Apple brings back the iPad Air and iPad mini

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 19 March 2019

Apple brings back the iPad Air and iPad mini

Apple today quietly announced updated versions of both the iPad Air and iPad mini, with prices starting at $599. Both these new iPads are a little less flash than last year's iPad Pro, featuring a similar design to "classic" iPads. This means you still get a home button, you still get a headphone jack, and there's still a Lightning port for charging (rather than USB Type-C on the Pro).

The new iPad Air is cut from the same cloth as the previous generation Pro, touting a 10.5-inch display in the standard iPad form-factor. The iPad mini is pretty much identical to older model, holding firm with a 7.9-inch display. Both are powered by an A12 processor, and support the first generation Apple Pencil. The new iPad Air is also compatible with Apple's Smart Keyboard.

Both are available to order from today, with delivery set the start of April. Pricing is as follows.

New iPad Air:

64GB Wi-Fi only: $779
256GB Wi-Fi only: $999
64GB Wi-Fi + 4G: $979
256GB Wi-Fi + 4G: $1,199

New iPad mini:

64GB Wi-Fi only: $599
256GB Wi-Fi only: $819
64GB Wi-Fi + 4G: $799
256GB Wi-Fi + 4G: $1,019

The first generation Apple Pencil is an extra $145, and the iPad Air compatible Smart Keyboard is priced at $235.

We wouldn't be surprised to see the 4G versions of the new iPad Air and iPad mini to be available on a plan from the usual suspects in the near future. In the meantime, here are a few data-only SIMs:

#1	Vodafone Editor's Pick	Vodafone Editor's Pick Small Data SIM Only Plan Mobile Broadband 60GB Data Deal: Get 60GB of data for 12 months (incl. 30GB bonus data) on the Small Data SIM Only plan. Ends 21.10.26. T&Cs apply. $20/mth Min. cost $20 Link not supplied	$20/mth Min. cost $20	Link not supplied
#2	SpinTel	SpinTel Mobile Broadband 50GB Mobile Broadband 50GB Data $28/mth Min. cost $28 Link not supplied	$28/mth Min. cost $28	Link not supplied
#3	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Regular Data Only 5G SIM Mobile Broadband 25GB Data $30/mth Min. cost $30 Link not supplied	$30/mth Min. cost $30	Link not supplied
#4	Telstra	Telstra Upfront Data Plan Small Mobile Broadband 30GB Data $33/mth Min. cost $33 Link not supplied	$33/mth Min. cost $33	Link not supplied
#5	Tangerine Telecom Editor's Pick	Tangerine Telecom Editor's Pick 100GB Mobile Broadband Data Plan Mobile Broadband 100GB Data $34.90/mth Min. cost $34.90 Link not supplied	$34.90/mth Min. cost $34.90	Link not supplied
#6	Belong	Belong 100GB Data SIM Only Mobile Broadband 100GB Data $40/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#7	More	More 100GB Mobile Broadband Data Plan Mobile Broadband 100GB Data Deal: Get $10/mth off mobile broadband plan for 36 mths when you sign up with a CommBank debit or credit card. Ends 31.03.27 $40/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#8	Yomojo	Yomojo 50GB Data Only Mobile Broadband 50GB Data $54.90/mth Min. cost $54.90 Link not supplied	$54.90/mth Min. cost $54.90	Link not supplied

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio