Apple this week cut pricing on its 4th generation iPads, and has discontinued sales of its iPad 2 models. The 4th gen iPad with Retina display is now Apple’s cheapest 9.7-inch iPad, at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $529 for the Wi-Fi plus cellular model. That’s $100 less than when the 4th-gen iPad was introduced in October of 2012.
The fourth gen iPad comes in black or white and has a 9.7-inch Retina (2,048×1,536 pixels or 264ppi) display, Apple’s A6X chip, a 5MP camera that takes 1080p HD video, a front-facing FaceTime HD cam, and Lightning connector. The tablet comes with the latest iOS 7, and can run up to 10 hours.
Apple also hasn’t changed pricing for its 7.9-inch iPad Mini with Retina display, which now matches the larger 4th gen iPad in price at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, and goes up to $829 for the 128GB model with both Wi-Fi and cellular. But what the mini lacks in size compared to the 4th gen iPad, it makes up for with better internals. We won’t get into specifics here, since CNET already has an easy-to-read spec-by-spec comparison of the original iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina, 4th gen iPad with Retina, and newer iPad Air.
Apple’s newest iPad — the iPad Air that it announced last fall — still starts at $499 (for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model), and goes up to $929 for the 128GB model with both Wi-Fi and cellular.
Apple’s iPads now play well with its free iLife app suite that includes including iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand; and its free iWork suite that includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Apple has optimized its apps for its faster 64-bit processors.
You can find the 4th gen iPad or the newer models at Apple.com, Apple retail stores or select retailers, where you can often find slightly cheaper prices. The 4th gen model with cellular is now also available from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US, and from other carriers elsewhere.
