(By Balaseshan) Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has unveiled its iPad mini tablet with 7.9-inch multi-touch retina display, dual-core A5 chip, FaceTime HD front-facing camera and 5-megapixel iSight rear-facing camera.
The new iPad comes with a completely new design that is 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third generation model. Apple also announced the fourth generation iPad featuring a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, and FaceTime HD camera.
Both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features. Pre-order for iPad mini and fourth generation iPad will begin on Friday.
IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) said on Tuesday that Apple will successfully position the smaller iPad as a device that will be attractive and easy to adopt for both new and returning customers. Apple is poised to rule the market for 7-inch products, driving rapid growth of the segment in 2012 and 2013.
The new Apple-designed A6X chip, which was as expected by market analysts, delivers up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chip.
iPad mini and fourth generation iPad both feature support for the Lightning connector that is smaller, smarter and more durable than the 30-pin connector. Lightning connector accessories are available to support cameras, SD cards and VGA or HDMI digital video.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver on November 2, for a suggested retail price of $329 for the 16GB model, $429 for the 32GB model and $529 for the 64GB model.
The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models will also be available on Friday, November 2, in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model.
For the Wi-Fi + Cellular models, iPad mini and fourth generation iPad will start shipping a couple of weeks after November 2, beginning in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $459 for the 16GB model, $559 for the 32GB model and $659 for the 64GB model. Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.
AAPL is trading down 1.79% at $622.67 on Tuesday. The stock has been trading between $363.32 and $705.07 for the past 52 weeks.