At India launch, Apple iPad Air hogs limelight; iPad mini plays second fiddle

Apple launched the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini in India today, in association with its distribution partner Ingram Micro. While we didn’t expect a full house, like the one we saw at the iPhone launch last month, it was not all that dazzling either.

Surprisingly, it was the larger and more expensive iPad Air that attracted the most attention. Even at the demo tables set up here, a crowd surrounded the Air while three iPad minis sulked in the corner. Expectedly when sales started the beaming first few customers went for the iPad Air. After the first wave the odd iPad mini did move off the packed shelves. But it was still the larger tablet setting the early pace. We had suspected something of this sort, especially after the IDC report last week hinted at the same.

iPad Air units outnumbered Retina iPad mini

To be fair the number of iPad Air units on sale far outnumbered the iPad mini boxes. It just could be that Apple will be bringing more stock of the smaller tablet to India at a later date. To put the mini at a further disadvantage, the promotional posters around the stage and sales area were all for the iPad Air. While no one is saying there was a bias, there definitely was a bigger push for the Air from a sales perspective.

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First receipt for the ipad Air at High Street Phoenix, Mumbai

We were not given any concrete answers when asked which of the tablets was seeing more sales. Nor were we told how many iPads were available for sale at this launch event. But unlike the iPhone launch there is no danger of stock running out for this one. Yes, buyers walked in at a steady clip but it felt like a lukewarm launch for one of the hottest devices in the world.

The iPad Air is available at a starting price of Rs 35,900 for 16GB Wi-Fi-only model while the 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular is priced at Rs 44,900. The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB Wi-Fi only models are priced at Rs 42,900, Rs 49,900 and Rs 56,900 respectively. The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular models are priced at Rs 51,900, Rs 58,900 and Rs 65,900, respectively.

The Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models of the 16GB iPad mini with Retina display are priced at Rs 28,900 and Rs 37,900 respectively. The 32GB, 64GB and 128 GB Wi-Fi only models are priced at Rs 35,900, Rs 42,900 and Rs 49,900 respectively. The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular models are priced at Rs 44,900, 51,900 and Rs 58,900 respectively.