Apple updates iPad mini with Retina Display, lowers price on older model

Apple today announced the highly anticipated iPad mini with Retina Display. It is keeping last year's mini as an entry-level model for $319.99.

The new iPads feature the powerful and power-efficient Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture, ultrafast wireless with faster built-in Wi-Fi and expanded LTE cellular connectivity, and the newly-designed iOS 7. While the Retina Display was expected (although some pundits expected supply to be sparse given the smaller Retina Display) no one thought Apple would outfit the smaller iPad with the latest A7 processors.

Canadian pricing on iPads is as followsiPad Air Wi-Fi starting at $519

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular starting at $649 iPad 2 Wi-Fi 16GB $399 iPad 2 Wi-Fi+3G 16GB $529 iPad Mini w Ret Display starting at $419 iPad Mini w Ret Display Wi-Fi + Cellular starting at $549 iPad Mini Wi-Fi 16GB $319 iPad Mini Wi-Fi + Cellular 16GB $449

Apple says, "The new iPad mini with Retina display packs all the 3.1 million pixels (2048-by-1536 resolution) of iPad Air into its 7.9-inch Multi-Touch display, for a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. The 7.9-inch Retina display of iPad mini is 35 percent larger than screens on 7-inch tablets, and is the only small tablet to deliver the full iPad experience, now with razor sharp Retina quality." iPad mini can take full advantage of the  475,000 apps designed specifically for iPad.