Apple on Tuesday introduced highly-anticipated smaller version of its media tablet, the iPad mini. The new slate from Apple is not only smaller, lighter and sleeker than the full-sized versions, but is also less expensive, as it starts at $329. At the same time, the iPad mini still features numerous technological advantages offered by the full-sized tablet.

“iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9” display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275 thousand apps designed specifically for iPad. iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5MP iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless - all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

Apple iPad mini features 7.9” display with 1024*768 resolution (163ppi) and is based on the same chip that powers Apple iPad 2, the A5 (dual-core ARM Cortex-A9, PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics core, 1GHz clock-speed, 32nm process technology). The tablet features 512MB RAM, 16GB/32GB/64GB NAND flash storage, 5MP rear camera with backside illumination, 1.2MP front camera, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS/Glonass (cellular version only), “world-ready” 3G, HSPA+ (21Mb/s), DC-HSPA (42Mb/s) and 4G/LTE (73Mb/s). iPad mini comes in a new aluminum and glass design that is 7.2mm thick and weighs up to 312 grams/0.69 pounds. The device comes with Apple iOS 6 operating system.

Thanks to 4.3” aspect ratio of the 7.9” screen, the new iPad is not only compatible with all applications ever designed for the original iPad and iPad 2, but should provide a little better user experience compared to popular 7”-class media tablets with 16:9 displays. Unfortunately, the side bezels of the iPad mini’s screen look too thin, which may ruin the experience in certain use cases.

Just like all the new gadgets from Apple, the iPad mini utilizes Lightning connector, which is speedier and more robust than the 30-pin connect Apple has been using for about a decade.

The introduction of the iPad mini allows Apple to head-to-head compete against hordes of 7”- and 8”-class media tablets that are on the market today. While competing devices from small manufacturers and Google are less expensive than the offering from Apple, the latter may boast with a vast library of high-quality software for every-day needs.

Apple iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver on Friday, November 2, for a suggested retail price of $329 for the 16GB model, $429 for the 32GB model and $529 for the 64GB model. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will start shipping a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi models, beginning in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.

Apple iPad mini will be sold through the Apple online store, Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple authorized resellers in the U.S., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

Tags: Apple, iPad, iOS