As expected, the Apple iPad event on Thursday wasn't very thrilling, with mostly incremental improvements announced for the company's tablets and computers, but some first-time iPad shoppers this holiday season might have one high-end tablet to set their sights on.

Perhaps Apple was downplaying expectations when the "accidental" leak of iPad specs occurred a day before the seasonal unveiling of updated tablets. Perhaps they were just trying to steal some of the attention away from Google's new Nexus smartphone and tablet, which debuted the same day.

Apple iPad mini 3: As mini as Updates Get

But Apple could have really killed those expectations had they leaked the full spec sheet of the new iPad mini 3.

That's because, as Brian Barrett of Gizmodo pointed out, there's almost nothing new in the third version of the diminutive iPad. Looking at the spec sheets of the iPad mini 2 and the new mini 3 side by side, there's been no changes in the dimensions or weight, no change in processor, no change in screen resolution, no bump in the camera specs -- aside from a Touch ID home button, a larger storage option, and the new gold color, there's nothing new about the iPad mini 3 at all.

iPad Air 2

That said, the new iPad Air 2 might catch some eyes from high-end tablet buyers who may never have tried Apple before. For one, the iPad Air 2 takes the mantel of the "thinnest tablet ever" again, now at only 6.1mm thick.

Apple dramatically demonstrated its slim new iPad using the (now commonly mocked) pencil comparison it touted in commercials last year, but also by showing that two iPad Air 2s stacked on top of each other are still slimmer than the original iPad tablet.

Beyond that, the iPad Air 2 comes with the first A8X processor, an improved Retina display, Touch ID, an anti-reflective screen that improves screen visibility over the iPad Air by a reported 56 percent and, of course, that gold color option.

While starting at $500 for the cheapest version, the iPad Air 2 might not attract many current iPad users, who (if using, say, an iPad 2 or above) probably won't see much of a reason to make another investment in an expensive tablet in the new Air. But for those few people looking to jump in to their first iPad starting at the high end, the iPad Air 2 looks quite enticing.

iMac Retina, Mac mini, and Yosemite Download

Apple also announced a few new devices in its computing lineup. There's a new 27-inch iMac with a 5K Retina display (that's 5,120 x 2,880p), boasting four times the resolution of one of its non-Retina cousins. The machine comes with a 3.5GHz Haswell Core i5 chip at its lowest price, which is $2,499.

The Mac with a cult following, Mac mini, also got an overdue upgrade on Thursday. Now sporting Haswell chips, the "little Mac that can" comes with a 1.4GHz Core i5 (with turbo boost up to 2.7GHz) and a 500GB HHD for just under $500. You'll also get two new Thunderbolt 2 ports, and faster graphics and WiFi in the deal. Of course, you'll need to buy a mouse and keyboard as well -- and a display, if you're not hooking it up to your TV.

Finally, on the software side of things, the new OS X Yosemite was announced as available for free download to (almost) every Mac owner -- starting the same day. Check out our hands-on review of the Yosemite Beta preview to help you decide if you want to download it.