Apple Inc.’s new tablet went on sale this morning at retailers across Canada, including the Apple Store, Best Buy, and Future Shop.
Announced Oct. 22, the iPad Air updates the hardware that has defined the tablet category since its first launch in 2010. It also replaces the third-generation retina display iPad with the new, thinner version, while the iPad 2 remains on the market as a discounted model. The iPad Air has a 9.7-inch screen with Apple’s branded Retina display, or a high resolution screen. It weighs one pound and has a reduced bezel compared to previous generations of iPad.
The new iPad mini with Retina display will go on sale later this month. It now packs the same number of pixels into its 7.9-inch screen as the full-sized iPad Air. Both tablets are powered by Apple’s new A7 processor with 64 bit architecture, feature faster WiFi connectivity, and come pre-loaded with iOS 7. The iPad Air starts at $519, and the iPad mini with Retina display starts at $419.
For current iPad owners considering an upgrade, Future Shop and Best Buy Canada are offering trade-in value for used iPads. An iPad mini or iPad in good condition will net a gift card of minimum $200 value, according to Future Shop. Part of the store’s Flip Your Tech program, customers must be at least 19 years of age to participate.
Apple’s iPad is credited for creating a new hardware category for tablets. But its days of dominating market share are now challenged by lower-cost Android tablets. Analyst firm IDC shows Apple’s iPad accounted for 32.5 per cent of tablet sales globally in the second quarter, down from 60 per cent in the same quarter one year ago.