As speculated, the focus of today’s Apple event turned out to be hardware updates: from new iPads to an updated Mac Mini and redesigned iMac desktops, Apple’s product lineup got a big update just in time for the holiday season. Let’s take a look one by one.
Next-Gen iPads
Everyone suspected that the new iPad Air 2 would be lighter, thinner (only 6.1mm, 18% thinner than its predecessor), and faster (with a new A8X processor)—and it is. With Touch ID, the new iPad will also be Apple Pay-ready to help with Apple’s entry into mobile payment. In addition, the iPad Mini received a similar update to continue occupy the lower end of tablet market.
New iMac with Retina Screen
The iMac desktop hasn’t received any significant updates in the past two years, so it came as a pleasant surprise when Apple unveiled an improved iMac, complete with a stunning retina 5K display and an even thinner design, and boosted key specs across the board. Starting at $2499, the new iMac starts shipping today.
Updated Mac Mini
Similarly, the Mac Mini was last updated was in 2012, making it due for an update. The refreshed Mac Mini sports a compact design with faster WiFi, more storage space, and an updated Haswell processor that boosts general graphics performance.
