Apple’s online store went down earlier today, and when it came back up Apple had released a new $499 iPad Air with an A12 Bionic processor and a 10.5-inch display, as well as a fifth-generation iPad mini. Both new tablets boast Apple Pencil support.
2019 iPad Air
The new iPad Air, is Apple’s latest version of their “budget” iPad model. The iPad Air retains Touch ID and has received a specifications bump, including an A12 Bionic chip and a 10.5-inch screen.
The seventh-gen tablet is a replacement for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro (that device is no longer available on the site), and starts at $499 for a 64GB Wi-Fi only version, (or $629 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model). A 256 GB version is also available.
The new iPad Air retains Touch ID for biometric authentication, and sticks with the traditional Lightning port for charging and data transfer, eschewing the USB-C port used in the iPad Pro lineup. 2019 iPad Air performance should be impressive, with the tablet receiving a bump up from the A10 Fusion to the A12 Bionic processor.
The 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is hanging around for awhile longer. The headphone jack has slowly been disappearing from Apple’s mobile devices, and hasn’t been available on iPhones since 2016, and was removed from the iPad Pro in 2018.
The ability to use an Apple Pencil with the Air comes along for the ride. The new tablet supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, rather than the second-generation stylus.
Camera capability stands pat on the 2019 iPad Air, with a rear 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p video capture. The front-facing camera is the usual FaceTime HD camera. Battery life is claimed at approximately 10 hours of use.
The 2019 iPad Air is available in silver, gold, and space gray finishes, and is expected to hit shelves and begin arriving to customers’ doorsteps later this week.
For more information, visit the Apple website.
5th-Generation iPad mini
The new, fifth-generation iPad mini delivers “three times the performance and nine times faster graphics,” thanks to the A12 Bionic chip that powers the new tablet. The device’s 7.9-inch Retina display is laminated and offers True Tone technology and wide color support, and is 25% brighter, boasting the highest pixel-density of any iPad at 326 DPI.
The new tablet has also gained first-generation Apple Pencil support. The send-generation Apple Pencil is not compatible with the new mini.
The new iPad mini is available in silver, space gray and gold finishes in 64GB and 256GB configurations. The new iPad mini starts at $399 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $529 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model from apple.com, in the Apple Store app and Apple Stores, and is also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
