Apple unveils new iPad and iPad mini

Apple has unveiled its new fifth generation iPad – 20% thinner than the previous version.

The new iPad Air, which Apple claims is the lightest full-sized tablet in the market, is 0.3 inches thick and weighs just 1lb.

Powered by the same chip found in the iPhone 5S, the device will run on iOS7, with features including a 9.7-inch retina display and a more powerful processor.

At the same time, Apple has unveiled a new version of its iPad Mini with a 7.9 inch screen which has been upgraded to feature 2048 by 1536 pixels – the same as the larger model.

The news comes alongside Nokia’s unveiling of the first tablet for windows – the Lumia 2520 – which has been designed to provide the ‘best outdoor and indoor readability’ of any tablet.

“Apple continues to occupy the technological and aesthetic high ground,” said Nadeem Khalid, business analyst from digital agency TH_NK.

“Apple is making a concerted play for the enterprise market, and also challenging the assertion that iPads are limited to web browsing and casual use. In a nod to a market concerned with commoditisation, Apple will continue to sell the existing Mini and iPad 2 line with a marginal discount to the former.

“Competitors such as Google and Samsung may be quick to gain technological parity, but will continue to struggle to compete with Apple’s ecosystem, ease of use and in the clarity of purpose stakes.”

However, statistics company Statista believe that the bridge between Apple and its competitors is closing, with the tech giant’s sales declining steadily as companies such as Google and Samsung build devices that compete with Apple’s.