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All-new iPads released – Apple updates iPad Air and iPad mini

Apple has quietly announced two new iPads, which are available to purchase immediately via its online store and will ship next week.

A new 10.5-inch iPad Air (a name we thought was dead and gone) offers a middle ground between the budget iPad and the high-end iPad Pro, while the new 7.9-inch iPad mini retains the old design but massively boosts the performance to bring it up to speed. Both are compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, giving more options to creatives looking for a new tablet computer.

For more detail, here’s the official statement from Apple, hot off the press:

Apple today introduced the all-new iPad Air in an ultra-thin 10.5-inch design, offering the latest innovations including Apple Pencil 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.

The new iPad Air starts at $499/£479

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. The advanced Retina display with True Tone technology and wide color support is 25 percent brighter and has the highest pixel density of any iPad, delivering an immersive visual experience in any setting. And with Apple Pencil 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 new iPad mini starts at $399/£399

Apple has its Spring event coming next week, but clearly didn’t want to waste any time talking about these product reveals then. Sneaking them out a week earlier leaves more space next week to discuss its new services, as we’re expecting Apple to go big on the TV streaming front and potentially announce a News subscription to boot. Stay tuned!