It isn't be a new year without a new SKU of Apple products, and for those of you looking for an improved iPad, you now have a choice between the iPad Air, and the second generation of the iPad mini.

The iPad Air is 7.5mm thick (which for our American readers is about a third of an inch). It also supposedly weighs only one pound. It uses the A7 chip architecture and boasts advanced wireless capability. It comes with an improved smartcase and looks to be an option for those who feel the iPad is too cumbersome a tablet. It will be available November 1st for US $499.

The second generation of iPad mini, meanwhile, has a 7.9 inch screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. It also contains the A7 chip, advanced wireless capability, and an improved smartcase. The iPad Mini 2 will be released later in November for US $399.