Apple is updating its iPad mini lineup with a new model featuring a Retina display and a TouchID fingerprint sensor.

The new iPad mini 3 goes up for pre-order October 17th for $399 and up and ships the following week.

ipad mini 3_03

At the same time, Apple will continue to offer both the iPad mini with Retina display and the original iPad mini, while giving each model a price drop. Interestingly it’s also giving last year’s model a new name: meet the iPad mini 2. It’s the same as the iPad mini with Retina display.

All told, the iPad family now ranges from $249 and up for an iPad mini to $499 for an iPad Air 2.

ipad mini 3 prices

Measuring 7.9″ x 5.3″ x 0.29″ and weighing 11.7 ounces, the iPad mini 3 is exactly the same size as the iPad mini 2. That’s not surprising since it has the same display and the same processor as the older model.

Apple didn’t give the new iPad mini all the same upgrades as the 9.7 inch iPad Air 2. It doesn’t have 802.11ac WiFi or 8MP camera, for instance. But it does still have a high-resolution 7.9 inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel display, a 5MP rear camera, and a choice of three colors (gray, gold, or silver).

The iPad mini 3 is powered by an Apple A7 processor with an M7 motion coprocessor and Apple says the tablet should provide up to 10 hours of battery life.

The iPad mini 3 comes with 16GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage, for $399, $499, and $599, respectively. Those are the prices for WiFi-only models. You can also get a WiFi + cellular model for $130 more.

Like the iPad Air 2, cellular versions of the iPad mini 3 feature Apple SIM. This lets you switch between wireless carriers without taking out the SIM card and replacing it. At launch Apple SIM supports AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the US and EE in the UK.

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6 replies on “Apple launches iPad mini 3 for $399 and up”

  1. A7? How long until this thing won’t run the latest version of iOS without stuttering? I’m guessing 2 years, I’ll pass.

  2. Which is the cheapest one with Retina? iPad Mini 2? So you’re paying $100 more for an iPad Mini 3 just for a fingerprint reader? That makes the iPad Mini 2 the best value by far.

  3. Anyone else and we would accuse them of pricing themselves out of the market.
    Apple on the other hand seems to be able to price themselves into higher and higher tax brackets.
    Hmm…

  4. OK. So Apple is being the super douches I expected. The iPad Mini 3 and the iPad Mini 2 (formerly iPad Mini w/ Retina display) are the same EXACT units except the Mini 3 has a finger print sensor and costs $100 more. Other than that they are identical in EVERY way. Yay Apple! Rape the wallets of the stupid!

    1. Lol if true, this is really stupid and laughable. Also the price difference between mini 1 and retina mini 2 is only $50…. who would buy the mini 1. Should have been $199.

      1. You can take that a step further. You can get a Mini 2 w/ 32 gig storage for $50 LESS than a Mini 3 with 16 gig storage.

Comments are closed.