Apple Bows 2 iPad Models Before Monday's Video Strategy Launch Event

Apple began taking orders Monday for the next generation of iPads, highlighting the “breakthrough price” of its $499 iPad Air and iPad mini starting at $399. Cellular connectivity adds $130 to the price of each. The 10.5-inch and 7.9-inch models feature Apple Pencil ($99) support and the company’s A12 Bionic chip with Apple’s Neural Engine. The company claims a 70 percent performance boost with twice the graphics capability in the iPad Air and three times the performance and nine times faster graphics than the previous-generation iPad mini. Both tablets include Apple’s developer app, Swift Playgrounds. Front and back cameras take 1080p videos. The devices will be in stores next week, and Apple’s video strategy launch event is planned for Monday.