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Tim Cook revealing the iPad Air 2.
new additions

Apple announces its thinnest tablet yet, the iPad Air 2

The new iPad Air 2 is 6.1mm thick, a reduction from the 7.5mm on the original iPad Air, and will cost €509 for the basic 16GB version.

APPLE HAS UNVEILED the latest editions to its iPad range as it aims to turn around stagnating tablet sales.

The iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 was revealed at an event in Apple’s HQ after both devices were accidentally revealed yesterday.

“What do you do when you make the best tablet in the world, how do you make it better?” asked Apple CEO Tim Cook. The answer was to give the Pad Air 2 a laminated screen with anti-reflective coating, which it claims reduces reflections by 56%, and bring console level graphics to the tablet.

The tablet will come with 10 hours of battery life, while the iSight camera is a 8MP and can capture 1080p HD video. The device also comes with burst mode, timelapse and slow-motion videos, as well as Touch ID.

The device also comes with Apple Pay, although it’s designed with online retail in mind instead of being used in-store.

The device starts at €509 for the 16GB version, €609 for 64GB and €709 for 128GB amd will come in silver, space grey and gold.

iPad Air 2 cost The iPad Air 2 as displayed on the Apple Store. Apple Apple

The iPad mini 3 was also announced although it was mentioned in passing by the company. It will also be available for pre-order tomorrow and both will start shipping at the end of next week.

It will cost €409 for the basic 16GB version, €509 for 64GB and €608 for the 128GB version.

Both devices are available to order from tomorrow.

iPad mini 3 cost The iPad mini 3 as displayed on the Apple Store. Apple Apple

Speaking about the company’s range, Cook called Apple’s current products “the strongest product lineup ever”, and revealed that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were the fastest selling devices in history, with the former being released in China in a few hours.

He also revealed that over 225 million iPads were sold in the past four years, and that 675,000 apps were designed for the iPad.

Also, Apple Pay, which was announced back in September, will officially launch in the US on Monday having signed up 500 bank partners to the service.

It also announced WatchKit, its developer kit for Apple Watch, which will allow developers to create apps for the device. The smartwatch will be released sometime early next year.

Read: Google’s latest smartphone is a 6-inch behemoth >

Read: Pac-Man, Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog are getting their own An Post stamps >

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