Technical characteristics of Apple iPad Air reviews, descriptions, applications. Detailed review and testing of Apple iPad Air iPad Air 1 dimensions

• Tablet
• USB cable
• power unit
• Documentation
• Tool for removing the SIM card tray (for versions with 4G)

Does a new broom sweep in a new way? Or not? Rather, yes, all the usual functions are now in a lightweight package, which is nice. The Air is also very fast, looks better than the previous generation, has an A7 processor inside, and you can immediately buy a model with 128 GB - however, let's talk about everything in order.

Design, construction

Well, dear friends, lovers of large iPads, the tablet was a success. I want to say this right away, I had the opportunity to use the first iPad, the second, the third, the fourth - although there was a serious difference only between the first and second. Apple can afford to use the same case, the public is used to it. In Sony or Samsung, a new device always means a new design, otherwise the public will not understand what the differences are. So, the iPad Air is something completely new, and from the moment of its announcement I decided that I would buy just such a device for myself. There are several reasons for this. The iPad mini's small display isn't great for watching movies, but we (me and my girlfriend) often watch movies on the tablet while traveling, at home, or even outdoors when the weather permits. The difference seems small, but it’s also more convenient to work, play, use mail, a browser - you continue the list yourself. Yes, it’s trite that it’s better to show a presentation on a large iPad. As I have written more than once, a tablet for me is not at all an essential item; it happens that the device lies in my bag for weeks and is not used, and then suddenly it becomes the center of attention and is almost always with me. Surely many of you have a similar use case.

Well, what made me happy with the iPad Air from the first minutes? The design has changed, it has become more strict, whereas before the iPad stood out from the line of Apple mobile devices - silver metal, a black or white frame around the display - now everything has been brought in line with other gadgets. It looks like an iPad mini, everyone notices it. It has become much smaller, you can even take it with one hand - if you have a large hand. And most importantly, now it’s really comfortable to hold with one hand! For example, while reading on public transport, or just reading before bed. The dimensions have changed dramatically, here's a comparison, these are the dimensions of the iPad 2: 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm, weight - 601 grams, the version with 3G weighs 613 grams. And these are the dimensions of the iPad Air: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm, weight - 469 grams, the 4G version weighs 478 grams. If you look at the numbers, the difference does not seem particularly noticeable, but in life it is even more noticeable. The frames on the left and right of the display have been reduced, the Home button at the bottom has not changed, the layout of the controls is familiar: above the display is the camera, on the right is the mute lever, volume buttons, and on the top end is the power button. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top left, LIghtning is on the bottom. It’s a shame that the set doesn’t include EarPods; I’m guessing many of you also use the iPad to listen to music.

The case is made of aluminum, two colors, white and dark gray, Cosmic Gray, it is the same as the iPhone 5S. Both colors are very beautiful, but I liked the “blued” iPad better, although I initially thought about buying a light one. I would like to especially note that the Air collects fingerprints very quickly, it was not noticeable on silver metal, but here the apple on the back instantly gets dirty, the oleophobic coating on the display does not cope with fingerprints, I had to clean the Air for a long time and persistently before taking pictures. The model with 4G has a plastic insert on the top end, there is an antenna there, the SIM card slot is on the right side, a nanoSIM is used.

There is a perforation at the bottom, it is not clear whether there are two speakers or one, but the sound of the tablet is simply gorgeous. You can calmly watch a movie together and not connect the audio system; the volume reserve is excessive. And this is not some kind of squeaker, there are even low voices that are perfectly conveyed, and listening to music is also very interesting. In my opinion, the Air has even better sound than the MacBook Air 11, it is spacious and interesting. This is a very pleasant change, and everyone to whom I showed the tablet responded positively about the sound quality. And as for the music in the headphones, I also want to respond positively, I listened to it with the Bose QC20, I really, really liked it, in my opinion, and here at Apple they changed something compared to the previous generation. The volume has increased, the sound quality has changed for the better, this is truly a musical machine. It’s nice that they haven’t forgotten about this aspect of the iPad; I often listen to something before going to bed or when I’m reading a book.

Once again I want to dwell on the design, next to the display - sort of bevels, like the iPhone 5S, most likely it is on the edge that there will be abrasions during active use without a case, with the 5S this is exactly the situation. The coating of the smartphone's body has been changed for the better; this is not a top five, where the paint crumbled on its own - I'll tell you more in the review. But we can assume that Air's coverage is reliable, which is good.

Display

The IPS display diagonal is 9.7 inches, has LED backlighting, resolution is 2048 x 1536 pixels, everything is simple here - this is one of the best screens for mobile devices, literally good from any angle, no matter how you look at it. I don’t know what else to add, it’s pleasing to the eye, everything is clear, smooth, bright - by the way, I don’t set the brightness to maximum, eighty percent, that’s quite enough.

A disclaimer needs to be made here; the iPad mini with Retina will soon be available for sale, and you may have a question about what to buy. I would recommend looking at both tablets in the store and only then making a decision. I realized one thing for myself a long time ago - the diagonal matters, even if the Air doesn’t fit into any pocket.

Memory

Four versions, for the first time the iPad with 128 GB of memory was immediately announced - let me remind you that the previous version of the iPad 4 (let's call it that) appeared after the start of sales, as if Apple wanted to conduct an experiment whether consumers would like it or not. Or there was a problem with the components, who knows. In any case, there are four versions: 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB. In general, there are eight versions, if you also take into account models with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G. And if you take into account the colors, there are sixteen models. Just in case, I bought a version with 64 GB of memory, as a reserve. If you are used to carrying a lot of content and documents with you, and want to always have a reserve, then it makes sense to look at a model with 128 GB of memory. Who would have thought three years ago that we would live to see the moment when such a capacity in a tablet would become commonplace - at least for Apple.

Accessories

I’m thinking of writing a buyer’s guide for iPad Air owners, telling more about the most necessary and useful accessories. Among the original additions, I immediately recommend EarPods - listen to music, chat in FaceTime (by the way, I often started using this function on the tablet). I advise you to immediately buy SmartCover - a familiar cover that can activate the device when you open it, and can work as a stand. Well, or SmartCase, a full-fledged case with the same functions. In the operating experience I will show you what these cases look like; I’m sure there will soon be offers from other manufacturers. In general, I personally only need the iPad case as a stand; there’s nothing special to protect here - glass, metal, the coating seems reliable.

Performance

The tablet comes with iOS 7.0.3; you can read more about the operating system in a separate review.

The A7 processor is used, as in the iPhone5S, 64-bit architecture, and there is also an M7 coprocessor: “Thanks to the new M7 coprocessor, the iPhone 5s works even more efficiently. It relieves the A7 processor by processing motion signals from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass. Applications use this data without loading the A7 processor. And because the M7 coprocessor was designed specifically for these tasks, it requires significantly less power than the A7 would. Thus, battery power is consumed more economically.” Naturally, in Air a coprocessor is needed for the same tasks, the solution is interesting.

I measured the performance with a benchmark, but this, you see, is not very indicative. Programs launch quickly, but there is still a problem with the optimization of some applications, for example, Soundcloud - the brakes when changing the display orientation are clearly visible in the video, see above. There you can also see how the races start in a small window and expand to full screen only after clicking on the “Pause” button. Naturally, this is not a hardware problem, it’s just that the software requires optimization. After installing some utilities from the store, icons did not appear on the desktop; a reboot helped. Safari crashes, this has happened several times already. The tablet sometimes slows down when changing the layout, you press the change button - nothing happens. I have never encountered such problems with new iPads before. At the same time, there is no need to complain about the speed; even after the latest generation iPad, the startup time is pleasing - we are talking about all sorts of heavy applications like Infinity Blade III. To be honest, I installed this game only for testing. Years go by, nothing changes in IB, titans, swords, loud and meaningless speeches - it's a pity. I like the same evil Plague more. By the way, Eldar and I are constantly trying to look for all sorts of interesting games for the iPad, if you know anything special, tell us in the comments.

Naturally, all the problems mentioned above will be fixed in software updates.

As already written above, there are two versions, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G, I have a tablet from the USA. For me personally, regular 3G is quite enough, but if LTE is turned on, then it’s easier to use the iPhone 5S as an access point for the iPad. Naturally, there is Bluetooth (profile 4.0), using AirDrop you can send a picture or something else to another iOS device. It's a mystery why AirDrop on MacBook doesn't see iPhone or iPad.

Opening hours

The stated operating time is 10 hours in video viewing mode (Wi-Fi on) or 9 hours if surfing using 3G/4G. The Lightning connector is used, no matter what anyone says, but it is in every way better than microUSB; you don’t have to think about which side to insert the plug into. This is a serious advantage over microUSB.

I've only been using the Air for a couple of days and the numbers seem to be as advertised. Most importantly, it didn’t get worse, despite the fact that the processor is different.

Cameras

The module has not been changed here, the same as in the iPad 3/4 (although is it worth calling the last tablet in the previous “body” a fourth?). Above the display is a FaceTime camera, 1.2 MP resolution, 720p video, behind is a 5 MP main camera with autofocus, you can shoot HDR and record HD video. The Air update will probably include a module from the iPhone 5. Examples of pictures from the iPad 3 review, the quality is the same. Enough for Instagram.

By the way, I have always wondered why take photographs on a tablet at all; from the outside it looks strange.

Conclusions

In the US, the story with prices is this, here are the versions with Wi-Fi: 16 GB - $499, 32 GB - $599, 64 GB - $699, 128 GB - $799. But the prices for Wi-Fi + 4G versions: 16 GB - $629, 32 GB - $729, 64 GB - $829, 128 GB - $929. Naturally, until official sales have begun in Russia, there is a revival in the gray market; for the model under consideration they are asking about 35,000 rubles, but I would like to note that there is no rush, as in the case of the iPhone 5S. And I completely understand why. A tablet is not a smartphone; people don’t change it without a reason, impulsively. Let's say, if you have a latest generation iPad, with 128 GB of memory, bought a few months ago, what's the point of changing it to Air? I personally don’t see the point, well, unless you really want a new product. A tablet is like a camera; this thing is often replaced only if it breaks down. Well, or there have been serious changes in technology, two or even three generations of such devices have changed.

So who is the iPad Air for? It seems to me that it is just for those who use the iPad 2 and were waiting for the release of a completely new device. For those who have not previously bought tablets at all, newly arrived users, schoolchildren who turned into students, students who got their first job. For those who have had experience with Android-based tablets and now want to try a normal tablet (this applies to both software and hardware).

I really liked the Air - familiar functions in a lightweight body (and this very lightness is very important for many), excellent operating time, gorgeous display, large selection of modifications, cool design and materials, there are complaints about third-party programs, but there are no complaints about performance. I think the updated Air will have a fingerprint sensor, like the iPhone 5S, you get used to this thing, it’s especially convenient to use for shopping. They will probably change the cameras, add another color, and who knows what else will happen. It is clear that in three years the iPad will be like a piece of paper, everything is moving towards this - and this is wonderful.

In conclusion, I will say that I am extremely impressed with the device and can confidently recommend the iPad Air to you. This will be one of the most popular New Year's gifts, stock up in advance.

Sergey Kuzmin ()

Air iPad is a modern and very popular tablet from Apple among users. Air runs on OS version 9 and is presented in a thin aluminum case. The weight of the gadget is only less than 500 grams.

But that's not all the winning features of the iPad Air. This device has powerful technical characteristics - an A7 processor, a large bright display, and an excellent camera. In many respects, it is superior to the iPad 3, A1474 and many others, if you compare the iPad Air with them. In addition, the buyer has the right to choose how much memory will be in his tablet - 16 or 32 GB. As for the colors of the tablet, there is little choice here. The manufacturer has released tablets in gray colors. One is a silver shade, the second is “space gray”.

Of course, the Air tablet supports wireless networks, and the user can access the Internet whenever he wants. After all, today Wi-Fi points are located almost everywhere.

For iPads of the Air model, it is possible to download and install almost any software. There are more than 800 thousand available games and applications for the device. No matter how many programs you want to have on your tablet, you can download as many. Of course, everything is within the memory capacity of your device.

But the first pleasant moment that catches the user’s eye after several days of using the new product is the long operation of the gadget without additional recharging. The battery capacity of the device is more than 32 W/hour, which allows you to work up to 10 hours in wireless networks.

These were the main parameters, and now - a detailed review of the Apple iPad Air.

The box with the device contains the following:

• The tablet itself.
• USB cable.
• Charging.
• Documents.
• Accessory for removing SIM cards.

But in principle, has anything changed with the arrival of the new model? Or just the appearance? Absolutely yes. But the improved “filling” is also placed in a lighter and more stylish body. The gadget, now running on an A7 processor, has become faster. But first things first...

Design and build

So, let’s immediately note that the product was a great success. This is noted by the majority of users who have managed to test all lines of tablets from the Apple company. They note that the cardinal difference was only between the first and second generation of devices.

But the manufacturer can afford not to change anything much, because this is in its principles. And the consumer is accustomed to this state of affairs. But, for example, with Apple’s competitors, every new gadget always comes with a new design. Otherwise, they believe, the user simply will not understand what is new.

But in the situation with Air, the Apple company deviated a little from its rules, and the new tablet is really different in appearance from its younger “brothers”. This was one of the main reasons why the device immediately aroused wide interest among the public.

For example, the mini model's screen was too small to view video clips. But many people use the tablet, for the most part, as a TV. This is convenient, because you can watch videos both in nature and in transport.

And although the difference between the new product and the small model in terms of screen size is not very large, it is more convenient to work with it. How to play, write SMS, and surf. And simply showing a presentation will have a greater effect if done on a large display.

What does the new Air tablet bring to its owners? Firstly, by design. He became more strict. Its dimensions in terms of thickness have decreased. And many note that the device is similar to the mini model. The gadget can easily fit in a large palm. It turned out to be very convenient to operate the device with one hand. Let’s say you can read this way on the bus, or just lying in bed before going to bed.

The dimensions of the new product have changed very significantly. If previous tablet models weighed more than 600 grams, then the Air weighed less than 500 grams. As for the length and width, the device has also become significantly smaller when compared with the second and third versions of the iPad.

Moreover, the difference between the new tablet and the previous ones is more felt visually than when simply talking about numbers. The bezels on both sides have been reduced. The Home button at the bottom remains the same. The controls are similar to those on previous devices. At the top of the display is the camera. On the right side there is a mute lever and sound control elements. At the top, at the end there is a power button.

Air tablet model display

Diagonal dimensions – 9.7 inches. There is LED backlighting. The resolution is 2048 x 1536 pixels. Based on these characteristics, we can already say that this is one of the best screens. The picture is of excellent quality, no matter what angle you look at it from. Moreover, many users advise setting the brightness to 80 percent, and this is quite enough. According to numerous reviews, the gadget’s display is clear, bright and smooth.

But after the mini model with Retina resolution was released onto the market, many were faced with the question of what is better to buy. Here there can be only one recommendation - to look at both models with your own eyes, and only then make a final decision. Although, it should be noted that for most users the diagonal is of great importance. let it not be very convenient to carry the device with you. For example, it will not fit in a trouser pocket.

Memory

If you look deeply and remember all versions of the iPad, for the first time a model with 128 GB of memory was announced with four. In general, if we classify tablets from the Apple company by memory capacity, in addition to this option there are 3 more - with 16, 36 and 64 GB on board. And so, there are even 8 versions, if you take into account the versions with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G.

And when you take into account the color gamut, you get all 16. As statistics show, in terms of memory, most users choose the “golden mean” and purchase a device with 64 GB.

But if you store a lot of information in your gadget, it’s better to immediately buy the 128 GB version. Previously, this version of the tablet seemed incredible to many. But today they won’t surprise anyone. Devices with minimum parameters of 16 GB, on the contrary, will soon fall into oblivion.

Accessories

Although many consider such additions to devices to be unimportant, it is still worth paying some attention to them. It is true that a number of them are absolutely useless. But others are very smart and even irreplaceable.

Among the original items, the EarPods headphones stand out. Thanks to them, you can conveniently communicate via FaceTime and listen to your favorite music tracks.

In addition, it is recommended to immediately purchase a SmartCover for the tablet - a regular cover that can activate the device when it is opened. Can also be used as a stand. Or an alternative to this accessory – SmartCase. This is a case with the usual functions. On online forums you can find reviews about the use of these accessories. There will likely be a wide variety of iPad cases available in the future from a variety of manufacturers.

But in principle, the Air case is not really needed. Only if it's a stand. In appearance, the device seems super reliable. This applies to both metal and glass elements.

Performance

The model operates on the operating system version iOS 7.0.3. It makes no sense to characterize it in detail here, since the review will be too long. You can read extensive articles online about the pros and cons of this iOS.

In short, the tablet has A7 processes. The same one is in the iPhone 5S. It has a 64-bit architecture and also has an M7 coprocessor.

Many people try to measure the performance of a device using a benchmark, but this data is not very objective. The software launches quickly, but many programs have not yet been optimized. For example, they “slow down” when the display orientation changes. Because of this, processes in some games are launched first in a small window, and only after clicking the pause button does it expand. Naturally, these are not hardware defects, but unoptimized software.

For a number of users, after downloading some programs from the Apple store, their icons did not appear on the table. In this case, rebooting the gadget solved the problem. Sometimes Safari disappears.

During the process of changing the layout, the device sometimes slows down. That is, nothing happens when you click on the corresponding button. By the way, users note that this happened extremely rarely on previous iPad models.

But, of course, Apple will take into account all these problems in the newest versions of its devices and try to correct everything. Although, developers of Apple products do not always somehow react to user complaints, even if they were contacted by the support service.

As noted earlier, there are Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G versions of tablets. Many people purchase the American version and are very satisfied. After all, 3G will be enough for most, and if LTE is turned on, it’s easier to use, for example, the iPhone 5S as an access point for the iPad.

Of course, the Air also has Bluetooth (with a fourth profile). Using AirDrop, you can easily transfer a picture or anything else to another gadget. But only on an iOS device. It is still a mystery why AirDrop on a MacBook cannot detect Apple smartphones and tablets.

Duration of work

According to the manufacturer, the operating period without additional recharging is up to 10 hours. This is for the mode of watching video clips with Wi-Fi turned on. Or 1 hour less when using mobile networks.

The Lightning connector is used, which many users recognize as significantly better than the same micro USB. After all, now you don’t have to worry about mixing up the end of the plug. This is a serious advantage compared to the previous connector.

Camera

Let us immediately note that the module in Air has not been changed. It is 100% the same as in the third and fourth tablet models. At the top of the display is the FaceTime camera. It has a very good resolution of 12 megapixels. The main camera comes with 7 MP and autofocus. The user can also shoot HDR. The quality of the pictures is quite good. See below for an example of a photo taken by the Air camera.

However, with all these wonderful characteristics, we note that few people take photographs with a tablet. And from the outside it looks a little strange.

To summarize what has been said about the iPad Air...

To summarize, let’s touch on such an important issue as the price of this device. As usual, prices differ in Russia and abroad. In America, the cost of a tablet varies from 500 to 800 dollars. As you guessed, it depends on the amount of memory of the gadget. Of course, the 128 GB model is the most expensive. Prices for Wi-Fi + 4G models are 15-20% higher.

Before the start of sales of the model on the domestic market, it was filled with Chinese fakes. And prices here started from 35 thousand rubles. But at the same time, there was no special excitement, as usually happens with Phone. And the reason for this is quite clear. A tablet is, after all, not a phone. And users change it, of course, less often. Only in case of emergency (broken or very outdated).

Therefore, if you are the happy owner of the latest iPad line with the maximum amount of memory, what is the point of changing it to Air? Well, only if you really want to have a new product, and the funds allow it. In this regard, a tablet is akin to a camera, which is usually replaced when it breaks down. Or, in extreme cases, when not just one new model came out after your device, but 2 or more generations.

So what kind of user would the Air be ideal for? It seems that for those users who are still working with iPad 2 and were looking forward to the new product. And also for those who have not previously used tablets at all, schoolchildren, students. Also for a category that previously dealt only with Android and wants to try a more advanced gadget (we’re talking about hardware and operating systems).

To summarize, we note that many users really liked Air. Familiar functionality, but in a lighter package - what could be better? A fairly long period of operation without recharging is another significant advantage. There are only difficulties with unoptimized software - but only a small percentage of programs. And in terms of performance, everything is perfect.

Probably, in two years the developer will further improve the tablets, making them as thick as a sheet of paper. And now the iPad Air is an excellent option for the most demanding user.

After direct acquaintance with Apple iPad Air We can say with full confidence that this model has become the most successful update to the Californian company’s line of 10-inch tablets in the entire history of its existence. The tablet fully deserves the eloquent “airy” prefix to its name; we have never seen such a radical reduction in the weight and volume of the body while maintaining all the functional features. Interesting? Then let's start getting acquainted.

Operation

For obvious reasons, the period of test operation Apple iPad Air was not too long, during which time it was possible to notice only the main nuances of real use. Therefore, after a certain time, we will definitely return to the story about this tablet in the format of operating experience.

During operation, the tablet literally amazes with its weight; the Air prefix is ​​more appropriate here than ever, because compared to its predecessor, the new product has lost as much as 180 grams or 28% of its weight. The full-size 10-inch tablet in a metal casing now weighs only 470 grams, making it easy to hold with one hand. The ergonomics are also improved by a more compact body, which has become 1.5 cm narrower and almost 2 mm thinner, which in turn has saved 24% of the internal volume. We repeat, with a more “elongated” body Apple iPad Air looks more like a typical widescreen tablet with 16:10 aspect ratio, rather than Apple's 4:3 variation. As a result, the new Air can be chosen only because of its thin, light, metal body, regardless of all other characteristics - you just need to pick it up and you simply won’t want to let go of the tablet.

The new Apple A7/M7 hardware platform has benefited the tablet; there is no need to talk about a mind-blowing increase in performance in real life, but everything (interface, applications, games) now works a little faster and smoother. We especially note the minimal heating of the tablet even after heated battles in modern 3D games - the metal back gets slightly warmer, but there is no trace of the heat that the iPad 3 produced.

Since the battery capacity is Apple iPad Air became smaller, but the charger remained the same, the time required to charge the battery from 0 to 100% decreased noticeably and is about 4 hours. The autonomy is quite consistent with what is stated; a full charge is usually more than enough for a full day of active use (browsing, video, games, reading, etc.). Well, if you use the tablet for a couple of hours before/after work, then its battery may well last almost the entire work week.

Owners of modern dual-band routers will certainly appreciate the increased data exchange speed using a dual-antenna 802.11n Wi-Fi module, capable of operating in two operating bands and providing a maximum speed of up to 300 Mbit/s. But for obvious reasons, it is not yet possible to obtain the maximum available speed in LTE networks in our country; at best, you will have to be content with a 3G connection. Finally, we note that the main camera Apple iPad Air produces good shots in good natural light, but in a darkened room the module without a flash noticeably loses its position.

Video review of the Apple iPad Air tablet

Results

As a result, iPad Air is the best tablet Apple has ever released, with only the new iPad mini with Retina display as its real competition. The younger brother has the same hardware platform, a screen with a higher pixel density, a more compact and lighter body, convenient for daily use on the go, and at the same time costs $100 less.

The only reason to refuse to buy this device may be a rejection of the iOS operating system, while from the point of view of design, construction and hardware platform we have almost an ideal. However, the ideal Apple iPad Air There is only a year left until the announcement of the Air 2, which (possibly) will receive a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, 2 GB of RAM and an even faster processor. But you shouldn’t hope for a redesign of the second generation Air; the current version is already too good to start improving it so quickly.

I liked it
+ new thin and light metal body with minimal screen bezel
+ design in the style of Apple iPad mini
+ powerful hardware platform Apple A7 (64 bit) with M7 coprocessor
+ Same battery life from a smaller battery
+ appearance of the branded Smart Case cover
+ functional improvements regarding data exchange

Didn't like it
- still only 1 GB of RAM
- lack of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner
— there is no possibility of downgrading to iOS 6

The editors would like to thank the Notus online store (www.notus.ua) for providing the Apple iPad Air for testing.

	Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi 16GB Silver (MD788, MD784) Notify when on sale
Type	Tablet
Screen diagonal, inches	9,7
Matrix	IPS
Screen covering type	glossy
Screen resolution	2048×1536
Touchpad type	capacitive
Multi touch	+
CPU	Apple A7
Kernel type	Cyclone
Frequency, GHz	1,3
Number of cores	2
Graphics	PowerVR G6430
Pre-installed OS	iOS 7
Built-in memory capacity, GB	16
External ports	USB (Lightning), 3.5 mm audio
Card reader	—
Front camera	1.2 MP
Rear camera	5 MP, autofocus
Light sensor	+
Orientation sensor	+
Built-in speakers	+
Docking station	—
Stylus included	—
WiFi	802.11a/b/g/n; dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Bluetooth	4.0
3G/4G(LTE) module	—
GPS	—
NFC	—
Battery capacity, mAh	32.4 Wh
Battery life
Weight, g	469
Dimensions, mm	240×169.5×7.5
Case color	grey
Front panel color	white

Everything has been quite clear on the tablet market lately. Due to the fact that a huge number of smartphones have already surpassed these gadgets, manufacturers began to produce only special models. Some focused on special functionality, some tried to bring the tablet closer to a PC, some created an unprecedented design. One way or another, you can now purchase this device without any problems, since everyone can find their own device in a certain price category and with the necessary technical characteristics.

It happens that an excellent model appears on the market, but a year later the manufacturer releases an older modification. And the owners of the first device do not know whether they should change their gadget to an updated one. The same thing happened with Apple. Therefore, a comparison is being made for the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air. To adequately assess the changes that have occurred with this tablet, let's look at each one separately.

New generation

The introduction of the iPad Air in 2013 marked the beginning of a new generation. It would seem that all the usual functions remained in place, but the body became “airier”, and the “filling” was noticeably faster. The new model definitely looked better, worked better, and attracted a lot of attention.

Improved new generation

A year later, an updated version was released. Comparing it with the previous model seems a thankless task, because at first glance no updates are noticeable. But if the tablets are really similar in appearance, on the inside, with the release of the second modification, everything has become much better.

External differences

With the release of the iPad Air, changes from the previous line became noticeable. It has become more austere, but retains the style, complemented by a silver edging and a black/white frame around the screen. In general, similarities with the iPad mini immediately became noticeable, but the main advantage of the new tablet was its size.

Of course, not everyone needs such a large screen. But even if you compare the dimensions of an “air” tablet with an iPad, the difference is colossal. Firstly, it has become thinner, and it is noticeable. Secondly, it has become less wide. Thirdly, the weight has decreased by almost 150 grams. And even if these numbers do not seem radically different to everyone, they are very noticeable in life.

But if we compare the iPad Air and iPad Air 2, then, as mentioned earlier, the changes are not particularly noticeable. The fact is that the main transformation concerns only weight and thickness. At the time of release, the new iPad Air 2 became 1.4 mm thinner, now the size of the side end is only 6.1 mm, which looks very attractive. Well, the weight also became less - 437 grams. There is even an opinion that the change in the weight of the tablet has affected the comfort of use; now the back and arms are much less tired.

Color differences and details

Continuing the comparison between the iPad Air and iPad Air 2, there are a few more external details to pay attention to. The first model of the new generation came in two color variations: silver and dark gray. In addition to the two usual colors, the new version also received a newfangled golden one. Of course, increasing the choice of body shade is only a positive marketing ploy. By the way, many owners of gold iPhones were happy to purchase a matching tablet from the Apple manufacturer.

The display orientation lock button has also changed in appearance. Now it is not there at all; most likely, it disappeared for the sake of the thickness of the case. Now in its place is a small microphone hole. The Home key has not changed in appearance, but has additionally received Touch ID, which, by the way, in Apple devices is needed not only for unlocking, but also for making purchases in the game store.

Screen

In the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air, it would seem that a screen comparison is not necessary, since external signs are invisible. The diagonal is 9.7 inches, the resolution is 2048x1536 pixels. But the second gadget received a special touch display, which was developed in conjunction with lamination technology. The manufacturer has ensured that the layer between the glass and the matrix has disappeared. This is what helped make the device thin.

Also, this technology has led to a certain illusion that the image seems to float above the tablet. The second version received an anti-reflective coating, which improves the visual effect even in the brightest lighting.

Technical equipment

Mini 2 - iPad Air, in principle, will not give anything in terms of performance. In both models, the processor is an A7 with two cores with a frequency of 1300 MHz. PowerVR version G6430 is responsible for graphics. RAM is 1 GB, internal memory can be from 16 GB to 128 GB. We can safely say that in terms of technical equipment these are identical gadgets.

But things are a little better with the iPad Air 2. The default OS here is version 8. The improved processor is A8X, which runs on two cores with a frequency of 1.5 GHz. PowerVR is also a cut above - it's the GXA6850 - and runs on eight cores. There is also more RAM - 2GB. The built-in storage can be from 16 GB to 128 GB.

If we compare the iPad 4 and iPad Air 2, then the new model is significantly superior to the fourth generation. The iPad 4 has a slightly weaker processor - A6X with a frequency of 1.4 GHz. The younger GPU is PowerVR SGX 554MP4. RAM, like in the iPad Air, is only 1 GB. By the way, the tablet does not support 128 GB memory cards.

Giant

You can also remember another model with which you can make another pair - the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro. Comparison of these tablets may not be entirely justified, but they are still “brothers” in the industry, and therefore can be opposed to each other.

The first and obvious difference is the appearance. The iPad Pro has a screen diagonal of 12.9 inches, which is almost comparable to some Apple laptops. This giant also works on iOS 9.x. The processor here is a generation higher. The A9x works in tandem with the M9 at a frequency of 2.2 GHz. The pro version has 4 GB of RAM, which is very valuable now. But all these improved qualities significantly increase the price tag.

Camera

Returning to the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air, it's worth continuing the comparison by paying attention to the camera. It has changed significantly compared to the older model. In the second version of the tablet, the main one received 8 megapixels, while the first modification had only 5 megapixels. The new camera was also equipped with a special technology with a sensor and improved optics, which significantly affected the quality of the pictures.

New functions like Slow Motion have also appeared. Nowadays you won't surprise anyone with slow motion, but back then it was a great addition to the new lens. As a result, all the innovations made the photographs high-quality, with improved color rendition, detail, etc.

The front camera has also increased a little - instead of 0.3 megapixels, it has 1.2 megapixels. Of course, this option is not entirely good, especially for 2017.

Sound

There have not been very significant changes in this characteristic. iPad of any generation has an excellent sound speaker. But the iPad Air 2 has become noticeably louder, making it easy to watch movies and listen to music together. Externally, the speakers have changed for the two models. The iPad Air had two speakers in two rows of holes, but now, for the sake of a thin body, they made two stereo speaker grilles on either side of the charger connector.

Autonomy

There have also been changes to the battery capacity. Again, due to the desire to make the case thinner, the battery of the second model received 7184 mAh. While the first model has 8827 mAh. As a result, continuous Internet searches, watching videos and listening to audio drains the iPad Air in 12-13 hours, and the iPad Air 2 in 10 hours.

Even though such changes were not positive, Apple is still almost the only company that managed to fit such a powerful battery into a thin body. In addition, the manufacturer’s compromise between autonomy and weight of the gadget was successful.

Conclusions

Of course, now it is not relevant to compare the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air, since both models have been on the market for more than two or three years. Nevertheless, there are still those who doubt the choice between these two tablets.

Then you should consider two situations: if you are the owner of an iPad Air, or if you have just decided to purchase a gadget from Apple. Let's immediately consider the second option. If you have just decided to purchase an Apple tablet and are choosing between these models, then in the battle of iPad Air vs iPad Air 2 the comparison is unnecessary; in any case, the winner is the newer device.

The explanation for this is simple: whatever one may say, the iPad Air 2 is significantly better than its predecessor. It is thinner, prettier, has an updated processor and a new version of the graphics adapter. It received more RAM, as well as an improved camera. In general, it surpasses its older model in everything.

But if you are the owner of an iPad Air, then buying the second version may be pointless. Of course, although the changes are noticeable, they are still practically identical models. It makes sense to look at newer devices. After all, after the release of the iPad Air 2, the iPad Pro, which we have already discussed, has already appeared on the market, as well as the compact iPad mini 4. And in 2016, a variation of the iPad Pro was introduced, but with a slightly smaller screen of 9.7 inches.

By the way, it is the latter model that is now considered the most popular. It turned out to be a little different than the previous ones, not only in technical characteristics, but also in appearance. In addition, this tablet has excellent technical characteristics, support for a proprietary stylus and Split View mode.

• WiFi
• Wi-Fi + Cellular

Capacity 1

• 128GB

Size and Weight 2

• WiFi
  • Height: 9.4 inches (240 mm)
  • Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm)
  • Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
  • Weight: 1 pounds (469 g)
• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • Height: 9.4 inches (240 mm)
  • Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm)
  • Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
  • Weight: 1.05 pounds (478 g)

Display

• Retina display
• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Chip

• A7 chip with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion coprocessor

Wireless and Cellular

• WiFi
  • Bluetooth 4.0 technology
• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and MIMO
  • Bluetooth 4.0 technology
  • UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) 3
  • Data only 4

Cameras, Photos, and Video Recording

• FaceTime HD Camera
  • 1.2MP photos
  • 720p HD video
  • FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or cellular 5
  • Face detection
  • Backside illumination
  • Photo and video geotagging

• Video Recording
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • Video stabilization
  • Face detection
  • Tap to focus while recording
  • Backside illumination
  • 3x video zoom

• iSight Camera
  • 5MP photos
  • Autofocus
  • Face detection
  • Backside illumination
  • Five-element lens
  • Hybrid IR filter
  • ƒ/2.4 aperture
  • Tap to focus video or still images
  • Tap to control exposure for video or still images
  • Photo and video geotagging
  • HDR photos

External Buttons and Connectors

• External Buttons and Controls
  • On/Off; Sleep/Wake
  • Silent/Screen rotation lock
  • Volume up/down

• Connectors and Input/Output
  • Dual Microphones
  • Lightning connector
  • Built-in speakers

Power and Battery 6

• WiFi

• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • Built-in 32.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
  • Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
  • Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
  • Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Input/Output

• WiFi
  • 3.5 mm stereo headphone minijack
  • Built-in speakers
  • Dual microphones

• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • 3.5 mm stereo headphone minijack
  • Built-in speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • Nano-SIM card tray

Connector

• Lightning

Sensors

• Three-axis gyro
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light sensor

Operating system

iOS 9
With an all-new design and all-new features, iOS 9 is the world’s most advanced mobile OS. In its most advanced form. Learn more about iOS 9

iOS 9 includes:

• AirDrop
• AirPlay
• AirPrint
• Control Center
• Notification Center
• Spotlight Search
• Apple Music
• Family Sharing
• iCloud Drive
• Multitasking
• QuickType Keyboard

Built-in Apps

• Camera
• Photos
• Messages
• FaceTime
• Music
• Safari
• Calendar
• iTunes Store
• App Store
• Notes
• Contacts
• iBooks
• Game Center
• Reminders
• Clock
• Videos
• Photo Booth
• Podcasts
• Find My iPhone
• Find My Friends
• iCloud Drive

Free Apps from Apple 7

• Pages
• Numbers
• Keynote
• iMovie
• GarageBand
• iTunes U
• Apple Store
• Trailers
• Remote

Location

• WiFi
  • WiFi
  • Digital compass

• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • WiFi
  • Digital compass
  • Assisted GPS and GLONASS
  • Cellular

Video Calling 5

• WiFi
  • FaceTime

• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • FaceTime

Audio Calling 5

• WiFi
  • FaceTime
  • iPad Air to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi

• Wi-Fi + Cellular
  • FaceTime
  • iPad Air to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi or cellular

Audio Playback

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

• AirPlay Mirroring, photos, audio, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later)
• Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
• Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 frames per second, High Profile level 4.2 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Mail Attachment Support

• Viewable document types:
  .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key(Keynote); .numbers(Numbers); .pages(Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt(text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel); .zip; .ics

Languages

• Language support
  English (U.S.), English (UK), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
• Keyboard support
  English (U.S.), English (Canadian), English (UK), English (Australian), Chinese - Simplified (Handwriting, Pinyin, Stroke), Chinese - Traditional (Handwriting, Pinyin, Zhuyin, Cangjie, Stroke), French, French ( Canadian), French (Switzerland), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian, Japanese (Romaji, Kana), Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Emoji, Estonian , Finnish, Flemish, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic/Latin), Slovak , Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
• Dictionary support (enables predictive text and autocorrect)
  English (U.S.), English (Canadian), English (UK), English (Australian), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, French (Canadian), French (Switzerland), German, Italian, Japanese (Romaji, Kana), Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese , Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
• Siri languages
  English (U.S., UK, Canada, Australia), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain), French (France, Canada, Switzerland), German (Germany, Switzerland), Italian (Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (Hong Kong)

Intelligent Assistant 8

• Siri
  Use your voice to send messages, set reminders, and more.

Accessibility

• VoiceOver screen reader
• Guided Access
• Switch Control
• Support for playback of closed-captioned content
• AssistiveTouch
• Full-screen zoom magnification
• Larger type
• Bold text
• Increase contrast
• Reduce motion
• On/Off labels
• Invert colors
• Left/right volume adjustment

Environmental Requirements

• Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

System Requirements

• Apple ID (required for some features)
• Internet access 9
• Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires:
  • Mac: OS X v10.6.8 or later
  • PC: Windows 8; Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
  • iTunes (free download from www.itunes.com/download)

In the Box

• iPad Air
• Lightning to USB Cable
• USB Power Adapter

1. 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
2. Size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.
3. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier and see www.apple.com/ipad/LTE.
4. Cellular data service is available only on Wi-Fi + Cellular models. The model you purchase is configured to work with a particular cellular network technology. Data plan required.
5. FaceTime calling requires a FaceTime-enabled device for the caller and recipient and a Wi-Fi connection. Availability over a cellular network depends on carrier policies; data charges may apply.
6. Testing conducted by Apple in October 2013 using preproduction iPad Air units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge while performing each of the following tasks: video playback, audio playback, and Internet browsing using Wi‑Fi or cellular data network. Video content was a repeated 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Audio content was a playlist of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store. Internet over Wi‑Fi and cellular data network tests were conducted using dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Wi‑Fi was associated with a network (except for Internet browsing over cellular data network); the Wi‑Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off; Brightness was set to 50%; and WPA2 encryption was enabled. Battery life depends on device settings, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPad units; actual results may vary.
7. iMovie, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are free on the App Store for qualifying iOS 9 compatible devices with initial activation on or after September 1, 2013. GarageBand is free on the App Store for qualifying iOS 9 compatible devices with initial activation on or after September 1, 2014. See www.apple.com/ios/whats-new for iOS 9 compatible devices. Downloading apps requires an Apple ID.
8. Siri may not be available in all languages ​​or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access required. Cellular data charges may apply.
9. Wireless broadband recommended; fees may apply.