Apple launches iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

With the launch the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 in India, Apple has made both the models available in India. These can be bought both online and across Apple authorised retail stores, PTI reported.

The iPad Air 2, at 6.1 millimeters thin, adds many of the features that had already been available on iPhones. These include the ability to take burst shots as also slow-motion video. 

A fingerprint ID sensor has also been included instead of a passcode. The device comes with an anti-reflective coating, a first for a tablet, which makes the device 56 per cent less reflective.

Customers have the option to buy from six models of the iPad Air 2, priced in the range of Rs35,900 to Rs59,900. The latest offerings comes in two categories - iPad with WiFi connectivity only and with both WiFi and cellular connectivity supported through a nano SIM.

Customers would have the option to buy from six models of the iPad Air 2, priced in the range of Rs35,900 to Rs59,900.

Each model of iPad Air 2, has been priced separately on the basis of storage support.

The iPad Air 2 16 GB WiFi-only model is priced at Rs35,900, 64 GB at Rs42,900 while the 128 GB model is priced at Rs49,900, including value added tax.

The three models of iPad Air 2 with both WiFi and cellular connectivity come at price tags of Rs45,900, Rs52,900 and Rs59,900, including VAT.

Meanwhile, Marketwatch reported that though Apple might not give Black Friday discounts on its blockbuster devices, according to experts, retailers like Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy were increasingly turning to the iPad to attract customers.

Target offered the 16-gigabyte iPad Air 2 for $499 with a $140 gift card both online and in stores while Wal-Mart, offered it for $489 with a $100 gift card as pre-Black Friday discount.

Best Buy sold out online of the iPad Air 2 by simply cutting $100 off the original price. According to a Target spokeswoman, the iPad Air 2 (and Apple's ''Beats by Dr Dre Solo HD'') were the top-selling items for Target online and in stores while in contrast, Apple only offered a $50 iTunes gift card with a full-priced iPad.

According to industry analyst Ben Arnold, executive director, NPD Group, a market research company, given Apple's reluctance to offer deals, nothing got the consumers excited during the holiday season like an eye-grabbing discount on an Apple product, says.

He added, the iPad was becoming increasingly important to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. He added, promotions like these were hard for shoppers to pass up as they combined a premium brand, a proven home run of a product and a good discount.

According to Arnold, iPad sales would likely increase by 50 per cent year-over-year during Black Friday week 2014 with the sales for the iPad having doubled year-over-year for the same period last year.