Apple launches the new iPad Air with 10.9-inch display

Apple on Tuesday introduced the latest edition of its iPad Air, featuring an ‘all-screen’ design with a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. To allow the display to extend on all sides, the unlock touch sensor is integrated into the top button of the new iPad.

iPad Air runs on the A14 Bionic chipset. This latest-generation A-series chip features a new 6-core design for a 40 per cent boost in CPU performance, and a new 4-core graphics architecture for a 30 per cent improvement in graphics, the company says.

iPad Air includes a 7MP front-facing FaceTime HD camera, with the same 12MP rear camera used in iPad Pro. The new design of the iPad Air features stereo speakers in landscape mode for stereo sound while watching videos.

iPad Air also features a USB-C port. Wireless connectivity is through the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard as well as LTE (4G). The device is compatible with Apple Pencil, which attaches magnetically to the side for easy pairing, charging, and storing.

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The new iPad Air is designed to be environmentally friendly and supports Apple’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030. Apple says the iPad Air uses a 100 per cent recycled aluminium enclosure and 100 percent recycled tin for the solder on its main logic board. The new speakers in iPad Air also use magnets with 100 per cent recycled rare earth elements. iPad Air remains free of harmful substances, is energy efficient, and uses wood fibre packaging that is recycled or comes from responsibly managed forests, the company adds.

The new iPad Air will be available starting next month on apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions. Wi-Fi models of iPad Air will be available with a starting price of $599 and Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at $729.