Thinner than a pencil.
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That’s how Apple described its latest iPad with powerful new camera and Touch ID fingerprint technology. It also introduced an ultra high-resolution iMac with 5K Retina display.
At a special event Thursday, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said the iPad Air 2 is just 6.1 mm thick, which is 18 percent thinner than the original iPad Air, and is the only tablet with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
“You just have to hold it to see just how incredible this is. It will blow you away,” Schiller said.
Apple’s new 27-inch iMac features a Retina 5K display with 7 times more pixels than typical HD. It has 67 percent more pixels than competing 4K displays. The iMac will start at $2,499 and ships immediately.
“It is stunning. There has never been a desktop display like this,” Schiller said.
The iPad Air 2 is available in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB configurations in Wi-Fi only models and Wi-Fi plus cellular. Prices are $499, $599 and $699 respectively for Wi-Fi only and $629, $729 and $829 for Wi-Fi plus cellular.
The iPad Mini was also updated. The iPad Mini 3 also features the new powerful camera, and comes in 16GB, 64GB and 128 GB configurations in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus cellular. Prices are $100 less than the larger model.
The Mac Mini was also updated with faster processors, graphics, storage and Wi-Fi. Apple says it’s the most energy efficient desktop and starts at $499 — $100 less than previous models. The Mac Mini also ships immediately.
Earlier, CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple Pay, its mobile payment system, will begin officially on Monday. Several banks, credit card companies and merchants are expected to be on board from the start, including Walgreens, Panera Bread, Whole Foods, Subway, McDonald’s (including drive-thru) and Groupon.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, says an update to the iOS 8 mobile operating system, iOS 8.1, is coming soon and will address feedback from users. Yosemite, the Mac’s latest operating system, is available effective immediately in the Mac App Store, free of charge. Yosemite is designed to work closely with iOS for a more seamless connection between computers and mobile devices.
iOS 8.1 will be available on Monday via iTunes or over-the-air updates direct from iOS devices. iWork, Apple’s answer to the Microsoft Office suite, will also be available Monday for free.
Cook provided an update about the success of iPhones, saying the demand has been amazing. He also reiterated that Apple Watch will be rolling out early in 2015, but no more specific date has been announced.
It will come in three collections — Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. It will have six band options, including leather and metal.