Apple replaces iPad Air 2 with A9-equipped 9.7-inch iPad starting at $329

The tablet comes with 32- and 128-gigabyte storage options, and like most iPads a choice between Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations. Silver, gold, and space gray colors are available. Prices can range up to $559 for a cellular-equipped 128-gigabyte tablet.

"New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it," Apple PR head Phil Schiller said in a prepared statement.

The product also has an 8 megapixel rear camera — without flash — and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, enough for 720p video.

Other features include support for Touch ID and the international Apple SIM format, which can make it easier to switch data plans. Active battery life is rated at about 10 hours, the same as the 9.7- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. Likewise its display has a 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution, matching the 9.7-inch Pro.

Online orders will open on Friday, March 24 at Apple, although select Apple authorized resellers are accepting 9.7-inch iPad pre-orders now. Deliveries and retail sales will only begin the following week, but to over 20 regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.

Denmark, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Turkey, and various other markets will get the product in April. Brazil, Taiwan and others will follow from May onwards.

Apple is also selling polyurethane Smart Covers for $39, in colors including gray, white, blue, pink, and (Product)Red.