According to Tim Cook, Apple has sold more than 170 million iPads, and they don’t show any signs of stopping, thanks to a new update announced today.
As expected, Apple’s flagship iPad will be receiving a new, slimmer look that brings its design in line with its smaller sibling, the iPad Mini, and a new name: the iPad Air.
The big tablet now comes in at a svelte 7.5 millimeters in thickness, while retaining its 9.7 inch display, and clocks in at exactly one pound, which makes it the lightest full-size tablet available on the market. Unsurprisingly, it’s also going to feature Apple’s new, 64-bit A7 chip.
In addition, Apple’s smaller tablet is getting a better display. Citing it as the most-requested feature for the iPad Mini, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller announced that the iPad Mini will be getting a new 2048 x 1936 pixel Retina display. Like the iPad Air and iPhone 5S, the iPad Mini will also be receiving a silicon upgrade to Apple’s A7 processor.
While Apple is still tops in terms of tablet market share according to the most recent sales numbers available, the company’s share of overall tablet sales dropped to 35 percent of the market. It’s facing serious competition from Samsung, Amazon and Microsoft for the tablet market. But Tim Cook focused on other metrics.
When it comes to people using their tablets Apple still has a commanding lead. 81 percent of all web browsing on tablets is done on iPads, compared to 6.7 percent on Kindle Fire tablets and 5.1 percent on Samsung tablets, according to a new report released by Chitka today.
The iPad Air will be available in Silver and Space Gray, and will retail for $499 for a 16 GB Wi-Fi model. A LTE model will be available for $629, and will be available on a number of U.S. networks, including T-Mobile, which will be getting the tablet for the first time.
The new 16 GB Mini with Retina display will be available for $399, and the iPad Mini without a Retina display has received a price cut to $299.
