iPad mini with Retina display goes on sale across the world today
Despite rumours that component shortages may push out the arrival of Apple's new iPad mini with Retina beyond November, the new tablet made an unannounced arrival on Apple's stores across the world today.
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The new iPad mini appeared on Apple's online stores on Tuesday, following a brief notice to service providers from Apple confirming a release date of 12 November 2013.
The note indicated the new iPad mini is going on sale in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and the US. However, the device has also appeared on Apple Stores in other markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK.
Apple is indicating shipping times of between one and three days for the 16GB and 32GB wi-fi-only device and five and 10 days for all other configurations for the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and Germany. Meanwhile, in Spain, Germany, France, and Sweden, the entry level devices indicate a shipping time of five to 10 days.
At the 22 October launch, Apple didn't say which markets the device would reach, and only confirmed the it would be available sometime in November, sparking rumours that Apple faced a shortage of Retina displays that may delay its arrival.
The next-generation is available in space grey or silver and is outfitted with Apple's A7 processor. The 7.9-inch Retina display offers a 2,048 by 1,536 pixel resolution with 326 ppi. The starting price in the US is $399 for the 16GB wi-fi-only version.
Still, anyone keen on the new iPad mini might need to move quickly if they want the device now. Hardware analyst firm IHS Suppli forecasted that Apple would only be able to ship fewer than four million iPad mini tablets with Retina in the fourth quarter, falling well short of the 8.9 million it sold of the previous generation mini in the same period last year.