The new iPad mini, which boasts a crisper visual display than its predecessors, became available for purchase on Apple's website last night. And it may have surprised many shoppers, given that there was no announcement of its release.

The price of the new tablet starts at $399 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model and goes up from there, peaking at $829 for the 128 GB model that can connect to the internet using cellular networks.

When Tim Cook announced the new iPad mini with retina display earlier this year, no firm release date was given. The world knew only that it would be available for purchase sometime in November.

Apple is not a company known for flying under the radar. Steve Jobs, the company's late founder and former chief executive, became famous for his showmanship at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, where he debuted the original iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010. Cook, the current CEO, has continued this practice.

According to TechCrunch, shipping times for the new iPad mini vary widely. A limited supply may prevent some would-be buyers from receiving their device before the end of the year.

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