IPad Air 2 Review: A Look at Apple’s Thinner, Lighter Tablet
The iPad Air 2 is here, and Apple fanboys are already flocking to buy the company’s latest tablet device. Whether you’re in the market for a new tablet or just want to see what the hype is all about, keep reading to find out everything there is to know about the iPad Air 2, including its price, release date and all of its specs. This article will cover everything you need to know about Apple’s newest mobile gadget, so keep reading to learn more!
The Good
iPad Air 2 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. It has excellent performance, with a quad-core processor running iOS 8 smoothly. The rear camera and FaceTime front-facing camera have been upgraded from five megapixels to eight megapixels. And iPad Air 2 has all of the same security features as previous models, including Touch ID fingerprint authentication for unlocking your tablet and making purchases on iTunes or in app stores.
The Bad
Battery life could be better – a lot better. Apple promises 10 hours of web surfing with Wi-Fi and cellular and 9 hours of video watching. In our tests it came in on par with other tablets on all of those fronts but not quite as long as promised by Apple’s estimates. The overall design looks nearly identical to last year’s iPad Air so if you haven’t held an iPad in a while it may feel like not much has changed.
The Verdict
Should You Buy an iPad Air? If you have an older iPad and are wondering whether it’s worth it to upgrade to a new one, we think that if you plan to use your tablet mostly for entertainment (watching videos and surfing social media), then you’ll be happy with just about any model. If most of your activity will take place inside iOS apps or websites like Gmail and Facebook, either 16GB or 64GB should do fine. If you plan on using your tablet for work more than anything else, though, consider going up to 256GB—or even 512GB if storage is a non-issue for you.
Is it Worth Upgrading?
If you’ve been holding off on an iPad purchase because you’re waiting for a new model to roll out, it’s time to take another look. This time, Apple has slimmed down its flagship tablet in every way possible—but with a stronger display than ever before. As one of our favorite products in its class (more compact and easier to carry than most laptops), there’s never been a better time to upgrade.
What People are Saying
The iPad Air 2 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, according to Apple. It also has a faster processor, better camera and longer battery life. The device can take advantage of apps that run on iOS 8 – as well as a few built specifically for it by third-party developers. (CNET) The Pros: The iPad Air 2’s display looks great and feels responsive. Apps open quickly, video plays smoothly and graphics are crisp (Engadget).
The tablet comes with a powerful 64-bit A8X chip that makes multitasking easy (CNET). In addition, its Touch ID fingerprint sensor lets you securely unlock your device without having to type in a passcode (TechCrunch). With an impressive 10 hours of battery life, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of your workday or long flight (PCMag). And if you do run out of power while away from an outlet, you can charge up your tablet via USB—no adapter required!
My Final Thoughts
The iPad Air 2 is a thinner and lighter version of its predecessor. Though it’s lighter by less than half an ounce and thinner than a pencil, it still has everything I love about my first iPad. The camera quality is amazing and it’s even faster than before. Battery life is one of my favorite features as well because it allows me to work for longer periods of time without having to worry about plugging in.
