iPad mini – The Metrognome

Apple iPad Air and mini Retina launching in India this week

December 7 will see the launch of two new iPads in India. Know the specs you can expect from both.

by Manik Kakra

The new iPads – iPad Air (in pic above) and iPad mini with Retina Display – are going to launch in India on the December 7. As per one of Apple’s retail partners in India, Ingram Micro, the iPad Air’s price will start from Rs 35,900 for the base model (16 GB WiFi), and the iPad mini Retina will start from Rs 28,900 for its basic model.

While the iPad Air may cost up to Rs 67,000 for its 128 GB WiFi + cellular model, the iPad mini Retina is expected to notch around Rs 60,000.

Apple’s iPad mini (original) will is still available for its starting price of Rs 21,900, and the iPad 2 for Rs 28,900. Previously, Apple launched the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S in India, but this time there doesn’t seem to be too much of a difference between the official prices in the US and India.

Both the tablets, available in space grey and white-silver colour options, will hit the shelves on December 7, and the announcement could come as late as Friday.

These are the hardware specification of these iOS 7 devices:

iPad mini Retina (in pic on left) Display:

7.9-inch Retina Display (326ppi)

Dual Channel, WiFi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0

1.2 MP front-facing camera; 5 MP rear camera

A7 chip (64-bit) along with M7 co-processor for motion

iPad Air:

9.7-inch Retina Display (264ppi)

Dual Channel WiFi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0

1.2 MP front-facing camera; 5 MP rear camera

A7 chip (64-bit) along with M7 co-processor for motion

The best tablets to buy

Looking to buy a tablet, but confused about specs and prices? We’ve got a handy list to get you sorted.

by Manik Kakra

In the last four years, tablets have taken consumer technology by storm. Be it Apple’s dominant iPad, or Android’s vast options, the gizmo is surely been talked about, and its effect is visible. Be it slow PC sale or the smartphone’s shift to larger screens, tablets are here to stay. Here are some of the best tablets to choose from:

Apple iPad 4, Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000: No surprise here, right? Apple’s iPad 4 is arguably the best tablet available out there. It has got the looks, a beautiful 9.7-inch retina screen, and hardware inside to make performance and gaming smooth on it. Plus, there are tons of quality iOS apps to install. The iPad 4, available in black and white colour options, comes in WiFi and WiFi + 3G variants with three storage options. It starts from Rs 31,000 and goes up to Rs 51,000 for WiFi + 3G 64 GB variant.

Apple iPad Mini, Rs 21,800 to Rs 41,000: Ever since Apple released the mini version of its tablet, consumers have shown how much they want this form factor. Having all the IOS apps made for tablets, the form factor and convenience make this tablet a hot seller. Sporting a 7.9-inch (1024 x 768) screen, this tablet, too, comes in 3G and WiFi-only variants.

ASUS Nexus 7, Rs 14,000 to Rs 21,000: If you want an Android tablet right now, this is the one to get. Having stock Android and the tablet, which made Android’s apps story serious on the tablet side, it comes with a 7-inch (1280 x 800) screen. This is a feature-packed tablet without too much fuss. Starting from Rs 14,000 for WiFi-only 8 GB variant, and going up to Rs 21,000, the Nexus 7 is surely a value-for-money tablet.

Sony Xperia Z Tablet, Rs 44,000 (approx): Sony’s tablet is the one you should consider if you are looking for good looks as well as a big screen. This tablet boasts a quad-core processor and a great 10.1-inch (1920 x 1024) screen, and it runs on Android 4.1. In fact, it is also water resistant and dust proof, so you don’t have to worry too much about its handling.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (P3110), Rs 9,300: If you are going to buy your first tablet and don’t want to spend too much, this could be a good option for you. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 runs on Android 4.1, has a 3 Mp rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, and it features a 7-inch (1026 x 600) screen. It has WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity. This is the cheapest tablet on our list.

(Pictures courtesy gadgets.ndtv.com, www.engadget.com, mobiles.pricedekho.com)