Apple Refreshes the iPad mini and Introduces the 10.5-inch iPad Air

I am so wrong. I did not see it coming like this. Apple has caught me by surprise on this announcement. Of course, there is tell-tale sign like the Apple Store was down for “maintenance” which usually indicates that they are preparing something new into the store.

Let me explain. Just a day ago, I talked about the up coming event by Apple and speculated on the products that they are going to launch.

I thought they will announce a new 9.7-inch iPad Air amongst other things during that event. Today, they just dropped a Press Release to mention that they have released the all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air and refreshes the 7.9-inch iPad mini. What!?

What’s interesting about these two products? The iPad mini is an upgrade to the old one and the 10.5-inch iPad Air is like the “between” version of the 9.7-inch iPad and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Both are supporting the Apple Pencil now. And both have cellular versions using eSIM.

Here are the Singapore Pricing and Availability

• The new iPad mini and iPad Air come in silver, space grey and gold finishes in 64GB and 256GB configurations. The new iPad mini starts at S$599 for the Wi-Fi model and S$799 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model and the 10.5-inch iPad Air starts at S$749 for the Wi-Fi model and S$949 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model from apple.com/sg, in the Apple Store® app and Apple Stores, and is also available through Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
• The new iPad models are available to order starting today from apple.com/sg and in the Apple Store app.

Read the Press Release below for more information.

Press Release

All-New iPad Air and iPad mini Deliver Dramatic Power and Capability

10.5-Inch iPad Air Offers High-End Features and Performance at a Breakthrough Price

7.9-Inch iPad mini Brings Apple Pencil Support, Advanced Retina Display and the A12 Bionic Chip to a Beloved Design

Cupertino, California — March 18, 2019 — Apple® today introduced the all-new iPad Air® in an ultra-thin 10.5-inch design, offering the latest innovations including Apple Pencil®¹ support and high-end performance at a breakthrough price. With the A12 Bionic chip with Apple’s Neural Engine, the new iPad Air delivers a 70 percent boost in performance and twice the graphics capability, and the advanced Retina® display with True Tone® technology is nearly 20 percent larger with over half a million more pixels.²

Apple today also introduced the new 7.9-inch iPad mini®, a major upgrade for iPad mini fans who love a compact, ultra-portable design packed with the latest technology. With the A12 Bionic chip, the new iPad mini is a powerful multi-tasking machine, delivering three times the performance and nine times faster graphics.³ The advanced Retina display with True Tone technology and wide colour support is 25 percent brighter³ and has the highest pixel density of any iPad®, delivering an immersive visual experience in any setting. And with Apple Pencil¹ support, the new iPad mini is the perfect take-anywhere notepad for sketching and jotting down thoughts on the go. The new iPads are available to order starting today and in stores next week.

“The iPad continues to provide magical new experiences for a growing range of uses where it is the absolute best device, from playing games in augmented reality to note-taking and drawing with Apple Pencil, from streaming HD movies and editing 4K films to learning to develop apps with Swift Playgrounds,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Today the iPad family takes two big leaps forward with an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air that brings high-end size, features and performance at a breakthrough price, and a major upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which also brings Apple Pencil, Retina display and the A12 Bionic chip to the many customers that love its compact size.”

Apple Pencil and iPad — The Perfect Pair

Apple Pencil opens up new creativity and productivity possibilities for iPad mini and iPad Air users, from drawing and writing down thoughts to marking up documents and retouching photos. The must-have tool among students, professionals and creatives delivers a remarkably fluid and natural drawing experience and provides pixel-perfect accuracy and low latency for activities within popular apps including Procreate, Notability, Pixelmator Photo (coming soon) and Microsoft Office.

Power Meets Portability with the A12 Bionic Chip

The Apple-designed Neural Engine of the A12 Bionic chip powers the next generation of apps and iPad workflows using advanced machine learning and Core ML® for engaging AR experiences, photo-realistic effects in 3D games and stunning graphics performance within apps. 

Staying connected is now easier and faster with iPad mini and iPad Air, featuring the same great Wi-Fi performance and Gigabit‑class LTE connectivity⁴ built into the most advanced iPad Pro models. With eSIM technology built in, users can easily connect to wireless data plans right from iPad when traveling in more than 180 countries around the world.⁵

Advanced Cameras for Stunning Photos and Videos 

With advanced front- and back-facing cameras, iPad mini and iPad Air take gorgeous photos and capture clear and stable 1080p HD videos. The upgraded cameras with exceptional low-light performance and HD video recording are great for document scanning and connecting with friends and family on Group FaceTime® calls, and with advanced sensors, help enable immersive AR experiences.

More Than a Million Apps Just for iPad

The App Store® is the best place to discover more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for iPad — from journaling with Apple Pencil to managing schedules and finances, editing photos, learning, connecting with friends and family, and playing games. Unlike stretched-out phone apps on other platforms, apps designed for iPad run and look great on every iPad.

iOS on iPad

iPad Air and iPad mini are perfect for staying productive on the go with iOS, helping users get things done faster with features like Siri® Shortcuts, photo search and Voice Memos. The Dock provides quick access to frequently used apps and documents from any screen, and multitasking is easy with Split View and Slide Over. Drag and Drop makes moving images, text and files between apps easier than ever, and managing documents in the Files app is seamless and easy on iPad and across Apple devices.

Apple today announced an upcoming update to iWork® for iOS, available next week, with enhanced integration of Apple Pencil including new animation options in Keynote® that let users draw an animation path for any object, and an all-new user interface that enables easy implementation of build effects, including move, rotate and scale.

The Best, Most Complete iPad Lineup Ever

The new iPad Air and iPad mini join the most affordable 9.7-inch iPad and the most advanced iPad Pro® models, offering the best, most innovative iPad lineup ever. The complete lineup now includes Apple Pencil support, best-in-class performance, advanced displays and all-day battery life⁶ for an experience unmatched by any other device. Whether customers prioritize portability, screen size, power or price, there’s an iPad for everyone. Learn more about the iPad family at apple.com/sg/ipad/compare.

Pricing and Availability

• The new iPad mini and iPad Air come in silver, space grey and gold finishes in 64GB and 256GB configurations. The new iPad mini starts at S$599 for the Wi-Fi model and S$799 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model and the 10.5-inch iPad Air starts at S$749 for the Wi-Fi model and S$949 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model from apple.com/sg, in the Apple Store® app and Apple Stores, and is also available through Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
• The new iPad models are available to order starting today from apple.com/sg and in the Apple Store app in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, UK and US. Starting next week, the new iPad models will be available in those countries and regions, as well as in China (Wi-Fi models only), Macau (Wi-Fi models only) and Mexico with more countries and regions to follow soon, including Colombia, Greece, India, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand (Wi-Fi models only)and Turkey. 
• Apple Pencil (1st generation) is available for purchase separately for S$138. The Smart Keyboard™ for the 10.5-inch iPad Air is available for purchase separately for S$248 with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
• Polyurethane Smart Covers® are available for S$59 for iPad mini and S$75 for iPad Air in charcoal grey, white, pink sand and a new papaya, with additional leather smart covers available for iPad Air for S$99 in black, saddle brown, midnight blue and red.
• Trade in your eligible device for credit toward your next purchase.⁷ If your device isn’t eligible for credit, Apple will recycle it for free.
• Every customer who buys iPad from Apple can enjoy free Personal Setup in-store or online, and receive guidance on how to customise their iPad, set up email, find new apps from the App Store and more.
• Anyone who wants to learn more or go further with iPad or iOS 12 can sign up for free Today at Apple® sessions at apple.com/sg/today.

¹ The first-generation Apple Pencil sold separately.

² When compared to the 9.7-inch iPad. 

³ When compared to the previous generation iPad mini.

⁴ Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks.

⁵ Not all carriers support eSIM or Apple SIM. See your carrier for details. Not available in China. 

⁶  Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results may vary. 

⁷ Trade-in values vary based on the condition, year and configuration of your trade-in device,   and may also vary between online and in-store trade-in. You must be at least 18 years old. In-store trade-in requires presentation of a valid, government-issued photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Additional terms from Apple or Apple’s trade-in partners may apply.

Apple revolutionised personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.