When Apple’s iPad Mini debuted in late 2012, one of its few shortcomings according to critics was the lack of a crystal-clear Retina display like the displays used in newer versions of the iPhone and iPad.
The iPad Mini 2
new iPad Mini with Retina Display (aka the “iPad Mini 2″) was announced by Apple on October 22, 2013, as an updated and upgraded version of the original iPad Mini. The iPad Mini with Retina Display increases the resolution from the original’s 1024×768 to a resolution of 2048×1536, for a pixel density of 324ppi (pixels-per-inch) on a 7.9″ display. For comparison, the display in the iPhone 5 delivers 326 pixels-per-inch.
The iPad Mini with Retina Display is currently scheduled to become available for purchase in November 2013. The iPad Mini with Retina Display will also include a 64-bit A7 processor to help handle the increased resolution and iOS 7 as its mobile operating system. Pricing for the new iPad Mini starts at $399, a sum that is $70 higher than the starting price for the previous generation iPad Mini.
The iPad Mini 3
One year later, in October 2014, Apple announced the iPad Mini 3 with new features that include Touch ID Home button and a new gold color option. Pricing starts at $399 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi version. The 64 GB and 128 GB variations are priced at $499 and $599 respectively.