Apple announces the iPad Air, the lightest full sized tablet in the world and the new iPad Mini 2 with Retina display

iPad Air

Apple has just announced the iPad Air with 9.7-inch Retina display and it weighs just 1 pound (453 grams). It features the new A7 64-bit processor with M7 Motion co-processor. Dual channel Wi-Fi with MIMO antenna for better reception. There's a new 5MP iSight camera alongwith an improved Facetime camera with 720p video capture. Even though the new iPad has shrunken in size it retains its excellent battery life of 10 hours of usage.

The new iPad Air will be available in Silver and Space Gray finish starting November 1st on Apple online and Apple Retail stores. The price of the new iPad remains unchanged. Its $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad Air, $599 for 32 GB, $699 for 64 GB and $799 for 128 GB. Similarly, the Wi-FI + Cellular models of the new iPad cost $629 for the 16GB variant, $729 for 32GB, $829 for 64GB and $929 for 128GB storage.

iPad Mini with Retina Display

Apple also unveiled the new iPad Mini with Retina display, this should have been the first iPad Mini. Although we'll take what Apple giveth, and this time around the new iPad Mini with Retina display is more powerful than ever with the new A7 chip with M7 Motion co-processor. It features the same 5 MP iSight camera as the iPad Air as well as the new improved FaceTime front-facing camera. Even with the new high-res display the iPad Mini still gets 10 hours of battery life in regular usage.

The iPad Mini with Retina display has been priced at $399 for 16GB variant, $499 for 32GB, $599 for 64GB and $699 for the 128GB. It too will be available in Silver and Space Gray finish upon launch.