LTE-Capable iPad Min, iPad Now Available from Sprint

As of today, Sprint will begin offering both the iPad Mini and the fourth generation iPad at its retail locations throughout the U.S. Obviously, both versions of the iPad will be available alongside a choice of data plans, allowing customers to enjoy subsidized pricing when they sign up for a contract alongside their tablet purchase. These data plans are also available without a contract, allowing customers the freedom of paying month to month.

The iPad Mini was first announced by Apple toward the end of October and is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad. It features a 7.9-inch multi-touch display, rear and front-facing cameras and excellent battery life, able to provide about 10 hours of continuous use on a single charge. The fourth generation iPad, meanwhile, boasts a 9.7-inch Retina display and a blazing fast Apple-designed A6X processor.

Both models run the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 6.

“iPad mini and the fourth generation iPad, combined with Sprint’s 4G LTE network and our aggressively priced rate plans, offer customers an outstanding tablet experience,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president, Product Development, Sprint. “Sprint doesn’t put its customers on shared pricing plans like some carriers. With Sprint you get the best pricing for all the data you need without the worry of overages.”

The data plans being offered with the iPad and iPad Mini start at $15 for 300MB of data usage per month, topping out at $80 per month for a whopping 12GB of data. Meanwhile, current Sprint smartphone customers can add an iPad or iPad Mini to their account to get a specially discounted rate plan that includes 1GB of data usage for $15 per month, or 100MB for $10.

Those thinking of getting an iPad Mini might be deterred, however, by the rumor that Apple is already hard at work on the second iteration of the brand new device. Indeed, some are saying we may see a new iPad Mini release as early as next spring.