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Detailed review and testing of Apple iPad Air. Technical specifications Apple iPad Air reviews, descriptions, applications Dimensions iPad Air 1

In this article we will discuss one of the most important characteristics of the iPad - screen diagonal. This is the most impressive detail of the tablet that immediately catches your eye. During its existence, the Apple company has released many models of this device. And they all come with different display sizes. Let's see how gadgets have changed according to this criterion over the years. Let's start the review with the very first lines - iPad 1, 2 and so on.

A tablet is a type of device whose display diagonal size is of great importance. The first generation, released 7 years ago, already came in a standard version, which took root for many years. The parameter in question did not change for gadgets until the 4th generation, although something new was added in terms of other screen characteristics:

  • iPad 1 had a diagonal of 9.7 inches (in iPad 2 the diagonal was left the same as in iPad 3 and iPad 4), with a resolution of 1024x768, 132 ppi.
  • iPad 2 – the same parameters in inches, exactly the same resolution and pixel density.
  • iPad 3 - 100% higher resolution than the first and second line of devices, the same with pixel density.
  • iPad 4 is all the same as its predecessor.

But regardless of the model, the picture on the display of Apple tablets has always been excellent. But technology is developing continuously and gadgets of the 3 and 4 line received a Retina display .

The four also increased the screen resolution and pixel density parameter. This made it possible to make the image look like a picture from a glossy magazine. The pixels are not visible at all, which adds realism. The developer made the 100% right choice by introducing this technology. Among 10-inch tablets, this device is considered the best. The only drawback is the lack of anti-reflective coating. This disadvantage was noted by many users on the forums.

The IPS matrix element, included in models of lines 1 – 4, produces a color gamut of maximum naturalism and provides maximum viewing angles. Its quality is especially visible when compared with previous display options. The capacitive sensor has also been improved. In addition, a warmer color scheme and improved image detail have been added.

iPad Air, iPad Air 2 display sizes

The further development of tablets was very interesting. The body has been radically improved, new shades have appeared. The frames were significantly reduced, but the display sizes remained the same (as in the fourth and other iPads).

The more compact dimensions of the iPad Air line of tablets have taken them to a higher level, making them stylish and modern.

Characteristics of displays of Air model devices:

  • iPad Air – 9.7 inches, Retina, resolution 2048×1536, 264 ppi.
  • iPad Air 2 has exactly the same parameters as the first “air” tablet.

As you can see, everything remains the same. Only Retina technology is of interest. Thanks to it, the response period to touching the display and energy consumption have been significantly reduced.


iPad mini, iPad mini 2-4 screen parameters

The time has come to highlight tablets that are close to modern standards of top-end devices. The developer paused a bit with the display sizes and this innovation is for the better.

The mini versions have become widespread and are loved by many users. After all, carrying such a gadget with you is very comfortable, and its functionality is not inferior to ordinary models:

  • iPad mini - 7.9 inches, with a resolution of 1024x768, pixel density 163 ppi.
  • iPad mini 2 - the same diagonal, but the resolution and pixel density have been increased by 100%.
  • iPad mini 3 - exactly the same performance as the second mini variation.
  • iPad mini 4 - exactly the same as versions 2 and 3.

As can be seen from the characteristics presented above, the diagonals of the mini devices are not at all the same as in the 4 iPad and other standard versions. They are much smaller. The resolution setting is similar, but the number of dots is 1 inch larger.


Pro line tablets

In terms of appearance, the two variations of the gadget in this line are almost identical. Therefore, users here choose based on functionality, because not everyone needs a TV to carry with them all the time:

  • Pro variation 1 - 9.7 inches, Retina, resolution 2732x2048, 264 ppi.
  • Pro variation 2 – 12.9 inches, other parameters are exactly the same.

Today, these two models are the best, both in terms of picture quality and performance. The latest anti-reflective coating makes working in the sun comfortable.

Above was a historical background regarding the development of tablets from the Apple company in terms of display size. It's interesting how iPads will evolve in the future, but that's anyone's guess. But judging by the performance. For at least another 2-3 years, Pro will be at its best and will satisfy the needs of the most demanding users.

And since the subject of our conversation today is the second line of iPads, let’s take a closer look at the other characteristics of this line of tablets.


iPad 2 design

There has been no revolution since the release of the second generation of devices. Consumers were presented with the same product in a minimalist style, very neat, made of glass and aluminum materials. You may not like Apple devices, but you cannot deny that they are of decent quality. In terms of design, they are several steps ahead of similar gadgets from competitors. Let’s say you can’t put them on the same level as plastic products from Samsung Tab or Motorola XOOM, which consist of individual elements assembled together. If you have any doubts about this, just turn the Apple tablet in your hands and immediately feel the difference.

The rear part remained the same “indestructible”. It is made of scratch-resistant metal. The panel has now become almost flat - it narrows only towards the end part. The first line of tablets did not have this.

The Deuce is significantly thinner than its predecessor (and even the iPhone 4). Visually it seems that you can even scratch it, like a piece of paper. This effect is created thanks to the same narrowing towards the ends. In it, the developer used the same design idea as in the MacBook Air, in which the minimum thickness parameters are only 3 millimeters.

The tablet also lost a little weight. True, only 6 grams compared to its predecessors, but still this is a positive result. However, at that time, according to this criterion, the iPad 2 was ahead of its competitor from the Korean company - Galaxy, which weighed 7 grams less. At the same time, its body was made of plastic, which does not add to its price.

iPad 2 equipment

Everything here is standard and predictable, nothing new. In the box with the second tablet, in addition to the device itself, the user found:

  • charging element;
  • USB cord;
  • documentation;
  • brochures and stickers with Apple logos.

The Apple company, as always, has not betrayed the principles of minimalism. The rather large box did not contain anything notable accessories. By the way, the adapter is for an American outlet. So, whether you like it or not, you will have to purchase an adapter.

Battery for the second tablet

The period of operation without additional recharging of devices of the second line is the same 10-12 hours. The same was true for the starter product of this type. And this is all during active use using wireless elements, while watching movies and listening to music tracks.

All this is impressive, considering that we are talking about a device with a nine-cell battery. According to these criteria, Apple's tablet has no competitors to this day. Similar gadgets from other companies operating on Android work for about 6 hours without recharging. It is especially pleasing that a long period of autonomous operation was preserved with a significant reduction in the thickness of the case.

And a little more about the display...

This element was already the pride of the company in the very first tablet. At that time it was of the best quality - competitors had nothing like it. In the second generation tablet everything remains the same. Many fans of Apple products expected to see Retina technology in it, that is, a resolution increased by 400%. But for such parameters, the device did not have enough processor power and graphics element. In other words, a miracle did not happen. And if it happened, the starting price of the gadget would soar by at least 50%.

But this display has also become one of the best in terms of brightness, resolution and responsiveness to touch. It is not for nothing that any devices with a touch mechanism are usually compared with iPhones and iPads, because the latter have no equal.

However, there are also more significant distinctive points compared to the previous version and competitors. For example, thanks to the oleophobic layer, the display is not easily soiled. It is very difficult to stain it with touches. And if any dirt suddenly appears, it is easy to remove. Users have to clean the devices of the first line and tablets of competitors constantly.

Efficiency has increased in many areas - when surfing the Internet, when working with graphic elements. Separately, it is worth mentioning the increase in memory on board the second tablet to 512 megabytes. Of course, today such an indicator will seem ridiculous, but at that time it caused delight.

The operating system in this line of tablets, compared to the previous one, was also more advanced. She was an order of magnitude taller. Accordingly, the functionality has expanded, and the work has become faster.

The tablet performs all commands perfectly. This applies to the interface, a fast browser, no freezing or slowdown of programs, and lively playing video.

Now that Apple is at the peak of its fame, almost every one of its devices, long before its official announcement, becomes a kind of construction kit from rumors and leaks, according to which you can independently put all the pieces into a single whole and get an almost complete image of the final product. Moreover, both in appearance and in the hardware components used, although without specific details. Therefore, each presentation of devices, in fact, is primarily a confirmation or refutation of all previously appeared rumors. This, for example, happened with the new iPhone, and the same thing happened with the new iPad, which, however, still managed to present several pleasant surprises. One of them is the new name of the device - .

Specifications

Manufacturer

Apple

iPad Air (A1475)

Type, form factor

tablet, monoblock

Communication standards

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 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)

High speed data transfer

GPRS (32-48 Kbps), EDGE (236 Kbps), HSDPA (up to 42.2 Mbps), HSUPA (up to 5.76 Mbps), CDMA EV-DO (up to 14.7 Mbps /s) LTE cat.4 (up to 150 Mbit/s)

SIM card type

CPU

Apple A7: dual 64-bit ARM cores (ARMv8), up to 1.4 GHz, 1 MB L2 cache, 28 nm HKMG process

Graphics adapter

IT PowerVR G6430: 4 cores (clusters), up to 650 MHz, support for OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenGL 3.2 and DirectX 10.0

Coprocessor

Apple M7: single core Cortex-M3 (ARMv7-M), up to 150 MHz, 90 nm process technology

Retina: 9.7", 2048 x 1536 pixels (264 ppi), IPS+IGZO, touch (capacitive), multi-touch up to 5 touches, protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3

RAM

1 GB LPDDR3-1600

Card reader

1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack

Multimedia

Microphone

Main

iSight: 5 MP, BSI sensor, 5-element optics, f/2.4 aperture, autofocus, 1080p video recording

Frontal

FaceTime HD: 1.2 MP, fixed focus, 720p video recording

Communication capabilities

802.11a/b/g/n, dual band (2.4 / 5 GHz) and MIMO

Navigation

GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS

3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass

Battery

Lithium polymer, non-removable: 8827 mAh, 32.9 Wh, 3.73 V

Charger

Output parameters: 5.2 V DC e.g. 2.4 A, 12 W

Input parameters: 100~240 V AC eg at 50/60 Hz

240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm

"Space Gray"

operating system

(update to iOS 7.0.6 available)

Official guarantee

12 months

Products webpage

Delivery and configuration

The tablet comes in a relatively small box made of thick cardboard and is characterized by a traditionally attractive design with a minimal amount of visual information. The front side allows you to get acquainted with the “portrait” of the device, and the back side - with very brief technical characteristics. The sidewalls bear the model name and several silver manufacturer logos.

The delivery set is beautifully arranged in compartments, but it cannot boast of anything special. During the unpacking process you will find: a compact power supply with a removable plug, a Lightning ↔ USB adapter cable for connecting to a power supply and synchronizing with a Mac/PC, a special clip for removing the SIM card slide, several small information brochures and two logo stickers manufacturer.

Appearance, design

The visual design of the California manufacturer's tablet line, unlike smartphones and media players, has remained virtually unchanged since 2011, when Apple officially introduced the highly successful second generation iPad. Since then, the tablet has been updated twice, but its appearance has hardly changed. The situation changed only with the advent of its “younger brother” in the form of the Apple iPad mini, which not only brought fresh design ideas, but also determined the further development of the full-size version of the tablet.

As expected, the appearance of the Apple iPad Air almost completely follows the outlines of the mini version, only with reference to slightly larger dimensions, which, by the way, fully justify the new “Air” prefix, borrowed from the line of laptops. It has changed significantly compared to the previous generation, becoming thinner, more compact and lighter, and its shape has become more elongated and generally more neat and modern due to a significant reduction in the side frames (especially on the long side). The Apple iPad Air no longer evokes strong associations with a simple square photo frame.

The body of the device has acquired a more strict design: the corners are less rounded, the edges have lost their “sharpness” and become almost even, and the transition from the back to the sides has taken on quite sharp outlines. The now familiar chrome chamfer along the contour of the front panel has also appeared. The color scheme of the tablet began to correspond to the latest solutions from Apple. It includes two options: Silver and Space Gray, which now differ not only in the color of the front side.

On the design side, the Apple iPad Air has not undergone any changes. The tablet is made of durable anodized aluminum, providing a high level of rigidity, and is complemented by tempered Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which covers the entire front side. In the 4G version of the device, in the upper part of the case you can also find a small plastic insert, under which the antennas of the communication modules are hidden.

The materials used leave a very pleasant tactile sensation, but their condition must be constantly monitored. Every now and then the tablet becomes covered with multiple fingerprints, and the aluminum “back” tends to leave a couple of scratches as a souvenir if handled carelessly. However, all these shortcomings pale in comparison with the main advantage of the 5th generation of Apple tablets, namely weight. The Apple iPad Air has dropped a lot in this regard - only 478 grams versus 662 grams for the 4th generation Apple iPad. Even the main competing model, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition), has more weight - 544 grams, and this despite the fact that the “galaxy” case is made of plastic.

The build quality is traditionally at the highest level: there are no backlashes, no gaps, no creaks when twisting and pressure is within reasonable limits - everything fits together very well. However, the glass, which has become thinner to reduce the weight of the device, still presses a little, and when tapped it creates a kind of dull sound, as if the tablet inside is completely empty.

The location of all elements on the body remains in the same places, only the sizes of the control buttons have changed - now they are metal and have a slightly smaller thickness. In the upper part of the front side, almost entirely devoted to the 9.7-inch screen, there is a front camera with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and an ambient light sensor. At the bottom is the traditional Home button, which, unlike the Apple iPhone 5s, did not receive a Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Most of the top edge is occupied by a black plastic insert, in the center of which there are holes for a paired microphone (the second microphone goes out to the back of the tablet, as does, to a small extent, the insert itself). In addition, at the top there is a power/lock button and a 3.5 mm audio jack. On the bottom edge there is a proprietary Lightning port and two perforated grilles that hide the stereo speakers.

The left side of the tablet remains empty, while on the right there are volume buttons, a small lever that, by default, blocks changing the screen orientation, as well as a slot for a Nano-SIM format SIM card.

Exactly in the center of the back of the Apple iPad Air you can see a relatively large mirrored manufacturer’s logo, and in the upper part of it you can see the main camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels and a fragment of a plastic insert. At the bottom there is a laser engraving of the device name (without the “Air” prefix) and very brief technical information, including the exact model name, country of manufacture, certification marks and several identification and serial numbers.

The Apple iPad Air, like the two previous generations of tablets, is equipped with a proprietary 9.7-inch Retina screen, which is based on an IPS matrix with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The pixel density is 264 ppi. This is quite enough for this type of device. To protect the display, tempered glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3 is used, which has an effective anti-glare filter and high-quality oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating. In this case, there is an air gap between the glass and the surface of the matrix.

At first glance, all the characteristics remained unchanged, but the technology of its production, namely parts of the active liquid crystal layer, has changed significantly. Now the relatively new IGZO technology (derived from the main components - indium, gallium and zinc oxide), developed by the Japanese JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) is used. Unlike traditional a-Si technology based on amorphous silicon, it allows not only to create transparent thin-film transistors that are much smaller in size, but also to significantly increase the pixel density. It also helps reduce power consumption by eliminating the need to constantly update transistor states when displaying a static image.

Overall, the display is very good and leaves an extremely pleasant impression. Viewing angles are maximum both vertically and horizontally, and the color distortion characteristic of IPS matrices in extreme diagonal positions is practically absent. The color rendering quality of the screen can please you with bright colors with a natural level of saturation, despite the extremely slight shift in color temperature to “cool” shades. The contrast level, although not record-breaking, is quite high and provides an acceptable display of the black field.

The display backlight has a very wide range and is adjustable both manually and automatically. True, there are also some peculiarities: the automation only works to increase and does not adjust the degree of illumination when manually setting the maximum brightness level. Therefore, the most optimal solution is to set the brightness control at 30-50%. When choosing the maximum brightness value, reaching about 360 cd/m2, you can work outdoors without any problems, even under very bright sun. At the minimum value, which is about 10 cd/m2, you can safely read your favorite books without fear of excessive eye strain. The backlight uniformity is good: in some places there are very slight highlights only at the very edge of the display.

The capacitive touch substrate has very good sensitivity and can easily process a number of gestures familiar to the operating system. It is worth noting the very smooth sliding of the finger along the protective glass. But there is no way to work with gloves, even thin ones.

Among the display settings, there are only a couple of functions: adjusting the brightness and changing the background image for the desktop and lock mode.

With the advent of the Apple iPad Air, the full-length version of the tablet finally acquired two stereo speakers capable of providing quite noticeable surround sound. True, you can only hear it in portrait orientation of the device, since both speakers are located on the bottom edge of the case. The sound itself is loud and clear even at the maximum level. There are practically no low frequencies, but a hint of them is present. The mids and highs are well balanced and have decent detail, thanks to which you can watch a movie or listen to music without the need to connect headphones or external speakers.

The tablet's sound settings are not rich. They are limited to selecting sounds for various types of notifications and adjusting the volume level, and only for calls and reminders (the overall level is adjusted using the volume control buttons or through the quick settings panel). In addition, you can enable playback of the device locking sound and keyboard clicks. Additional settings (such as an equalizer, sound check, or volume limiter) can be found in the music player settings.

The Apple iPad Air is equipped with two quite familiar cameras, which have already been found in previous generations of the tablet. The rear iSight camera is based on a 5-megapixel module with a back-illuminated sensor and is complemented by a five-lens optical system with an f/2.4 aperture. There is also support for fairly fast autofocus and electronic image stabilization (only during video recording). The maximum photo resolution is 3264 x 2448 (5 MP) with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Video recording is carried out in MPEG-4 format with a resolution of up to 1080p.

The front FaceTime HD camera is also based on a module with a back-illuminated sensor, but with a more modest resolution (only 1.2 megapixels) and a fixed focal length. The camera's viewing angle is not very wide, but quite sufficient for comfortable video communication. The maximum photo resolution is 1280 x 960, and the video is 720p.

The camera application has a very simple and intuitive interface, although it does not provide a rich set of different functions and settings (for this you need to use third-party applications). It is only possible to activate the HDR mode and change the shooting mode using a vertical swipe - one for shooting video and two for photos (in a ratio of 4x3 and 1x1). From the camera application, you can go to view the footage, and through the system settings of the operating system, enable the display of a grid when shooting.

Examples of photography

Examples of video shooting

Daytime shooting in motion, 1080p 30 fps.

Daytime shooting, 1080p 30 fps.

Evening shooting, 1080p 30 fps.

The quality of the resulting material is pleasantly pleasing, despite the low resolution of the module used. Photos under favorable shooting conditions turn out to be quite detailed and have a pleasant color rendition. As the ambient light level decreases, noise becomes more pronounced and detail drops significantly. A similar situation is observed with video, although the high-quality work of the electronic stabilization system is still worth noting - minor shaking is almost completely neutralized.

User interface

The Apple iPad Air tablet runs the iOS 7 operating system, which has radically changed compared to the “six”, both from the visual side and from the technical side. The skeuomorphism with a relatively dark color scheme, beloved by many, has given way to bright, one might say, “rainbow” fills and gradients. The main system font has also changed - instead of the usual Helvetica, the more modern and subtle Helvetica Neue Ultralight is used, which makes a significant contribution to the concept of the new design.

By the way, at the time of writing this review, Apple began distributing an operating system update to version 7.0.6, which fixed a security problem that arose when checking an SSL connection.

The lock screen in iOS 7, having lost the dark stripes at the top and bottom, began to look neater and more consistent. However, its functionality has not changed. The following are displayed here: the current time and date, battery charge status, cellular network signal quality, as well as various notifications. To unlock the device, you need to swipe from left to right in any part of the screen, and to launch the camera application, pull the corresponding icon from bottom to top.

In addition, from the lock screen, as well as from the main screen, by swiping from the top edge you can open the traditional notification panel, and by swiping from the bottom you can finally open a full-fledged quick settings panel. With its help, you can control the audio player, turn on/off wireless data modules, put the device into “do not disturb” mode, block changes in display orientation, launch stopwatch and camera applications, and also control the overall volume level, the level of display backlighting and the AirPlay function.

The main screen, which the user lands on after unlocking the device, has undergone virtually no functional changes in the new version of the OS, but has greatly changed visually. Thus, a new, smoother and, unfortunately, longer animation has appeared, system application shortcuts have completely redrawn icons, the display of folders has become full-screen (no more “breaks”), and for the background wallpaper you can apply the so-called parallax effect, in which the main screen becomes pseudo-voluminous. In addition, the Spotlight global search has changed its location and to access it you just need to swipe down on the main screen or any additional screen.

The appearance and functionality of the multitasking mode have significantly changed. It has acquired a full-screen interface in which running applications are displayed in the form of unique cards with intuitive controls. The mode is called up using the usual action (a four-finger gesture or double-clicking the Home button), but to close the application, you can now simply swipe the corresponding card up.

The operating system settings menu has completely retained its structure and has acquired several additional items.

Finally, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with additional “screenshots” of the OS.

Hardware platform and performance

The hardware platform of the Apple iPad Air tablet is represented by the proprietary Apple A7 processor, the main feature of which is the use of 64-bit ARMv8 desktop architecture and the presence of a special energy-efficient Apple M7 motion coprocessor for directly processing data from the gyroscope, accelerometer and digital compass. The main processor is manufactured in accordance with the standards of the 28-nm HKMG (High-k/metal gate) technological process and is equipped with two cores with a clock speed of up to 1.4 GHz. The L2 cache size is 1 MB. The coprocessor is manufactured using a 90 nm process technology and includes only one Cortex-M3 core (ARMv7-M) with a frequency of up to 150 MHz.

One of the latest solutions from Imagination Technologies - IT PowerVR G6430, codenamed “Rogue”, is used as a graphics accelerator integrated into the main processor. The accelerator has 4 cores (clusters) operating at a clock frequency of up to 650 MHz, and supports a number of important APIs: OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenGL 3.2 and DirectX 10.0.

Despite the use of an improved processor microarchitecture, the amount of RAM standard LPDDR3-1600 remains the same and is only 1 GB, while some Android devices already have 3 GB installed. The capacity of the built-in storage starts at 16 GB (with only 12.5 GB available to the user). There is traditionally no support for memory cards, so if funds allow, you should immediately pay attention to versions with more capacious storage: 32 GB, 64 GB or even 128 GB.

The performance of the latest Apple A7 hardware platform is really very high. Using only two cores with a frequency of up to 1.4 GHz, it is able to compete with flagship Android solutions that are based on 4-core or even 8-core processors with clock speeds of 1.5 GHz. Of course, this advantage can be attributed to the more productive 64-bit architecture, but we should not forget about the highest degree of optimization of iOS - after all, it is created for the capabilities of only a few devices with a strictly defined hardware component.

In general, the Apple iPad Air works very quickly and, importantly, very smoothly. Drawing the interface and launching applications does not cause any complaints. As for demanding games, in some cases the tablet’s capabilities are insufficient. For example, this happens in Dead Trigger 2, when a large number of dangerous zombies gather on certain maps.

Under active and prolonged load, the tested model begins to heat up slightly (mainly along the long edge), but its temperature remains within very comfortable limits. There is no need to worry about the device becoming damaged during active use.

Communications

The version of Apple iPad Air (A1475) can please you with support for a full range of mobile networks, including 2G and 3G networks that are fully operational in Ukraine. Unfortunately, fourth generation (4G) networks are not yet available to residents of our country due to the lack of adequate coverage. Third generation networks continue to develop and gradually provide increasing data transfer speeds.

Thus, the fastest mobile access to the Internet in Ukraine is provided by Intertelecom, which has currently implemented the widest 3G coverage area with support for EV-DO Rev.B access technology, providing a maximum data transfer speed of up to 14.7 Mbit/s (or up to 1.75 MB/s).

However, achieving such high speed results is quite difficult even in the open air in the city center. The maximum data reception speed indoors was 4.5 Mbit/s, and sending speed up to 2.6 Mbit/s. Outdoors - up to 8 Mbit/s for reception and about 2.5 Mbit/s for sending.

To better demonstrate the speed of the 3G connection, we downloaded a 142 MB archive from the Dropbox service, as well as uploaded 10 photos taken on the Apple iPad Air to the social network Facebook. In the first case it took 3 minutes 12 seconds, in the second - less than 5 seconds. Be that as it may, even this speed is pleasantly pleasing, especially in cases where there is not a single Wi-Fi point nearby.

As for the local communication capabilities of the tablet, they are quite standard: Bluetooth V4.0 with support for the A2DP profile and dual-band (2.4/5 GHz) Wi-Fi with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols, Wi-Fi Hotspot functions and MIMO signal spatial coding method. Naturally, there is a proprietary AirPlay protocol for wireless media streaming between devices. There is also support for DLNA and Miracast standards, but they require the appropriate applications to work. But there is neither an NFC module nor a built-in IR transmitter for controlling various household appliances in the Apple iPad Air.

Data transfer speeds over Wi-Fi (wired connection 100 Mbit/s, router supporting the 802.11n standard) show very impressive results: up to 80 Mbit/s for receiving and up to 24 Mbit/s for sending. Searching for points and connecting to them occurs very quickly, and the established connection has good stability and does not try to “fall off” when strong interference appears.

The presence of a hardware GPS module with support for A-GPS and GLONASS is only available in the tablet version with a built-in cellular modem, i.e. the so-called Wi-Fi + Cellular, and this should not be forgotten when choosing a device. The performance of the module is excellent, and the user’s location is determined almost instantly and quite accurately. The electronic compass also works great, determining the cardinal directions as accurately as possible.

Autonomous operation

The fifth generation of full-size Apple tablets, despite the noticeably reduced capacity of the battery used (8827 mAh (32.9 Wh) versus 11560 mAh (43 Wh) for the Apple iPad 4) easily maintains the same battery life level. This is a direct result of the more energy-efficient Apple A7 hardware platform and IGZO display technology. According to the manufacturer, the Apple iPad Air can provide up to 10 hours of browsing the Internet in Wi-Fi mode or when playing movies and music. But when accessing the Internet via a cellular network, this figure drops to 9 hours.

In real conditions, the battery life almost completely corresponds to the declared one - 9.5 hours of HD video viewing with Wi-Fi on and 50% display backlight brightness. In gaming mode, for example, with Dead Trigger 2 running, the tablet can work for almost 4.5 hours at 100 percent screen brightness. This is a very good result, although the estimated operating time according to the GFXBench benchmark is 377 minutes, i.e. just over 6 hours. The time to fully charge the battery is traditionally slow and is about 4 hours.

If we talk about real everyday operating conditions when performing various tasks, the Apple iPad Air can survive for two to three days without any problems. If you use it only for sofa Internet surfing for several hours a day, then you can quite count on its operation for a week on a single battery charge.

Results

AppleiPadAir can rightfully be called one of the best tablets on the market, both in terms of the visual component, which has finally received the expected updated design, almost completely copied from the Apple iPad mini, and in terms of the hardware platform, almost entirely inherited from the Apple iPhone 5S.

The tablet has become much more ergonomic, more compact, thinner and lighter. True, for this, the manufacturer had to sacrifice a small amount of battery capacity and use thinner protective glass, which begins to bend noticeably under pressure, and when lightly tapped, creates a slightly unpleasant dull sound. This is somewhat discouraging, because otherwise the device is almost perfect. It contains: a wonderful 9.7-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, which is based on energy-efficient IGZO technology and provides very high display quality; one of the most productive mobile platforms, which is represented by a 64-bit dual-core Apple A7 processor with an Apple M7 motion coprocessor, as well as a capacious battery that provides about 9-10 hours of battery life. In addition, the tested model with the A1475 index can please you with full support for 3G and 4G mobile communications (only the third generation is available in Ukraine) with a fairly good data transfer speed, as we were convinced of by testing the service from the Intertelecom operator.

There are no significant shortcomings in the Apple iPad Air, and those that exist are largely subjective. For example, the traditional lack of support for memory cards or the lack of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. A much more important issue in the process of choosing a tablet can be either its cost, which in our country is very significant (on average from 7000 UAH / $730 for the 4G version (Wi-Fi + Cellular) with 16 GB of internal memory), or personal dislike to Apple products and the closed nature of the iOS 7 operating system, which encourages the purchase of legal content (music, films, magazines and applications).

Advantages:

  • updated appearance: lighter, thinner, more compact;
  • excellent build quality, high body rigidity;
  • excellent display with reduced side bezels;
  • productive hardware platform - Apple A7 with Apple M7 coprocessor;
  • full support for 3G and 4G mobile communications;
  • high-quality stereo speakers;
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In 2013, the world was presented with a new creation from Apple - iPad Air. The tablet has won the recognition of millions of users around the world. And a year later, at the autumn presentation, the company presented the thinnest device in the world - iPad Air 2, which did not revolutionize the world of mobile technology, but became no less popular than its predecessor. Despite the release of the new product, many users were in no hurry to change first-generation devices, because they did not see much point in it. Of course, the iPad Air 2 received several important changes that made it the flagship among tablet computers.

Comparing the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 will allow you to determine exactly what the advantages of the newer gadget are. However, there is a category of users who, in any case, change their smartphones and tablets from Apple after the release of a new model. This is, rather, dictated not by the need to use advanced device functions, but by the desire to be one step ahead of the rest. If you value value for money, functionality, and also use a rational approach when buying gadgets, comparing two popular models will be useful and interesting for you.

Comparison and review of two tablet models: iPad Air and iPad Air 2

The differences between the two devices are in the appearance and size of the case. If the length and width of the gadgets remained the same - 240 mm and 169.5 mm, then iPad Air 2 became the thinnest device in the world at the time of its release. Its thickness was 6.1 mm, which is 1.4 mm less than that of its predecessor. Many experts have come to the conclusion that minor differences in the sizes of the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 are practically not felt when using gadgets, which cannot be said about their weight.

The new device has become much lighter - its weight was only 437 grams, which is 36% less than the first generation device. Thanks to its reduced weight, iPad Air 2 is very comfortable to work with. After prolonged use, your arms and back will not get so tired. This was a significant transformation for users who prefer to hold the tablet in their hands rather than place it on a horizontal surface.

It should be noted that the first generation iPad Air only comes in two colors - space gray and silver. The second-generation gadget is presented in three colors - in addition to the usual silver and space gray, a golden one has been added. This gives users more options to choose from. Some people prefer to buy smartphones and tablets in the same color scheme. Now you can purchase a similar device to go with your gold iPhone.

The first generation tablet is supplied to the market with a version of the operating system iOS 7, and the second - iOS 8. Today, the characteristics of the device allow you to upgrade to iOS 9.2, which improves system performance and fixes some bugs.

Display Specifications

The screen resolution of the compared devices remains the same - 2048 by 1536 pixels. Has not changed - it is 9.7 inches, which ensures comfortable work. We believe that these sizes are optimal for a tablet computer designed for a wide audience of consumers.

At the same time, the second-generation gadget is equipped with a completely different level. During its development, the technology of full screen lamination was used. The developers managed to remove the air gap between the glass and the matrix. This made the device thinner and led to the fact that the image in the iPad Air 2 visually seemed to lie on the surface of the glass. The device released earlier does not have similar visual effects. Another advantage of the second generation iPad Air was its reliable anti-reflective coating, which ensured comfortable work with the gadget in bright light conditions.

Some users considered it a minus that in the new tablet the developers removed the button for blocking automatic image rotations when changing the position of the gadget in space. It was located on the sidebar and was often used by gamers who like to read while lying down and often change their position. Auto-lock allowed you to capture the image. On the iPad Air 2, a similar option must be activated using user settings.

Camera

It is immediately worth noting that in the second generation iPad Air, significant changes affected the camera. The first thing that catches your eye is that its resolution has increased to 8 megapixels. In the model released in 2013, it is 5 megapixels. At the same time, the iSight camera is equipped with a high-tech sensor and advanced optics, which improves the quality of pictures and videos. For many, the presence of new functions was a pleasant surprise. One of them is Slow Motion. It is designed to slow down video recording. Thanks to this function, you can shoot interesting videos, which can be conveniently emphasized using slow motion. In addition, the camera has other interesting and useful features.

When comparing photos taken on the two tablets, you will notice that the iPad Air 2 produces better photo quality. Images have improved color reproduction. At the same time, all colors look more natural. The noise level in the pictures has been reduced and the detail of objects has been improved. However, such improvements are only important for discerning users. The camera performance of the first generation device is quite satisfactory for a device of this level.

The changes did not affect - its resolution is still 1.2 megapixels. However, it is not equipped with autofocus.

Technical specifications

The 2013 tablet is equipped with an A7+M7 processor. Gadgets introduced in 2014 run on the A8X+M8 processor. iPad Air 2 has three cores, while its predecessor had two. The clock speed of the gadgets is 1.5 GHz and 1.4 GHz, respectively. According to the developers, such changes made it possible to increase the performance of the central processor by 40%. Power has been improved by 2.5 times.

The difference between iPad Air and iPad Air 2 lies in the amount of memory. If the first generation tablet has 1 GB of RAM, then the second generation device is equipped with 2 GB of RAM. At the same time, the 2013 model has built-in memory capacity of 16 and 32 GB. Various modifications of the later gadget allow you to purchase a tablet with 16, 64 or 128 GB of memory. This improvement is dictated by the development of a huge number of applications that require not only performance from a tablet computer, but also a sufficient amount of memory.

Battery life

The battery capacity of the device, released at the end of 2014, is 7184 mAh. Its predecessor has a larger battery capacity - it is 8827 mAh. The developer stated that in the mode of searching information on the World Wide Web, watching videos and listening to audio, the battery of the newer device will last for 10 hours of continuous operation. At the same time, its predecessor works for about 12-13 hours without recharging. In maximum brightness mode, while watching HD video, the time is reduced by 2 hours - these are the results shown by test tests.

We can conclude that Apple had to sacrifice battery capacity in order to fit it into the thin body of the iPad Air 2. It should be noted that no matter how long the battery life of any device, it will always not suit certain categories of users. You always want your phone or tablet to last longer. In this regard, Apple has found an excellent compromise between the weight of the gadget, its size and operating time.

  • 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.




Here we need to make a disclaimer, the iPad mini with Retina will soon be on sale, 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, an interesting solution.

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 pressing 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 a MacBook doesn’t see iPhone or iPad.

Working 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 compared to 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 ()

About a year ago, Apple introduced the iPad Air tablet model, the characteristics of which were significantly updated. Everyone received such a device with a bang, and active sales began. Many people wondered why the word Air was added. But after we tried the tablet in use, we immediately realized that it really was “airy.” The company was able to surprise the then fans of this product. But when another year passed, it was necessary to come up with something new or bring the parameters of the old to unimaginable limits. It was for this purpose that the iPad Air 2 tablet appeared, the characteristics of which are more than progressive.

Among competitors' products there are models that are practically stepping on Apple's heels. But the company's management does not even think about competing with them. Because they have a more interesting development path. This is the direction of aesthetic perfection and minimalism in design. This is what attracts the majority of users who choose Apple tablet models.

Features of the iPad Air tablet

This is one of the thinnest devices in its class. The company's engineers managed to fit such characteristics of the iPad 5 Air into a small case that we can confidently say about it: it is productive and multifunctional. The body is made of aluminum, and this sets this model apart from other plastic competitors. The software is also at its best; every element is well thought out.

I would also like to say something about touch controls. It is so light and sensitive that after using it it is simply impossible to use other tablets. You have to get used to all sorts of restrictions.

The word “Air” in the name fully characterizes this device as light air. They really worked purposefully on this, and the result exceeded all expectations. The iPad Air, whose characteristics in terms of weight and dimensions surpassed all competitors, will hold its leadership position for a long time.

Tablet performance

For computing processes, a dual-core A7 processor with a frequency of 1.4 GHz is used. There is 1 GB of RAM. In addition, the assembly includes an accelerometer, compass and gyroscope on a separate M7 coprocessor. The operating system is presented in the form of iOS 7.0. There is space available for user files ranging from 16 to 128 GB. Accordingly, the price of models with different memory differs significantly. You need to decide on memory before purchasing an Apple iPad Air, the characteristics of which do not allow for memory expansion via SD cards. This limitation is by no means new for this company, as is the impossibility of the user replacing the battery independently.

iPad Air screen

One of the advantages over competitors is the Retina screen. The iPad Air screen, whose technical characteristics are always pleasing, has long become to some extent a standard of quality. Its resolution is 2048×1536 pixels with a display diagonal of 9.7 inches. The detail of the picture is very good. Screen technology - IPS matrix with LED backlight.

The sensor is capacitive and works very smoothly. There is virtually no braking, and the controls are comfortable.

Camera

What are the camera specs on the iPad Air? It is a 5 megapixel matrix. With its help you can shoot high-quality videos and photographs. On the screen side it is set to 1.2 megapixels, which is designed to carry out video communication.

Communications and other functions

To connect to the Internet, the iPad Air (technical specifications indicate the presence of Wi-Fi) has a wireless connection. To connect with other devices, Bluetooth 4.0 will help. There is also a built-in A-GPS, which can determine the location very quickly.

The device is powered by a 32.4 W/h lithium polymer battery. It lasts for 5 hours of continuous work. If you play games, this time will be significantly reduced.

The dimensions of the tablet are 240x170x7.5 mm and weighs 480 grams. Such indicators greatly impress those who pick up a product from this brand for the first time. It seems that he is empty inside. The iPad Air, which has excellent specifications, is one of those models that set the momentum for other companies.

Overall in demand even a year after it was introduced. This suggests that the manufacturer knows how to create really high-quality devices that can be relevant for a long time.

It is worth noting that there is also a model with a smaller screen. This is an iPad Air mini, the characteristics of which look more modest in comparison with a tablet with a large diagonal. But the price of this option is significantly different.

iPad Air 2 Features

The new model of the successful tablet is designed to impress Apple fans. After the phenomenal success of the old model, it was replaced by the second version. Engineers tried to develop a tablet with extreme technical parameters that would serve as a significant separation from competitors. Judging by the iPad Air 2, the characteristics of which have changed, the update was more than successful.

Among the tablet's innovations, one of the most interesting is Touch ID technology and the ability to purchase the device in gold color. The first feature allows you to scan your fingerprint to identify the user. This function is integrated into the operating system and is required when performing critical operations.

The color scheme greatly enlivened the appearance, which was gray from year to year. Most users responded very well to this update.

Specifications

A processor with three cores at 1.5 GHz each is responsible for the computing part. It is helped by 2 GB of RAM. Everything is controlled by the updated iOS 8.1 OS. Compared to last year's model, the result is more than significant. And when you consider that the body has become even thinner, then this update turns out to be simply exceptional.

The new version no longer has a 32GB memory option. Available only in 16, 64 and 128GB. This decision was received ambiguously at the presentation of the device.

The screen of the new tablet was completely borrowed from the old model. It also has an effective anti-fingerprint finish. There is also an anti-glare coating that effectively counteracts the reflection of rays from the screen. It is worth noting the large viewing angles that the display shows us. Even with large tilts, the image looks quite natural.

The main camera was still made better. It is now 8 megapixels. When comparing images, the improvement is felt in the increase in detail.

But what is completely unexpected is the weight reduction compared to the old model. The characteristics have increased, but the weight has decreased. The developers clearly did a great job.

Placement of controls

The iPad Air tablet, the characteristics of which remain the same in terms of the arrangement of elements, demonstrates the company's commitment to established standards. On the front side there is traditionally a “Home” button, which is now installed. A front camera is installed in the upper part above the screen. It appears as a black dot on a white background.

The main camera is installed on the back side in the upper left corner. On the top edge you can see the power button. The headphone jack is located symmetrically relative to it. They are installed near the start button on the right edge. They represent a double key.

There are Apple iPad Air models whose technical characteristics allow the installation of a SIM card. The connector is installed on the right edge and is a slot that can be opened with a special clip.

In the lower edge in the center there is a socket for connecting a cable. On both sides of it are visible holes for loudspeakers. There are also two of them in this model.

Finger scanning

The new feature allows you to personalize your device. Almost every important action, such as changing settings and making purchases in online stores, can be configured with fingerprint confirmation. This innovation allows you to significantly protect user data, even if other people take possession of the device.

The function works smoothly and works correctly. Sometimes there are errors and you have to repeat the scan again, but this rarely happens.

Now all Apple devices have full synchronization through the Handoff and Continuity functions. They allow you to receive calls on the tablet when it is in your hands, and the phone is lying in another room on the table. Also, when working with documents or mail, you can switch from using a tablet to an iMac at any time. Of course, this is only possible using devices of this brand, as well as their proprietary software.

Generalized characteristics

The company is constantly improving its tablets. They have exceptional user characteristics, making them the most ergonomic. Some users cannot resist the Air 2 with competitors in the market for such devices. However, it must be borne in mind that the main desire of Apple is, first of all, the ease of use and aesthetics of the device. In addition, not all manufacturers use aluminum to make cases.

From this we can conclude that tablets of this brand should be classified as a separate class of devices, which should be assessed according to completely different criteria than the rest.