Apple has unveiled its fifth generation iPad in San Francisco overnight with the new tablet sporting a new name, iPad Air.

As predicted by the tech press, Apple launched its new generation iPad and introduced an updated iPad mini featuring Apple’s retina display.

Air has been tagged onto the iPad name to drive home the new tablet’s thinner and lighter body.

Weighing less than half a kilo the iPad is 28% lighter and 20% thinner than its predecessor.

Both the iPad Air and mini will be available in Australia from November 1. The iPad Air will retail from $598 [wifi only and 16gb] while the mini will start at $479.

The tablets weren’t the only updates unveiled by Apple overnight with the event also the launch of the improved MacBook Pro and new MacPro.

The tech giant has also made its new OS X Mavericks, and iWork and iLife software available to download for free.

Apple wasn’t the only company to uncover its new products yesterday with Nokia’s Abu Dhabi launch scheduled on the same day.

The event saw Nokia – which Microsoft has acquired – launch its Windows RT tablet, the Lumia 2520, two new six-inch phablets and three new low-budget Asha handsets.

Christmas sales are set to be a competitive time for tablet manufacturers with Apple’s and Nokia’s new products joining the throngs of available tablets from the likes of Samsung, Google, Acer and others.