Apple keynote: New iPad and iPad mini unveiled

Due to increased learning and working from home, a digital workflow has enjoyed growing popularity in recent years. Thus, the sales of iPads also experienced a growth of 40% in the last few years. Therefore, it is no wonder that Apple introduced two new devices at yesterday’s Apple Event in Cupertino.

iPad

First, Apple unveiled an update for the regular iPad lineup. The new iPad has changed only minimally compared to its predecessor. The design is the same as the previous iPad – that is, wide bezels and still a home button with TouchID on the front.

The now two-year-old A13 Bionic processor is installed, which should make the new iPad a bit faster than its predecessor with the A12 Bionic. In addition, the A13 is supposed to score with up to 20% more graphics performance. The “new” chip also improves the Neural Engine, allowing the iPad to take advantage of all the features of the new iPadOS 15 operating system.

The display hasn’t changed from its predecessor – it has a 10.2-inch Retina display with “TrueTone” technology, which is the ability to adjust the display to the color temperature of the room. And allows up to 500 nits of brightness at a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels.

New to the iPad, however, is the 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 122° field of view. The new camera enables the “CenterStage” feature, which automatically keeps people in front of the device in the center of the frame by zooming in.

Unfortunately, the new iPad does not support the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and the 8 MP rear camera could have finally used an update. Likewise, a Lightning port is still found here.

The basic version of the iPad has 64 GB of storage and is available in the colors Space Gray and Silver starting at 379€. Other versions with 256 GB of storage and LTE connectivity are also available. Pre-orders for the new iPad are available now, and it will start shipping on September 24.

iPad mini

The iPad mini has also received a new successor this year. In the spirit of “so compact you can always have it with you,” Apple has advertised the iPad mini with the everyday work of surgeons and helicopter pilots.

It is immediately apparent that the new iPad mini is meant to join the premium iPad Air and iPad Pro product families. The design resembles a “shrunken” iPad Air and clearly differs from the presented “normal” iPad. Small bezels surround the 8.3-inch display. The power button with TouchID functionality is found at the upper edge. The ultrawide selfie camera on the front is the same as the one on the new iPad. There is also a 12 MP camera with support for “Smart HDR” on the back.

Inside the iPad mini is the new A15 Bionic processor, which is also found in the new iPhones. Thus, the iPad mini is slightly more performant than the iPad Air, but certainly inferior to the iPad Pro with its M1 chip. Still, the new iPad mini is two generations superior to the new iPad in terms of processor.

Connectivity on the new iPad mini joins the iPad Pro and Air. The Lightning port has been swapped for a USB-C port and the Cellular variant has received 5G support – just like for the second-generation Apple Pencil.

Available is the new iPad mini in the colors space gray, rosé, purple and polar star starting at a price of 549€. As with the iPad, the delivery date is September 24.