Apple unveils new iPad Air and iPad mini 5 with Apple Pencil support

APPLE has blindsided gadget fans with the surprise launch of a new “miniature” iPad and a new iPad Air this afternoon.

The iPad mini 5 is the first new entry to the “mini” series in nearly four years – and features a powerful new processor and Apple Pencil support for the first time ever.

Apple first announced the iPad mini series way back in October 2012, giving gadgets fans a smaller (and generally cheaper) tablet option.

Rather than the near 10-inch screen featured on the main iPad tablets, an iPad mini has a smaller 7.9-inch display – which makes it more portable, and in some cases even pocketable.

But until today, Apple’s most recent iPad mini update came in 2015, which makes the launch of the new iPad mini 5 long overdue.

Now the new model supports the Apple Pencil stylus, which is a first for the series.

The new iPad mini 5 has a 7.9-inch screen just like previous models.

But the specs have been significantly upgraded for 2019 – boasting Apple's seriously speedy A12 Bionic chip.

That's the same processor that lives inside the new iPhone XS, iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max smartphones.

And it's generally regarded as the fastest mobile chipset on the planet right now, which is no small feat.

Apple says this means the new iPad mini is three times faster than the old 2015 model – with nine times faster graphics.

It's also got an "advanced" Retina display with True Tone technology that adjusts the screen's colour temperature based on ambient lighting around you.

It's also 25% brighter, and has the highest pixel density of any iPad.

But perhaps the biggest improvement is the fact that the new iPad mini 5 now supports Apple Pencil, the wireless stylus accessory first launched alongside the iPad Pro.

Apple also unveiled an all-new iPad Air with an "ultra-thin" design.

The slick slate has a large 10.5-inch display and – like the iPad mini 5 – comes powered by Apple's A12 Bionic chipset.

For the iPad Air, Apple is promising a 70% boost in performance compared to the iPad Air 2, which came out in October 2014.

The new iPad Air also has an advanced Retina display with Apple's light-adjusting True Tone tech, and is about 20% larger with more than 500,000 extra pixels compared to the old model.

Apple has also added Apple Pencil support for the new iPad Air too, which means the accessory works on every size of iPad available today.

"iPad continues to provide magical new experiences for a growing range of uses where it is the absolute best device, from playing games in augmented reality to note-taking and drawing with Apple Pencil, from streaming HD movies and editing 4K films to learning to develop apps with Swift Playgrounds," said Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.

"Today the iPad family takes two big leaps forward with an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air that brings high-end size, features and performance at a breakthrough price, and a major upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which also brings Apple Pencil, Retina display and the A12 Bionic chip to the many customers that love its compact size."

Both new iPad models come in silver, space grey and gold finishes – with 64GB and 256GB storage options available.

The new iPad mini 5 starts at £399 for the WiFi model and £519 for the WiFi and Cellular model.

That means it's slightly more expensive than the £319 iPad 2018, which remains the cheapest Apple tablet.

Apple's new iPad Air will start at £479 for the WiFi model, and £599 for the WiFi and Cellular model.

You can place orders for the new iPad models today, with a release scheduled for next week.

If you want an Apple Pencil, you'll need to purchase it separately for £89.

You can also buy a Smart Keyboard for the 10.5-inch iPad Air, but that'll cost you £159.

The new gadgets come just one week before Apple is due to host a major press event in California.

The March 25 keynote is expected to host the launch of Apple’s long-awaited TV streaming service – an app to rival Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Apple has been investing billions of dollars to create original content, which we’re expecting to appear on the as-yet-unnamed TV app.

Several new products are also mooted for a reveal at this March event, including a new MacBook Pro and Apple AirPods 2.

However, it’s possible that neither will be announced, as Apple is staying tight-lipped about what to expect.