The 2021 iPad series is now official, having been announced among Apple’s fall updates of products and services at its keynote event on Tuesday.
Apple unveiled its latest iPad and iPad mini, showcasing a number of new features for the tablets including the A13 Bionic chip, larger displays, updated cameras, and iPadOS 15 software support, in addition to an array of color options, and Apple Pencil support.
Both tablets are currently available for preorder with iPad starting at $329 and the iPad mini starting at $499. There is also a $299 on the iPad for students. The iPad and iPad mini will be available for sale starting next week.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 iPad series.
The new iPad is releasing with the latest iPadOS 15 software, which will come with such features as Live Text that allow for text recognition in images and photos, being able to place widgets among apps, multitask controls, and QuickNote.
Apple said the iPad already supports over one million apps and that it has seen a 40 percent growth in its app store over the past year.
The new iPad runs the A13 Bionic chip, which Apple said has a 20 percent faster CPU, GPU, and neural engine than competitor tablets. The brand claims the iPad is three times faster than Chromebooks and six times faster than Android tablets.
In particular, the chip powers the image signal processor on the new iPad, which has been updated for improved autofocus in low light. The tablet features a 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera with a 122-degree field-of-view.
It adopts the Centerstage feature from the iPad Pro, which allows the camera to focus on subjects no matter where they are in view. The function works in both landscape or portrait modes, and with Facetime and Videos apps, as well as with third-party apps, including Zoom, BlueJeans, Webex, DoubleTake, Explain Everything, and TikTok.
The camera also supports Truetone, which adjusts the display to the color temperature of a room for a more comfortable viewing experience, Apple said.
Additionally, it includes an 8-megapixel wide-angle rear camera, framing its 10.2-inch Retina display, with a TouchID sensor on the side of the other bezel.
The new iPad also supports a host of accessories, including a smart keyboard, third-party keyboards, and the first-gen Apple Pencil, as well as stereo speakers.
The tablet will be available in WiFi and Cellular models with 64GB and 256GB storage options and Space Gray and Silver color options.
The new iPad mini is releasing with an all-screen design, narrow borders, and rounded corners, and Purple, Pink, Starlight, and Space Gray color options.
With such thin bezels on its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, Apple opted to put its TouchID on the side panel.
The tablet also features an A13 Bionic chip, with a 40 percent faster CPU, 80 percent Faster GPU, and two times faster neural engine, Apple said. It also supports USB-C for 10 times faster data transfer, and 5G connectivity for 3.5 Gbps download speeds.
The new iPad mini features a 12-megapixel wide-angle rear camera with Truetone Flash and 4K recording. Its 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera also features Centerstage.
The design of the tablet also allows for stereo in landscape mode.
Accessories for the new iPad mini include the 2nd gen Apple Pencil and folio covers that complement the available colors.
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