The iPad mini 3 has the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a 7.9-inch Retina display, a powerful A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, an iSight camera, a FaceTime HD camera, fast wireless, iOS 9, iCloud, and up to 10 hours of battery life.1 It also comes with great apps for productivity and creativity. And there are many more apps available in the App Store.
- 7.9-inch Retina display (diagonal)
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
- A7 chip
- 5MP iSight camera
- FaceTime HD camera
- 802.11n Wi-Fi with MIMO
- Up to 10 hours of battery life1
- Faster LTE2 on cellular models
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Apple iPads: Generation by Generation
The first generation is limited to iOS 5.1.1 or earlier. This may pose problems with newer programs designed only for newer OS's. But if you're mostly surfing the web, reading email, and aren't pushing the envelope with applications, the first generation makes an awesome e-reader and much more, especially for the price. It weighs in at 1.5 lbs.
The second generation (Apple iPad 2) and first generation Apple iPad mini can run up to iOS 9, but cannot run iOS 10. Cameras were added to the front and back. The shape of the second generation is a little different than the first, and matches the 3rd and 4th, so any case that works with a 2nd gen will work with the 3rd and 4th. It weighs in at 1.34 lbs.
The third generation (originally named the "new Apple iPad"), also maxes out at iOS 9 and cannot run iOS 10. It includes improved cameras and increased the display pixels (calling it a Retina Display). This is the last generation that used the 30-pin dock connector. It weighs in at 1.46 lbs.
NOTE: iOS 9 is still a solid operating system and we foresee it being supported by Apple well into the future.
The fourth generation iPad (here Apple kind of gave up calling them anything except iPad… to us they became "fourth generation") improved the cameras again, and also added the lightning connector. It weighs in at 1.46 lbs. These models can be upgraded to iOS 10.
The iPad Air (we have dubbed it the iPad Air 1st generation) is the first case design change since the 2nd generation. The cameras were also upgraded yet again, but the main distinguishing feature is its lighter weight, coming in at just about a pound. The Apple iPad Air 2 improved upon that with both speed and weight, as well as adding the Touch ID technology to the home button. Both can be upgraded to iOS 10. Cases and skins for iPad Air 1 and 2 generally won’t fit other iPad models.
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Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, iPad, and iSight are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. iCloud is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
1 Battery life varies by use and configuration. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
2 Refers to the total number worldwide. Not all content is available in all countries.