The new iPad mini with retina display was announced last month without a proper release date. Apple had simply specified “Available this November” back then. Last night when the Apple store went down, people were speculating that the new iPad mini with retina display might go on sale, but this will still come as a surprise for many in the US when they wake up in the morning.

The current shipping dates for the 16GB and 32GB variants of the WiFi only models is 1-3 business days, while others have 5-10 business days. Expect the shipping estimated to increase significantly by the time most people wake up to the news in the morning.The cellular version is available on all the four major carriers in the US – AT&T, T-mobile, Sprint and Verizon. The 7.9-inch iPad mini has been a huge success for Apple ever since it was announced last year. Unlike the original iPad mini (which still lives on and available with prices starting at $299), the new iPad mini with retina display doesn’t come with any compromise with regards to the hardware. It sports the latest Apple A7 processor with 64-bit architecture, 5MP iSight camera and support for multiple LTE bands.

Available in UK, Hong Kong and other countries as well

In addition to Apple US online store, the new iPad mini with retina display is made available in many other countries like the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Germany amongst others. In Hong Kong, the prices start from HKD 3088, while in Australia, it starts from A$ 479. In Germany, the 16GB Wifi model is priced at €389, while in UK, it starts from £319. The retina display on the iPad mini was one of the most sought out feature before the announcement. Now that it’s here, will you be buying one? Or will you consider the bigger iPad Air? For those wondering about how the new iPad mini fares in comparison to the new Nexus 7, here’s a handy guide.