$100 more than the base configuration, which costs US$329. The current basic 256 GB option costs US$479 – so US$50 more.
…& The Event Brings An Update To The iPad mini:
Apple has been promising to provide the iPad mini with some much-needed love since the release of the first series, and now Cupertino has finally delivered. A quick look at the new iPad mini already reveals a few changes – the edges have shrunk in size, whereas the display surface has increased. Apple has also adopted the same “flattened edges” design language seen in the other upper-tier iPads. However, the smallest iPad still remains just as compact as its direct predecessor. It possesses Touch ID for convenient verification and the CPU and GPU performance have increased by +40% and a whopping +80% respectively. The mini is equipped with the same A15 chip used in the iPhone 13 Pro – meaning the variant with 5 GPU cores.
Cellular Capabilities, USB-C, & Apple Pencil Compatibility
The new iPad mini with WiFi + cellular is 5G capable and Apple has chosen USB-C as the connection port for all models. Unlike in the case of the basic iPad, the Apple mini is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which is magnetically attachable to the side of the device. Both the rear and front cameras have a resolution of 12 megapixels and the device’s built-in stereo speakers now offer better audio quality in landscape mode. The entry price is US$599 (a US$100 price raise) and, as usual, there are two main configuration options – WiFi and WiFi + cellular.
The basic 10.2” iPad lies at the bottom end of Apple’s iPad portfolio, as opposed to the smaller iPad “mini”, the middle spectrum iPad “Air”, and the top tier iPad “Pro”. Yesterday's announced hardware update gifts the base iPad a faster processor, whilst also making improvements to a few other areas. Whereas the iPad was earlier equipped with an A12 chip, it now has an A13 Bionic – and Apple promises at least 20% more performance. Photo quality is also increasing thanks to the A13 chip, which possesses the appropriate hardware to support image enhancement and an increased resolution. “Center Stage” will now also be supported on the iPad, unlike the Apple Pencil 2 which is only compatible with the more expensive series in the iPad lineup.
The basic configuration iPad will still offer 64 GB, however, the 128 GB upgrade option has been removed and only the 256 GB configuration remains for those in need of more storage space. This also means that the only option with more than 64 GB of storage now costs more as well. Previously, an option with 128 GB was purchasable for just US$100 more than the base configuration, which costs US$329. The current basic 256 GB option costs US$479 – so US$50 more.
| iPad | |
|---|---|
| 64 GB WiFi | US$329 |
| 64 GB WiFi + LTE | US$459 |
| 256 GB WiFi | US$479 |
| 256 GB WiFi + LTE | US$609 |
…& The Event Brings An Update To The iPad mini:
Apple has been promising to provide the iPad mini with some much-needed love since the release of the first series, and now Cupertino has finally delivered. A quick look at the new iPad mini already reveals a few changes – the edges have shrunk in size, whereas the display surface has increased. Apple has also adopted the same “flattened edges” design language seen in the other upper-tier iPads. However, the smallest iPad still remains just as compact as its direct predecessor. It possesses Touch ID for convenient verification and the CPU and GPU performance have increased by +40% and a whopping +80% respectively. The mini is equipped with the same A15 chip used in the iPhone 13 Pro – meaning the variant with 5 GPU cores.
Cellular Capabilities, USB-C, & Apple Pencil Compatibility
The new iPad mini with WiFi + cellular is 5G capable and Apple has chosen USB-C as the connection port for all models. Unlike in the case of the basic iPad, the Apple mini is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which is magnetically attachable to the side of the device. Both the rear and front cameras have a resolution of 12 megapixels and the device’s built-in stereo speakers now offer better audio quality in landscape mode. The entry price is US$599 (a US$100 price raise) and, as usual, there are two main configuration options – WiFi and WiFi + cellular.
| iPad mini | |
|---|---|
| 64 GB WiFi | US$599 |
| 64 GB WiFi + 5G | US$729 |
| 256 GB WiFi | US$749 |
| 256 GB WiFi + 5G | US$879 |
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