In a surprising move, Apple quietly started selling the new iPad Mini with Retina Display through its online store at midnight today.
The new version of the company’s petite tablet was announced at Apple’s press event last month, alongside the iPad Air and OS X Mavericks, Apple’s newest upgrade to its Mac OS. At the time, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the new Mini would be available in late November, but didn’t give an exact date.
The new Mini features a 2048 x 1536 pixel display–the same resolution as the iPad Air–in a compact 7.9 inch panel. In addition, the Retina Mini features Apple’s new A7 processor, which also powers the iPhone 5S and iPad Air.
The Retina Mini starts at $399 for the 16 GB, wi-fi only version, and $529 for one equipped with a cellular modem. It’s available right now on the Apple Online Store and can be ordered for personal pickup at Apple’s retail stores. According to Apple’s press release, the tablet will also be available soon through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.
