“The 2019 Apple iPad Air features a 10.5-inch display and is priced Rs 44,900 onward, while the iPad mini is priced Rs 34,900 onward with a Retina display”

In a move that is rather unlikely of Apple’s usually theatrical product launches, two new iPads have been added to Apple’s portfolio of tablets. The new products, the 2019 iPad Air and the 2019 iPad mini mark the return of two lines that haven’t been updated in years. The launch of the upgraded iPad mini falls in line with rumours and estimates made by analysts, while the new iPad Air will be welcomed by those who cannot do with a bit of extra bulk and do not mind paying more.

The 2019 iPad Air is certainly the more attractive among the two tablets, with a slimmer chassis that’s also compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil stylus. The slimmer of the two tablets features a 10.5-inch Retina display with screen resolution of 2,224 x 1,668 pixels. It is powered by the A12 processor, paired with options for 64GB or 256GB of native storage. Despite the slim body that weighs 453g, the iPad Air does include the audio jack, along with Touch ID fingerprint authentication, an 8MP rear camera and a 7MP front camera. Prices for the 2019 iPad Air start from Rs 44,900 for the Wi-Fi only variant, and Rs 55,900 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.

The 2019 iPad mini sees the return of one of Apple’s most popular iPads of all time, which was kept in lineup but somewhat ignored by Apple in terms of its specifications. It features a 7.9-inch display, which is of the same size as before, but is now a Retina display with 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution. It is also powered by the A12 processor, along with 64GB or 256GB of native storage. The iPad mini weighs 299g, and while it has a 3.5mm audio port, the Touch ID sensor and Apple Pencil support, there is no compatibility with the Smart Keyboard. It gets the same cameras as the new iPad Air, and is priced onward of Rs 34,900 for the Wi-Fi only variant, and Rs 45,900 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.

The launch dates for the new iPads have not been announced yet, although Apple does state that they will be available in India soon. For those who would also wish to buy the accessories, the Apple Pencil (1st generation) is priced at Rs 8,500 in India, while the Smart Keyboard is priced at Rs 3,500. A range of folio covers are also being introduced for both the iPads, which are being priced at Rs 3,500 for the iPad mini, and Rs 3,700 for the iPad Air.