Today marks the announcement of the new lineup of Apple’s iPad tablets. The major focus was on the updated iPad Air 2 but a third version of the iPad Mini was also released. There were not many surprises as a number of the features were leaked by accident just yesterday in a user manual that was posted to Apple’s own website. The iPad Air 2 did receive a number of internal changes as well that were not leaked but the Mini 3 seems to have been left behind almost intentionally. Find out how one changed and the other remained pretty much the same.
iPad Air 2
Apple has one again shrunk what was already an incredibly thin tablet just as they did with their iPhone 6. Don’t be surprised if people start testing how hard it is to bend the iPad Air 2 because now it just measures .24-inches thick. This even eclipses the just announced Google Nexus 9 by a noticeable difference.
Below are the specs of the Air 2 versus the original Air:
| iPad Air 2 | iPad Air | |
| Processor | Apple A8X (???GHz Dual Core) | Apple A7 (1.4GHz Dual Core) |
| Memory | ???GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 16/64/128GB | 16/32/64/128GB |
| Display | 9.7″ 2048×1536 | 9.7″ 2048×1536 |
| Front Camera | 1.2 MP | 1.2MP |
| Rear Camera | 8MP | 5MP |
| Network | 802.11ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 | 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Esimated Battery Life (video) | 10 hours | 12 hours (tested) |
| Dimensions | 9″ x 6.05″ x .24″ | 9.4″ x 6.6″ x .29″ |
| Weight | .96 lbs | 1 lbs |
| Price (16GB) | $499 | $399 |
Of course the iPad Air 2 received the new A8 processor that was found in the iPhone 6 but this time around it is getting an A8X version that is supposedly faster than the iPhone 6. When the iPad Air originally released, it featured the same A7 processor as the iPhone 5S so it had very little difference in performance. Apple did not state how the A8 and A8X actually differ in clock speeds or other features so we have to wait till people actually have the tablets to get a sense at how much faster it really is.
The other undisclosed feature was an update to the screen that played a major role in the reduction of its thickness. Apple still uses the same resolution panel as the iPad Air but it uses a new bonding process and filter on the screen to provide it with a greater level of reduction in glare. As the iPad 2 screen already had some of the best color, this is great news as it should even surpass the past version when being used outdoors or in other areas with glare.
With the TouchID sensor, the iPad Air also received an update to its connectivity with support for the faster 802.11ac that was missing when the Air originally launched. They did not state if it has the NFC in it for the Apple Pay service like the iPhone 6. Of course swiping a tablet against a pay terminal is a bit harder to do than a smartphone.
Finally, Apple has updated the rear camera sensor on the iPad Air 2 to a full 8MP sensor over the previous 5MP. In addition to the higher pixel count for detail, the Air 2 gets additional camera features from the faster processor. This includes support for large panoramas, slow motion footage and burst mode shooting.
Pricing remains the same but as with the iPhone 6 release, the storage amounts at the different price points has increased. The base model still features just 16GB of space but the next tier is 64GB instead of 32GB and finally 128GB instead of 64GB. Those that don’t mind the lack of the TouchID, higher resolution image sensor, thinner profile and improved screen can pick up the previous Air for $just $399 for the 16GB version and $449 for the 32GB version.
iPad Mini 3
While there was a lot of focus on the iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 3 was almost a footnote during their presentation essentially getting a couple of slides and no real details about how it has been changed. Frankly, this is because not a lot has changed. Sure, its received some updates like the iPad Air 2 such as the TouchID sensor but that is about it. This is probably because Apple felt that the iPad Mini 2 ended up cutting into too many sales of the iPad Air because they were so similar in features and performance. Now with the updates to the Air 2, there is more distinction between the products.
Here are the specs that Apple lists for both versions of the iPad Mini:
| iPad Mini 3 | iPad Mini 2 | |
| Processor | Apple A7 (???GHz Dual Core) | Apple A7 (1.3GHz Dual Core) |
| Memory | 1GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 16/64/128GB | 16/32/64GB |
| Display | 7.9″ 2048×1536 | 7.9″ 2048×1536 |
| Front Camera | 1.2 MP | 1.2MP |
| Rear Camera | 5MP | 5MP |
| Network | 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 | 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Esimated Battery Life (video) | 10 hours | 12.5 hours (tested) |
| Dimensions | 7.87″ x 5.3″ x .29″ | 7.87″ x 5.3″ x .29″ |
| Weight | .73 lbs | .73 lbs |
| Price (16GB) | $299 | $399 |
As you can see, there really hasn’t been any change other than the addition of the TouchID as the rest of the stats have remained the same. The only difference here is that the storage options have changed. While the Mini 2 came in 16, 32, 64GB versions, the Mini 3 features 16, 64 and 128GB. So, the new iPad Mini 3 at $499 has twice the storage of the iPad Mini 2 did when it was released.
If you have an iPad Mini 2, there is essentially no reason to upgrade as performance wise there is no difference. The addition of the TouchID and the extra storage space for less than last year is useful for those who don’t already have the Mini 2 but it was a disappointing update all around. Oh, you can also get it in gold now rather than just space grey or white.
Why Carry the iPad Mini?
One of the big surprises of the event is the fact that Apple is still continuing to carry the now archaic iPad Mini. Essentially a scaled down iPad 2, this device is running on technology now several years old. Sure, the price is very affordable at $249 but for the 16GB of the Mini 2 at $299 is totally worth the cost difference. For that extra $50, you get a retina screen, better performance and wireless. So, avoid the iPad Mini unless there is no way you can afford more and you have to get an iPad.