When can I buy the new iPad Air? Networks, price, specs and features of Apple ... - Mirror.co.uk

 

The iPad Air has impressed the technology world, with Apple's latest iPad weighing just one pound.

As well as the light-weight full-size tablet, Apple have also announced the newest iPad mini, which comes with a retina display.

They are being put up for sale in time for the Christmas rush - and eager Apple fans are sure to be desperate to get their hands on the hottest gadget of the season.

But an overload of information can become confusing, so here we look at the essential information about the iPad Air.

When do the iPads go on sale?

You can buy the iPad Air on November 1 from 8am.

The iPad mini with retina display will go on sale "later in November," although the exact date has not been released yet.

You will not be able to pre-order either of the devices, so you'll just have to wait until the release date.

How much do they cost?

The cheapest iPad Air you can get will be the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, which will cost £399. The prices increase until you hit 128GB, which costs £639.

Adding 3G capability will cost you £100, so those models range in price from £499 to £739.

As for the iPad mini with retina display, prices start at £319 for the 16GB Wi-fi only model. The 128GB Wi-fi only model costs £559.

If you want 3G capability, you need to fork out an extra £100 - so prices range from £419 to £659.

What networks are available?

Three and Vodafone have confirmed that they will both have the iPad Air and new iPad mini on their books, but have yet to give any details on price.

EE has said that it will offer both tablets on its 4G LTE network, as well as on its 3G-only networks Orange and T-Mobile.

What is different about the iPad Air?

An updated version of the iPad 4, the fifth-generation model is a lighter, thinner and faster version of the current model.

It has a 9.7 inch retina display, the same as the previous model, but the screen is bigger because of bezels which are 43% thinner than the iPad 4.

Impressively, it weighs just one pound - prompting the new name.

Like the iPhone 5S, it features Apple's 64-bit A7 processor chip, making it run an amazing 72 times faster than the original iPad.

What about the new iPad mini?

Its 7.9 inch screen has been upgraded to feature 2048 x1536 pixels, known as the retina display.

Like the iPad Air, it has a seriously beefed up insides, with the A7 chip and M7 motion processor.

It comes in silver, white, space grey and black.

What has the reaction been?

Apple fans were disappointed that neither of the new iPads featured the gold colour scheme or Touch ID fingerprint scanner of the iPhone 5S.

However, experts were less surprised. Luke Peters, of T3, said: "the lack of Touch ID will disappoint some, but it was always an outside bet for an increasingly conservative Apple."

He added: "Apple has taken pains to avoid disrupting a winning strategy.

"From the product positioning statement and a smattering of competitor putdowns, through the Mavericks and free-pricing detail to the big iPad(s) reveal, this launch was classic Apple."

Dan Silver said: "The iPad Air is a beautiful thing: thinner, lighter and boasting less bezel than its already svelte predecessor - it's so light users could find themselves concerned it will float off their coffee table."