Apple updates 9.7-inch iPad with better display and performance
Apple has given its most popular iPad a bit of an update, with an affordable price to go with it.
The tech giant's 9.7-inch iPad features a brighter display, with over 3.1 million pixels designed for better pictures and video. It weighs less than 500 grams for better portability, and the Apple-designed A9 chip with 64‑bit desktop-class architecture is designed to deliver fast processing and graphics performance for apps and games.
The iPad will maintain the same all-day battery life.
"iPad is the world's most popular tablet. Customers love the large, 9.7-inch display for everything from watching TV and movies, to surfing the web, making FaceTime calls, and enjoying photos, and now it is even more affordable," says Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
"New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it," he explains.
The front- and back-facing cameras offer low-light performance and HD video recording, make it easy to FaceTime and capture photos using the large Retina display as a viewfinder.
The iPad features ultrafast wireless for easy connection, and support for 4G LTE cellular bands worldwide helps customers stay connected when traveling. Apple SIM makes it easier to connect to wireless data plans right from the device when traveling in more than 140 countries and regions.
On te security side, the iPad features Touch ID, allowing users to keep personal information private while also making it easer to approve purchases from the App Store, iTunes and iBooks.
iPad comes with iOS 10, which features Apple's animated communication tools for Messages, as well as newly designed Siri, Maps, Photos, Apple Music and the new home app.
Multitasking features including Slide Over, Split View and Picture-in-Picture.
Pricing - Availability
• iPad comes in silver, gold and space grey and starts at recommended retail price (RRP) NZ$539 inc. GST for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and RRP NZ$759 inc. GST for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model at Apple.com/nz. For more information, please visit apple.com/ipad/nz.
iPad is available to order beginning Friday, 24 March from Apple.com/nz and starts delivering to customers and arriving next week through select carriers and Apple Authorised Resellers (prices may vary) in New Zealand.
• Polyurethane Smart Covers for iPad are available for RRP NZ$69 inc. GST in charcoal grey, white, midnight blue, pink sand and (RED) at Apple.com/nz.