Apple fast-tracks new iPads' release in mainland China ahead of Hong Kong
Apple unveils fine-tuning on iPad Air 2 and mini 3 - but are they worth the upgrade?
Apple for the first time has fast-tracked the release of its new tablets - the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 - to mainland Chinese consumers, ahead of those in Hong Kong.
The online Apple Store on the mainland showed that shipments for the devices would take two to four working days, compared to Hong Kong’s one to two weeks. An Apple spokeswoman in Beijing did not provide an explanation on the disparity in timetables.
Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau are among the 32 countries and territories where the latest iPad models are being initially released, with pre-orders having started last Friday.
The iPad Air 2 costs from HK$3,888, while the iPad mini 3 starts at HK$3,088 in Hong Kong.
After introducing a major design overhaul last October for the iPad – the top-selling tablet in both the mainland and Hong Kong since it first launched in 2010 – it came as no surprise that Apple unveiled incremental improvements for new models last week.
The South China Morning Post, through technology market insiders, was able to get hands-on testing of the 128-gigabyte versions of the Air 2, with its 9.7-inch display, and the mini 3, with a 7.9-inch screen.