New iPad Air 2: The thinnest tablet in the world

Apple has released the iPad Air 2 that has a number of new features and improvements from the earlier model.

Phillip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing says, "The iPad is a magical piece of glass.

This powerful device is 6.1mm thin and weighs less than 450 grams, making it the thinnest tablet in the world and comfortable to hold. It is made out of anodised aluminium so it's durable and solid.

With an improved Retina display the contrast is enhanced and rich, and it has anti-reflective coating which reduces glare by 56 percent so it can be used indoors and out.

The device has all new iSight and FaceTime HD cameras and new features such as panoramic photos, time-lapse video, slo-mo and 1080p HD video. The FaceTime HD camera captures 80 percent more light than the previous model and has burst mode, HDR stills and video.

More than 675,000 apps have been specifically designed for the iPad Air 2. Some of the apps have been designed to utilise the cameras and Retina display viewfinder, so the iPad can be used to scan and annotate documents, study the sky and analyse an athlete's performance.

It also has improved security with Touch ID - users simply unlock their device with the touch of a finger. Apps can be protected with logins and data.

The iPad has a faster and more reliable WiFi connection and expanded LTE for up to 50 percent faster cellular connections.

The new Apple-designed A8X chip powers the device and delivers a 40 percent improvement in CPU performance and 2.5 times the graphic performance, while still delivering the up to 10 hour battery life of the iPad Air.

The iPad Air 2 is available in gold, silver and space grey. With iOS 8.1 including continuity features across iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite all Apple products, including the iPad Air 2, work together seamlessly.

Starting at $749 for the 16GB model, the iPad Air 2 will be available to order online from Saturday, 18th of October.