Apple iPad Air, the first version.Soon after the new iPhone 6 models, Apple quickly pulled the wraps off the new iPads - iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3. This time around the Cupertino company hasn’t ignored the Indian market. Apple has revealed the pricing for the Indian market, but there is no word on when the devices will hit store shelves here. The iPad Air 2 has been grabbing eye-balls for its great looks and build. Though we haven’t got our hands on the device yet, let’s take a quick look what the tech critics around the globe are saying.
iPad Air 2 measures just 6.1mm on its edges – the thinnest laptop in the world
The big highlight of the iPad Air 2 is about how thin and sleek it is. It measures just 6.1mm thin and weighs mere 435g. It is easily the world’s thinnest tablet, almost 18 per cent thinner than the original iPad Air. TheVerge writes in its review, “It’s so, so thin: 18 percent thinner than the older Air, and even slightly lighter. It’s hard to believe that there’s a computer back there, let alone a computer as powerful than the laptop computers of just a few years ago. If there is anything magical about this new iPad it is this, this feeling of impossibility. The Air 2 makes the original iPad look and feel archaic, like a horrible monster from a long-forgotten past.”
The thinness is achieved by removing the gap between the LCD and the top glass. However, this isn’t something new and we have already seen it in older Apple products, as old as the iPhone 4. The new thinner design has also brought in some other changes. For instance, the physical rotation lock/mute switch on the side has been removed , which has left several critics disappointed. “iPad Air 2’s thinner design necessitated some changes, however, including the remarkable feat of fusing display glass and components in a single layer to decrease the required internal space, and the unfortunate removal of the physical rotation lock/mute switch on the side. That missing switch is indeed missed, and despite the presence of its functions in the Control Center panel, there were many times when I wished the physical control was still present,” adds Techcrunch.
Apple’s iPad Air 2 features a 9.7-inches display with a 2048×1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi). The display didn’t come across as a major improvement, however, it does its job quite well. “The new Air’s display addresses one of my biggest complaints about previous iPads: You can finally see the screen outdoors. A thinner display with an anti-reflective layer means unless the sun is really beating down, there’s no need to pitch a towel tent over the screen while sitting by the pool,” states the Wall Street Journal.
The Apple iPad Air 2 has started selling in some countries, but there’s no news on the India release date
Singing to a similar tune, TheVerge adds, “The Air 2 has a vibrant, sharp display that looks almost painted on. Apple says the new antireflective coating on the Air 2 reduces glare by 56 percent, but I didn’t really notice it making a huge difference; you definitely can’t use it in bright sunlight.”
On the other side, it comes with an improved 8MP iSight camera, which has been improved from the 5MP seen on the first-generation iPad Air. “The camera can capture images at 3264×2448 resolution now, which is better for high-resolution displays like that of the iPad Air, and the new Retina iMac. But the camera isn’t just sporting better hardware – there are a lot of software additions, including high-res panorama capture, burst mode with 10fps capture, time-lapse and slow-mo video and improved face detection,” adds Techcrunch.
While the device shows several upgrades, it has taken a down turn when it comes to the battery. “A thinner profile comes at the expense of battery size. The new Air’s is 5.1Wh battery is smaller than the old one, but Apple still promises that you’ll get the same 10-hour battery life because the A8X is more power-efficient. Real-life use shows that the original Air still rules the roost; after a day of heavy use, I typically went to bed with around 20 percent left in the tank,” states Engadget.
All reviews talk about the blazing fast speed of the new iPad Air 2. Apple hasn’t disclosed the exact specifications of the new A8X processor that powers the iPad Air 2, but a new benchmark reveals a triple-core processor with 2 gigabytes of RAM. Going by theAppleInsider report, the A8X is said to be 2.5 times faster than the A7.
Apple iPad Air 2 comes with an 8MP iSight camera which lets you do panorama, slo-mo videos, burst shooting and more
“Inside the iPad Air 2 lies Apple’s new A8X chip, which is a variant of the A8 found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with additional graphics capabilities. It’s ridiculously fast — noticeably faster to load web pages and launch apps than my iPad Air, and it has so much graphics headroom that I’m eager to see how game developers take advantage of it,” states TheVerge. In a nutshell, the report states, “There’s no question that the iPad Air 2 is the best iPad ever made. It’s also the best tablet ever made — its incredible hardware and enormous ecosystem of apps offer a commanding advantage over the competition. But it’s not Apple’s best product; it’s not the company’s most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price. It’s mostly just thinner.”
Though it is been applauded for its great looks, build and processing speed, many feel it won’t be a worthy upgrade if you own the iPad Air. However, it is good deal for anyone using older iPads like the iPad 2, iPad 3 and so on. Mashable also sings to a similar tune, it states, “The Apple iPad Air 2 is the best tablet Apple has ever produced. It will please Apple fans, but may not have raised the bar far enough on tablet technology to hold onto its crown indefinitely.”
According to Re/code, “I don’t recommend that average iPad Air owners upgrade to the Air 2. But what about the vast majority of iPad owners who own older models? That’s a different story. If you have an iPad 2, 3 or 4, the new Air 2 will make a big difference. Its thinness and lightness will be a dramatic change, and it will be faster and more fluid.”
The Guardian says, “The iPad Air 2 is undoubtedly Apple’s best tablet to date. Its Touch ID fingerprint scanner works well, it’s thin, light and powerful and lasts a long time on a single charge. But it no longer stands head and shoulders above the competition. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S set a new bar for screen quality which the iPad doesn’t quite reach. Sony’s Xperia Z2 Tablet is lighter and waterproof, but is thicker and doesn’t last as long. Original iPad Air users might want to skip this generation, while those looking for something a bit fresher have equally good options from Samsung and Sony.”
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