When it comes to getting products ready for a holiday push, Apple is set to deliver. The company hosted a showcase this morning, highlighting a number of products that are available sooner than expected, with some already in stores and others ready to ship out by week’s end.
Leading the charge are a pair of new iPads, including the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3. Featuring an extended battery life, a less reflective surface for outdoor use (56 percent less), the ABX chip technology that powers the iPhone 6 models and a new 8-megapixel iSight camera that supports slow motion filming and 1080p, they’re sure to be hot items for the holidays.
The iPad Air 2 will retail for anywhere from $499 to $699 depending on size (from 16GB to 128GB, respectively), while the iPad Mini 3 will be $399-$599, ranging from 16GB to 128GB. Pre-orders will be taken tomorrow on Apple’s website, and shipped out shortly thereafter.
Apple also announced a new iMac computer with a 27″ 5K Retina display, putting it in comparison to the current MacBook model. It’s also a bit slimmer when it comes to general size, but packs a punch with a 3.5GHz Intel i5 processor and a 1TB drive. The unit is available now for $2,500.
Last but not least, a new model of the Mac Mini has been introduced. The device, which is compact on the same level as the Apple TV unit, includes a 4th-gen Intel CPU, along with Intel Iris 5000 graphics, flash storage and Wi-Fi support, as well as two Thunderbolt 2 ports. This handy little unit is available for purchase now through select retailers, and sells for $500.
It’s nice to see Apple get a jump on the holiday market, and it leaves some wondering just what the competition will do to keep up. Could we see new Samsung devices, or perhaps other companies step up their game Only time will tell.
