iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air: Retina Mini goes on sale

APPLE's revamped tablet line-up, including a high-definition "Retina" iPad Mini 2 and a slimmed-down, speeded-up iPad Air, has received an enthusiastic reception from the critics - and both models are now available to buy.

The iPad Air went on sale on 1 November, but prospective buyers of the iPad Mini 2 have had to wait a little longer. The new Mini finally appeared on the Apple Store website this morning.

The delay helped to fuel speculation that the company may be experiencing supply problems with components for the new iPad Mini. Speaking to analysts a few weeks ago, Tim Cook, the company's CEO, admitted that "it's unclear whether we will have enough for the quarter or not." iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air: Retina Mini goes on sale An industry analyst recently told the Daily Telegraph that "the supply of the Retina Mini is going to be ridiculously tight in the fourth quarter."

According to tablet industry analyst Rhoda Alexander, more than 9 million customers will be chasing 4 million iPad Minis.

"Just like last year, Apple users expecting to give the new Mini as a Christmas gift may have a difficult time nabbing the tablet," reports WebProNews. It suggests that would-be gift-givers "should plan for an extended waiting period, possibly, into next year."
Overview of the new iPad models

The iPad Air, which Apple says is 20 per cent faster than its predecessor thanks to a new A7 chip, will be available in silver, white, 'space grey' and black.  It has the same 9.7-inch screen as the iPad 4, which will no longer be available.

The iPad Mini 2 also gets an A7 chip and it too now has a Retina display - Apple's term for its highest-definition screens. The previous generation of iPad Minis had less sharp displays.

Neither of the new models include Apple's fingerprint-scanning feature, Touch iD, which was introduced on the latest iPhones launched last month. Nor will they be available in the new iPhone finish of 'champagne gold', as some had predicted.
Prices

The iPad Air will cost £399 for the 16GB wi-fi model, £479 for the 32GB model, £559 for the 64GB model and £639 for the 128GB model. For each model, a 3G-enabled device for mobile access cost an extra £100.

The iPad Mini 2 starts at £319 for a 16GB wi-fi model, with prices rising to £399 for a 16GB model, £479 for 64GB and £559 for 128GB. As with its bigger brother, 3G mobile access adds £100.
First reviews

Reaction from reviewers was generally positive and occasionally downright effusive.

Ask Marc Flores of TechRadar if he thinks you should buy the iPad Air and he'll respond: "If you're in the market for a new tablet, the answer is yes. If you're even considering a new tablet, the answer is yes. Go ahead, throw your money at Apple."

Wired.co.uk explains why. "Apple has trimmed about 30 per cent off the weight and 20 per cent off the thickness of the now-renamed 10-inch iPad, and it shows - to the eye, it looks like an iPad mini; in the hand, it feels more like one."

PC Pro also liked the slimmed-down frame. "It's certainly a more attractive design than the old iPad," wrote its reviewer, "but what's most noticeable when you pick it up for the first time, is how much lighter the iPad Air is compared to its predecessor. ... It really is a massive improvement."

Writing in the Independent, Davip Phelan says the reduction in size is just as important: "It does mean that last year’s covers and cases won’t fit the new model, but that’s the only downside. The new tablet’s size is one of its triumphs. It makes it feel more comfortable in the hand."

Tellingly, there's much less comment about the increased performance of the A7 processor, perhaps because the existing model was fast enough for most people's needs. "That older model was no slouch," notes Wired, "but the iPad Air will keep things future-proof - until the future happens and Apple brings out the A8."

The main question, according to most reviewers, is which model to go for: the iPad Air or the iPad Mini 2.

"The Air may lose a few potential buyers to the iPad mini with Retina display, which will essentially be the Air in a smaller size," says Engadget. "The features, specs and performance should be roughly the same."

"The camera is better on the larger model," notes Wired, "but because the iPad mini has the same number of pixels on-screen as its bigger brother, but tighter together since the screen is smaller, the sharpness of the screen is slightly greater."
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