Pretty much everyone expected new iPads during Apple's press event today, but few may have anticipated a name change to accent the new tablet's thinner bezel. Weighing in at just one pound and measuring only 7.5mm thick, Apple says the iPad Air is the "lightest full-size tablet" on the market.
Inside the 9.7-inch device is a 64-bit A7 processor and an M7 motion co-processor. Apple has promised 8x faster performance, 72x faster graphics performance, and the ability to open files twice as fast when compared to previous iPad models. WiFi is also twice as fast with a 802.11n standard using MIMO. Battery life is estimated to be 10 hours, consistent with the previous version of the iPad and the new iPad mini with Retina Display.
Also improved is the rear camera, which is now a 5MP iSight camera, and the front facing camera, which is now a FaceTime HD camera with larger pixels. The iPad Air also offers improved backside illumination and dual microphones.
The iPad Air will be available in silver/white or space gray/black when it launches around much of the world on November 1. It takes the place of the existing iPad, with prices starting at $499 for the WiFi-only, 16GB model, and $629 for the cellular-enabled 16GB version. The iPad 2, meanwhile, remains $399 for the 16GB WiFi model.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.
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Inside the 9.7-inch device is a 64-bit A7 processor and an M7 motion co-processor. Apple has promised 8x faster performance, 72x faster graphics performance, and the ability to open files twice as fast when compared to previous iPad models. WiFi is also twice as fast with a 802.11n standard using MIMO. Battery life is estimated to be 10 hours, consistent with the previous version of the iPad and the new iPad mini with Retina Display.
Also improved is the rear camera, which is now a 5MP iSight camera, and the front facing camera, which is now a FaceTime HD camera with larger pixels. The iPad Air also offers improved backside illumination and dual microphones.
The iPad Air will be available in silver/white or space gray/black when it launches around much of the world on November 1. It takes the place of the existing iPad, with prices starting at $499 for the WiFi-only, 16GB model, and $629 for the cellular-enabled 16GB version. The iPad 2, meanwhile, remains $399 for the 16GB WiFi model.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.
More...
