What was expected to be presented at next week's Apple special event turned out to be an early gift from the company.
The iPhone maker on Monday announced the availability of an updated iPad Air and iPad mini, both of which are now powered by the company's own A12 Bionic chip that is found in the latest iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
The release came quietly and as a bit of a surprise; speculation is rife that Apple was to unveil a new iPad - or iPads - at its special event on March 25 at the Steve Jobs Theater, in which the company is expected to reveal its new TV and video service.
But right now, what could be biggest news this time is that the new iPads now support the Apple Pencil. Incorporating the Pencil's capabilities on the mini could be seen as Apple expanding its focus on creativity, enticing users to strut their stuff on any size of its tablet.
It debuted the stylus alongside the high-end, first-generation iPad Pro in 2015; last year at a Chicago event, it announced compatibility for the 9.7-inch iPad.
Refreshing the iPad mini is also welcome news for those who prefer a smaller device, as there were rumours that Apple might discontinue it as the last time it was updated was in 2016.
The iPad Air, meanwhile, was last updated in 2014, which also stirred speculation on its fate.
Both new iPads promise three times faster performance and nine times quicker graphics. Its Retina display with True Tone colour will also power a display that is 25 per cent brighter. Their cameras have also been improved, with low-light performance and augmented reality leading the way.
The release of the new devices - joining the most recent 9.7-inch iPad and higher-end iPad Pros - give Apple its 'most complete iPad line-up ever'.
"The iPad continues to provide magical new experiences for a growing range of uses where it is the absolute best device, from playing games in augmented reality to note-taking and drawing with Apple Pencil, from streaming HD movies and editing 4K films to learning to develop apps with Swift Playgrounds," Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, said in a release.
"Today the iPad family takes two big leaps forward with an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air that brings high-end size, features and performance at a breakthrough price, and a major upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which also brings Apple Pencil, Retina display and the A12 Bionic chip to the many customers that love its compact size."
Both the new iPad Air and iPad mini come in 64GB and 256GB configurations, as well as in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi-and-cellular models. They start at Dh1,999 and Dh1,599, respectively.
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