iPad mini 3

iPad mini 3 was launched by Apple today, the second iPad mini to feature the retina display. It will be released next week, and will start taking pre-orders tomorrow.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MGNV2LL-Silver

It’s 12 months since the iPad mini 2 was launched, so here’s what’s new with the iPad mini 3.

It will have the new iOS 8.1, and a new 5MP iSight camera, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and MIMO support, but not 802.11ac as we got on the new iPad Air 2. But the max transfer speed is still 300 Mbps though. And it has optional 4G LTE connectivity.

Apple iPad mini 3
Apple iPad mini 3

For the first time it will also have the fingerprint identity reader Touch ID built into the home button. iPad mini 3 has the new rose gold color option as well. It retains the A7 processor and the same 7.9-inch 2048 x 1536 resolution display with 326 ppi, and all the other specifications though.

The front camera is a 1.2MP camera with FaceTime and 720p video recording. It has Bluetooth 4.0 support, with digital compass and iBeacon microlocation sensors on the Wi-Fi model, and digital compas, A-GPS and GLONASS, and iBeacon microlocation as well on the 4G LTE model. The thickness is 7.5 mm, while the weight is 331 gram.

Apple iPad mini 3
Apple iPad mini 3

iPad mini iOS 8.1
Apple iPad mini 3 prices:
iPad mini 3 Wi‑Fi only
16GB – $399
32GB – $499
64GB – $599
128GB – $699

iPad mini 3 Wi‑Fi + Cellular 4G LTE
16GB – $529
32GB – $629
64GB – $729
128GB – $829

The previous iPad mini 2 will continue to be sold, but cut to $299, while the first non-retina display iPad mini will continue to be sold as well, cut to $249.

The iPad mini was launched for $329 in October 2012.

– Tom Bowen