On November 12th, Apple soft-launched the new iPad Mini Retina, just in time for the holiday season. This new iPad mini model boasts a 7.9 inch Retina display, a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, and 326 pixels per inch. Even with a soft launch, getting the new iPad proved difficult – shipping time started at two to three weeks. CNET claims that the delay was due to the nature and high quality of the display, which is challenging to make in such large volumes. But earlier this month, the shipping time dropped down to 10 days and this week, the shipping time went to 1 – 3 days. Meaning, you could get your hands on a Retina display in about 24 hours.

The new ship time includes all models ranging from 16 GB to 128 GB, in both Wi-Fi and Cellular models. It also applies to limited international shipping, including Mexico and Canada and the Asian Pacific. The Retina iPad still has a 5 day ship time to any European countries.

This pad is also more readily available in phone carrier stores, including Verizon and AT&T. It seems that Apple, notorious for being out of stock in phone carrier stores, is finally easing its grip on supply and increasing production, therefore making the newest upgrade the most accessible iPad.

The iPad mini Retina is not only sleek but boats high-performance, with a powerful A7 chip, 10 hours of battery life, and 2x faster Wi-Fi speed. The Retina iPad mini starts at $399 and is available in Space Grey and Silver.

iPad Mini with Retina display review: Perfect balance of size and specs http://t.co/7XUPn2ujTT

— ZDNet (@ZDNet) December 26, 2013

Image via Wikimedia Commons