Apple’s third generation iPad is now available to buy around the world, after sales started this morning in Apple stores at 8am.
The new iPad boasts an impressive high-resolution Retina Display, Quad-Core graphics and an improved camera, among other features, and is now on sale through Apple in ten countries worldwide.
Apple is now selling the new iPad in the UK, U.S, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Switzerland. Various third party retailers are also offering the new iPad, including mobile networks such as Three and Orange, who are offering the new tablet on a contract basis.
Some UK retailers opened at midnight on Thursday to try and steal some sales away from the Apple stores, where hundreds of fans had queued overnight, and in some cases, for several days. Currys opened its Tottenham Court Road branch in London at 12:01am to sell the iPad early, whereas John Lewis allowed its customers to order one online at 12:01am and then collect one at a store as soon as they opened.
The new iPad will sell for exactly the same price as the iPad 2, in both black and white versions for the 16, 32 and 64GB models that are available. Customers can opt for a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + 4G model, although unfortunately the 4G technology won’t work here in the UK just yet. U.S, German and Canadian customers who pick up an iPad today will be able to choose a 4G data plan with one of several networks, thanks to the 4G infrastructures that are already in place in those countries.
If heading to the shops to join the crowd isn’t your thing, you can order a new iPad online. Apple began taking pre-orders last week when they announced the device, although days later the shipping times began to slip, and now you’re going to be looking at a 2-3 wait if you order with them now.
Did you pick up a new iPad today? Tell us where you managed to get yours, and what you think of it!
If you’ve got your new iPad, take a look at the best apps to make the most of the Retina Display.
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