iPad 5 Release Date

Apple's newest full-size tablet is available online and in retail stores today! The lightweight 9.7-inch iPad Air with a Retina display is more powerful and portable than ever. The fifth-generation iPad is the same screen size but thinner at 7.5 mm, versus 9.4 mm in the previous version. It's also only 1 pound, versus 1.4 pounds of iPad 4, making it the lightest full-size tablet in the world.

Like the iPhone 5S, the new iPad Air has significantly improved performance. The new A7 chip with desktop-grade 64-bit architecture, plus the fitness app-friendly M7 motion processor, gives the iPad eight times faster performance and 72 times faster graphics from the original. It's speedier but maintains its battery life at 10 hours.

Superfast speeds were a major point of focus in the iPad Air. MIMO technology offers WiFi speeds up to two times faster. In the cellular version, there is expanded LTE coverage and increased broadband wireless access for more global cellular use.

Watch our 15-second unboxing video below:

The rear-facing iSight camera remains 5MP with 1080p HD video, but the front-facing FaceTime camera has been improved with larger pixels. There is improved backside illumination and dual microphones as well.

iOS 7 and the iWork productivity suite (Keynote, Numbers, and Pages) will ship with the iPad Air.

The iPad Air is available in two colors: silver and white, and space gray and black. The 16GB WiFi model is $499 and the WiFi + cellular model is $629 on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Walmart is offering the new iPad at a $20 discount on Nov. 1 only. Staples, Best Buy, and Apple will price match the deal in retail stores, according to 9to5 Mac. Smart Covers are now available in the same colors as the iPhone 5C for $39 and a new wrap case for $79.

Apple's new tablet makes a timely entrance for the upcoming holiday season, and we want to know: is the iPad Air going to be on your wish list?