Apple unveils the iPad mini 3: golden boy with Touch ID
Design
Display
Processor and storage
We expected the new iPads to be shipping with a souped-up version of the A8 processor that is in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Surprisingly enough, only the iPad Air 2 did, bearing the A8X, while the mini 3 has kept its 64-bit A7 processor, though it's unclear if it's clocked the same yet. As for the RAM amount, it's probably remained 1 GB, as Apple didn't stress any silicon changes for the munchkin. The storage options have improved, though - while the basic mini 3 still starts at 16 GB, the next option jumps straight to 64 GB, and there's the 128 GB one, too.
Camera
Believe it or not, people use tablets to capture stills and video a lot, and the smaller the tablet is, the more likely it is that you will see more than a few at a concert or on the street, snapping away. The mini 3 comes with a 5 MP iSight camera, and a 1.2-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
Battery
Battery life is no longer one of the greatest advantages of Apple’s tablets, as now Android, and even Windows slates, can run videos all day before dying out. Apple seems to be sticking with the 10-hour battery formula, which is plenty, and in line with the competition.
Price, release date, and carrier availability
Apple adheres strictly to its end-of-the-workweek release schedule, so you can rest assured that the new iPads will appear on store shelves on the next Friday, October 24th, with preorders beginning tomorrow, October 17th. Apple hasn't changed the pricing, either: the iPad mini 3 starts off at $399 for the Wi-Fi versions, and blasts off from there, in $100 increments, depending on the 64 GB or 128 GB storage amounts. The options with cellular connectivity are $529, $629, and $729, respectively. As before, the mini 3 supports 14 LTE bands, so you might want to check the local carrier support when you are globetrotting.
Things that are NOT allowed: