Apple's online store begins taking preorders for iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3
Ahead of next week's launch, Apple's online store on Friday began taking presales of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, its new Touch ID-equipped tablets being introduced for the holiday shopping season.
The company's store went offline early Friday morning, and returned after a downtime of more than three hours. The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 do not have a specific launch date, though the store advertises that new orders will ship in two to four business days.
The iPad Air 2 starts at $499, while the iPad mini 3 has an entry price of $399.
The highlight of this year's update is clearly the iPad Air 2, which features an 18 percent thinner design, an anti-reflective laminated display, improved cameras, and a beefed up A8X processor. AppleInsider went hands-on with the iPad Air 2 on Thursday and were impressed by the 6.1-millimeter-thick device, which is even thinner than the new iPhone 6.
Both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 have also been outfitted with Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensing home button. This will allow users to bypass lock screen passwords on their tablet, download iTunes and App Store purchases without entering an Apple ID password, access secure third-party apps, and also verify online purchases with Apple Pay.
And the new iPads are also available in a gold color option, and capacities of 16, 64, and 128 gigabytes at $100 tiers. LTE-capable models carry a $130 premium.
The 7.9-inch iPad mini 3, meanwhile, features the same design as its predecessor, and also includes the same A7 CPU. Aside from Touch ID and a new gold color option, it's unchanged from the 2013 model, which is still available for $100 less.
The company's store went offline early Friday morning, and returned after a downtime of more than three hours. The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 do not have a specific launch date, though the store advertises that new orders will ship in two to four business days.
The iPad Air 2 starts at $499, while the iPad mini 3 has an entry price of $399.
The highlight of this year's update is clearly the iPad Air 2, which features an 18 percent thinner design, an anti-reflective laminated display, improved cameras, and a beefed up A8X processor. AppleInsider went hands-on with the iPad Air 2 on Thursday and were impressed by the 6.1-millimeter-thick device, which is even thinner than the new iPhone 6.
Both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 have also been outfitted with Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensing home button. This will allow users to bypass lock screen passwords on their tablet, download iTunes and App Store purchases without entering an Apple ID password, access secure third-party apps, and also verify online purchases with Apple Pay.
And the new iPads are also available in a gold color option, and capacities of 16, 64, and 128 gigabytes at $100 tiers. LTE-capable models carry a $130 premium.
The 7.9-inch iPad mini 3, meanwhile, features the same design as its predecessor, and also includes the same A7 CPU. Aside from Touch ID and a new gold color option, it's unchanged from the 2013 model, which is still available for $100 less.
Comments
IPad Air 2
Space Grey
64 GB
Wifi
40% more snappiness.
Done.
iPad Air 2.
Space Grey.
128 GB
WIFI
75% more happiness and 92% more awesomeness
Completed.
iPad Mini 3
Space Grey
16 GB
WIFI
100% easier with LastPass
iPad Air 2
Silver
128 GB
Cellular
Estimated shipping date: 23 - 24 Oct
Every major component (including the screen) upgraded, CPU 40%, GPU 250% increase in processing power and yet all over the web including pro-apple websites saying it's boring and nothing major has changed? Yes, I am buying the same silver back, white bezel and 9.7" form factor IPAD and these are the only things that didn't change.
People are expecting a new triangle iPad? IPad that projects 3D hologram?
Price dropped for my configuration. Upgrading from Ipad Air and thought that the upgrade was worth every penny. A very happy customer I am.
My 128Gb Silver iPad Air 2 (wifi & cell) is confirmed for 2-4 day shipping with delivery by Oct 29-31st (west coast).
Won't you miss the GPS tagging of photos now that you didn't get the cellular version? Or are you wise enough to not take photos with an iPad to begin with - that would be what I expect.
Gold 64GB Wifi + Cellular Air 2 w/ AppleCare+
My 128Gb Silver iPad Air 2 (wifi & cell) is confirmed for 2-4 day shipping with delivery by Oct 29-31st (west coast).
Interesting. My iPad Air 2 is due to be delivered Oct 22-24, east coast here.
Are the shipping times already getting delayed due to demand?
Ordered.
IPad Air 2
Space Grey
64 GB
Wifi
40% more snappiness.
Same. Ordered at 11:10. Expected delivery 10/22-10/23
Mine is Oct 23-27.
I'm in So Cal and my 2-4 shipping means it should arrive Oct. 22-24. Did you get a different delivery date?
Space Gray 64GB Air 2 for me. Delivery is the 24-27. Hopefully sooner.
This does puzzle me. IPad Air2 is a massive update but nobody seems willing to acknowledge that fact.
I acknowledge it! It's a huge update! Anybody who claims otherwise simply doesn't know what they're talking about and is totally clueless.
The A8X chip seems to be a beast! And the A8 motion sensor seems to be cool too. 40% faster CPU! 2.5x faster graphics! How in the hell is that minor?
What else has been improved or is brand new?
Improved camera (both front & back) plus many camera features from the iPhone like slow mo, burst mode, time lapse and panorama.
Super thin(thinnest tablet in the world!, thinner than an iPhone 6) and super light, less than a damn pound!
Improved display, which is now optically bonded, which means no more gaps, just like on the iPhone. This is the first time that such a display is available for iPad. And it now has the best anti-reflective coating found on any tablet!
Touch ID and ?Pay! 'nuff said!
Faster WIFI!
Anybody who claims that this is not a great update must either be a Fandroid or they must be broke and can't afford one.
It was a major update, with nearly all aspects seeing major redesigns and improvements.
Killer value for $500
Really surprised by the sites saying Apple didn't nail it with the new iPads.
It was a major update, with nearly all aspects seeing major redesigns and improvements.
Killer value for $500
Some people are complaining about the iPad Mini 3, which I can understand, since the only new thing on that is gold and touch ID.
However, I've always felt that last year's iPad Mini should never have been equal to the iPad Air in terms of specs. And I didn't like that it was $100 cheaper than the Air, so I'm glad that Apple changed their strategy this year.
Some people may have been disappointed by the iPad Mini 3 this year, but the iPad Air 2 is killer!
Either that, or it's personal.
Waiting to order.
IPad Air 2
Space Grey
64 GB
Wifi
Dark grey smart cover
150% more snappiness than my old iPad 2 (I presume).
Owning an Air, I'm very tempted to upgrade. Waiting for the Anandtech review, but the Air 2 does address every complaint I have with the Air apart from the storage.
150% more snappiness than my old iPad 2 (I presume).