The original iPad mini is now offered at a more affordable price of $299/€289

Oct 23, 2013 11:43 GMT  ·  By

With the introduction of the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, Apple is keeping two older models aboard as budget choices for customers who don’t need the highest specs for their daily use of a tablet computer.

If you’re out to buy an iPad and don’t care that much about Retina-grade graphics or blazing-fast gaming, Apple continues to stock two iPad models that should cater to most pockets out there. Well, not most. But more than before.

Per Apple’s press release announcing the latest generation of tablet computers, “…the original iPad mini is now offered at a more affordable price of $299 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $429 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model for either AT&T, Sprint or Verizon.” In Europe iPad mini now starts at €289.

As strange as it may seem, instead of keeping the iPad 3 or iPad 4 aboard, Apple decided to phase out these models and keep the iPad 2. Why? Because standard-resolution displays are easier to come by, and they’re cheaper. Which means both you and Apple pay less for what is still a high-quality tablet experience. iPad 2 sells for $399/€379.