Apple Announces iPad Mini 3

[Maura]

It may have been the world’s worst-kept secret but at least now it’s official, with Apple finally announcing today that it will be releasing the iPad mini 3 alongside the iPad Air 2.

As Engadget notes, due to various leaks, there were few, if any, surprises for Apple to announce about the forthcoming iPad mini 3, which retains the same A7 processor as last year, and the same 5-megapixel iSight camera.

As far as any notable additions to Apple’s smallest tablet, Apple announced that Touch ID would indeed be coming to the latest model, as had been widely rumoured. Also new to the range is a very smart-looking gold-coloured model, bringing the iPad mini range into line with that of the iPhone, with gold, silver and space gray metallic finishes to choose from.

As far as availability is concerned, the iPad Mini 3, along with the iPad Air 2, will be available to pre-order in the following 29 countries from Friday, October 17, for launch sometime next week:

US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau (Wi-Fi models only), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

The new iPads will be available in Croatia, Greece, Puerto Rico, Russia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and other countries still to be announced later in the year.

Here’s all the pricing details for both iPads directly from Apple:

iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi models will be available for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 64GB model and $699 (US) for the 128GB model. iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi + Cellular models will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 64GB model and $829 (US) for the 128GB model. iPad mini 3 with Wi-Fi models will be available for a suggested retail price of $399 (US) for the 16GB model, $499 (US) for the 64GB model and $599 (US) for the 128GB model. iPad mini 3 with Wi-Fi + Cellular models will be available for a suggested retail price of $529 (US) for the 16GB model, $629 (US) for the 64GB model and $729 (US) for the 128GB model.

iPad Air, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini, available in silver or space gray, are offered at now more affordable prices. iPad Air starts at $399 (US) for the 16GB with Wi-Fi model, iPad mini 2 starts at $299 (US) for the 16GB with Wi-Fi model, and iPad mini starts at $249 (US) for the 16GB with Wi-Fi model.

Sources: Apple, http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/16/apple-ipad-mini-3-official/

 

[DrumsOfGrohl]

Other than the touch ID, is there any real benefit to the Mini 3?