Apple Unveils New Updates to iPad Lineup, Including iPad Mini
A new A13 Bionic chip provides 20% faster performance.
During its September Keynote presentation on Tuesday, Apple unveiled a new iPad, iPad Mini and several new features in iPadOS.
The new iPad features a more powerful A13 Bionic chip, pushing further than last year’s A12 chip with 20% faster performance across CPU, GPU and neural engine. Additionally, with an upgraded image signal processor, the latest device’s rear camera can take higher-quality images with improved autofocus and low-light flash. The front camera enlists a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, equipped to support the recently-unveiled CenterStage, which makes video calls more engaging by automatically detecting people’s faces and adjusting the frame to focus on a given subject.
The new iPad also supports True Tone, which allows users to adjust their display to match the color temperature of a room, while also accommodating a multitude of accessories, including the recently-unveiled lineup of ultra-slim keyboards and the next-generation Apple Pencil. With iPadOS, the upcoming device offers intuitive multitasking, widgets on the home screen and systemwide note-taking, among several other updated features. Available to order today, the new iPad starts at $329 USD. The device will start at $299 USD for schools to enhance accessibility.
Apple also unveiled the redesigned iPad Mini, with a thin and light design in an array of new colors: purple, pink, starlight and space gray. With an increased screen size of 8.3 inches, the device employs a liquid retina display with 500 nits of brightness for a vivid viewing experience. Additionally, Apple moved the Touch ID button to the top of the device to maximize screen space.
The new iPad Mini supports a 40% jump in CPU performance, an 80% increase in GPU performance and a neural engine increase by up to two times more than the previous generation. The handheld device now comes with a USB-C port up to 10 times faster than older models, along with 5G capability. The back camera is comprised of a 12-megapixel sensor with focused pixels and a larger aperture, along with True Tone flash, while the front-facxing camera features the aforementioned 12-megapixel ultrawide camera in the new iPad.
The iPad Mini is available to order today, beginning at $499 USD.
Stay tuned for more updates from Apple’s September Keynote.
