Just an hour ago the keynote led by Tim, Phill and Craig ended where the main novelties have been related to the operating systems of the Big Apple, the iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 3, the Mac Mini and the surprising iMac with a 5K screen (a brutal resolution). In this post we will analyze all the news for the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. In the second generation of the iPad Air there are many more novelties than in the third of the iPad Mini, which is almost the same as the iPad Mini with a retina screen, something that I have found inappropriate by Apple.
iPad Air 2, the thinnest and lightest tablet on the market and also… with Touch ID
We begin the analysis of the new main tablet from Apple: the iPad Air 2, let's go little by little:
- Design: The design has been one of the strengths of this second generation of iPad Air since the thickness has been reduced to 6,1mm making it the thinnest tablet on the market. In addition, it weighs only 437 grams, And it comes in three colors: space gray, gold, and silver, just like the iPhone 6.
- Display: The display is still a 9,7-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536, with more than 3 million pixels. In addition, it has been coated with an anti-reflective layer that reduces glare by 56%, it will prevent light from being reflected.
- A8X chip: If the iPhone 6 had an A8 chip, the iPad Air 2 has an improved chip called A8X, with 64-bit architecture and also, with the motion coprocessor M8, Compared to the previous chip, this one is 12 times faster than the original iPad (CPU) and 180 times faster when it comes to graphics. If we compare it with the A7 chip, it is 40% faster and is 2,5 times faster in terms of graphics.
- Battery: The battery continues to last 10 hours (or so they promise) even though its thickness is less and there is less space to insert the battery.
- M8 coprocessor: Thanks to this coprocessor we can have GPS, barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer and compass. All-in-one.
- Touch ID: At last we have the fingerprint sensor on the iPad Air 2, with which we can make online purchases through Apple Pay, download apps, unlock our terminal ...
- Front camera: 8 megapixel camera (iSight) that takes photos with a resolution of 2364 x 2448 and records in 1080p. A new image sensor has been included that makes You can record in slow motion and take photos with Burst mode.
- Front camera (FaceTime): It maintains the megapixels of the first generation of the Air but widens its diaphragm aperture to f 2.2, that lets in 80% more light.
- Microphones: It has two microphones that make the sound we record (broadcast) clearer, that is, without noise.
- Connections: The Wi-Fi connection is almost 3 times faster than in the first generation and the version with 3G / 4G supports up to 20 LTE bands and increases its speed by 50%.
- Prices: With Wi-Fi: 16GB (€ 489), 64GB (€ 589) and 128GB (€ 689); with data (3G / 4G): 16GB (€ 609), 64GB (€ 709) and 128GB (€ 809).
iPad Mini 3, a third generation with very little news
Exactly, I thought that iPad Mini 3 It would bring more news than what it brought at the end, really, It is as if we bought a Mini with a retina screen, to which Touch ID is added.
- Design: 7,9-inch retina display with 3 million pixels and a resolution of 2048 x 1536 and a density of 326 pixels per inch. Three colors: space gray, silver and gold.
- Touch ID: Like the iPad Air 2, it brings the biometric fingerprint sensor with which we can unlock the screen, buy apps ... And even buy with Apple Pay.
- A7 chip: The same chip as the previous generation an A7 chip with 64 bits and the M7 motion coprocessor, Why a faster A7X version, Apple? The autonomy is maintained in 10 hours.
- Chambers: The 1,2 megapixel front with HD recording (720p) and the rear, the same as in the previous generation, 5 megapixel (iSight) with a 2.4 aperture
- Prices: With Wi-Fi: 16GB (€ 389), 64GB (€ 489) and 128GB (€ 589); Data (3G / 4G): 16GB (€ 509), 64GB (€ 609) and 128GB (€ 709)
- iPadMini2: The iPad Mini 2 continues to sell starting at 289 euros
- iPad Mini: And of course, the original iPad mini is still selling for 239 euros as well.