Apple's announcement of the new iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 3 on Thursday drew less fanfare than is typical for an address from the company, especially considering the hype generated by iPhone 6 and iOS 8 last month.

But experts still are projecting both new iPads will do well for Apple's bottom line, and they have been well-reviewed. Both the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 are available for preorder on Friday and are expected to ship next week, according to a report from The Verge.

The Air 2 is the thinnest iPad Apple has ever made, following a trend by the company that was also done with the iPhone 6, and will start at $499 for the 16GB, WiFi-only version.The 64GB Air 2 will run customers $599, and the 128GB model will cost $699.

The Mini 3 is similar to its predecessor, but Apple has added Touch ID and new color options -- silver, space gray and gold -- along with iOS 8. The Mini 3 starts at $399 for the 16GB model, jumping to $499 for the 64GB and $599 for the 128GB model.

PC Mag tested the Air 2 after it was revealed and reported that even with its thinner construction, it feels durable. Apple hasn't added any additional structural support, still relying on the aluminum unibody construction. The Air 2 is 6.1-mm thick, 18 percent thinner than the original Air.

As it often does with new models, Apple has improved the display on the Air 2. The 2,048 x 1,536 resolution and 9.7-inch screen size haven't changed from the Air, but sharpness and clarity have been upgraded, the review said.

The Air 2 also comes with Touch ID, allowing users to make Apple Store purchases with just a fingerprint. Apple is also reportedly expanding Touch ID use for third-party apps, which will increase its function by allowing users more capabilities with just their fingerprints.