Apple on Tuesday introduced the new version of its entry-level $300 iPad with a 10.2 inch screen.
At its annual product event, which the company holds to set the stage for its holiday sales, the iPad was the first gadget to be showcased. The new tablet emphasizes video calls, a popular use for the devices during the pandemic. The new version includes improved cameras and special software to make video calls more pleasant by detecting people and automatically following their movements.
Apple also updated the iPad Mini, its smaller $500 tablet, giving it a new design and larger, brighter screen. It now includes flat edges, matching the aesthetic of newer iPhones, and the home button was removed to make more room for the 8.3-inch display.
The new tablets join an already crowded iPad portfolio. The company now offers five models of the iPad in various screen sizes with prices ranging from $300 to $2,400.
The iPad has been Apple’s fastest-growing product segment over the past 12 months, as more people bought the device while having to work, learn and socialize from home during the pandemic. Apple earned $30.4 billion from iPad sales in the 12 months ending June 30, up 41 percent over the same period a year earlier.
Jack Nicas contributed reporting.
