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New iPad mini: First look, in pictures (gallery)

Apple has unveiled the long-awaited and much-rumored update to the iPad mini, adding a high-resolution retina display and a more powerful 64-bit processor.
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer
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(Source: Apple)

Introduction

Apple has unveiled the long-awaited and much-rumored update to the iPad mini, adding a high-resolution retina display and a more powerful 64-bit processor.

It also gets a new name, the unimaginative "iPad mini with Retina display." 

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Retina display

The cornerstone of the iPad mini revamp is a new Retina display. This 7.9-inch display features 2048 by 1536 of pixel real estate (higher than that of an HDTV) and packs a whopping 326 pixels per inch.

This makes it crisper and clearer than the screen on the previous-generation iPad mini, while at the same time maintaining backward-compatibility with existing apps.

 

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A7 processor and M7 motion coprocessor

Inside the new iPad mini with Retina display is Apple's new 64-bit A7 processor, exactly the same chip as is found inside the iPhone 5s and the full-sized iPad Air.

This new chip not only brings the iPad mini into the 64-bit era, but also brings with it up to four times faster CPU and up to eight times faster graphics performance than the previous generation hardware. All of this without sacrificing any battery life.

Also present is the new M7 motion coprocessor that constantly monitors inputs from the accelerometer and other sensors. This is the same part as found in the flagship iPhone 5s. 

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Advanced wireless

Mobile tech is nothing without a connection to the web, so Apple has built MIMO technology right into the new iPad mini. MIMO uses multiple antennas to improve communication performance, and according to Apple it delivers twice the Wi-Fi performance of the previous iPad mini.

For times when there isn't Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi + Cellular model supports more LTE bands than ever before, offering better performance in more places around the world.

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Apps galore

Apple now offers more free productivity apps for the iPad mini than ever, with iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote now available for $0.

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Smart Cover and Smart Case

The redesigned Smart Cover and new Smart Case have been designed by Apple to fit the new iPad mini perfectly. They automatically wake up the iPad mini when opened, and put it to sleep again when closed. They also fold up to create a stand for reading, viewing, and typing.

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Dimensions

The overall size of the iPad mini remains the same, a svelte 7.87 inches (200 mm) by 5.3 inches (134.7 mm). However, it is also fractionally thicker – 0.29 inch (7.5 mm) compared to 0.28 inch (7.2 mm) – and heavier – 0.73 pound (331 g) compared to 0.68 pound (308 g) for the Wi-Fi models – than the previous generation iPad mini. This is a deviation from the usual for Apple where products get progressively thinner and lighter.

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Storage and pricing

The iPad mini with Retina display will be available in silver and space grey in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + cellular. Storage options will be 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB.

Prices range from $399 to $699 for the Wi-Fi version, and $529 to $829 for the Wi-Fi + cellular version.

According to Apple it will be available in November.

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