Apple to unveil new iPads today as Gartner warns that the tablet computer boom is over

New iPads to be unveiled at 6pm today as Gartner claims that tablet computer sales growth has plunged

Apple is expected to unveil its new iPad range today - as new figures from Gartner suggest that growth in the tablet computer market is faltering as buyers choose "ultra-mobiles" instead.

The models will include a new iPad Mini 3 and iPad Air 2, which Apple inadvertently revealed in its iPad User Guide for iOS 8.1, before quickly pulling the book from the shelves.

The new devices will include a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built in to the home buttons, which until now has only been available on high-end iPhones. The devices' cameras will also enable pictures to be taken in "burst mode", again, another feature that debuted on the iPhone 5S.

What is less clear, though, is whether Apple will unveil a long-awaited 12.9-inch iPad. Even if it does, shipping would be unlikely to begin until early in 2015, missing the Christmas spike in sales, as Apple focuses on distributing its popular iPhone 6 and 6 Plus smartphones.

The launch comes at a time when analyst group Gartner has warned that tablet computer sales growth is slowing.

Gartner estimates that worldwide tablet computer sales will reach 229 million units this year, up 11 per cent compared to 2013. In 2013, by contrast, tablet computer sales leapt by 55 per cent.

The reason for this, says Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal, is that replacement cycles for tablet computers are being extended, and buyers of tablet-like computers are increasingly opting for ultra-mobile style computers, which combine a keyboard and a detatchable screen with touch features. Many other buyers are favouring larger smartphones, like the Apple iPhone 6 Plus.

As a result, tablet computers will comprise just 9.5 per cent of a total computer market of 2.4 billion units. That figure is made up of 276.5 million traditional desktop and laptop PCs, 37.6 million ultra-mobiles, 229.1 million tablet computers - and a massive 1.9 billion mobile phones.