Apple iPad Air 2 review: His Airness

17 November 2014
Another millimeter thinner, the new iPad Air 2 has a body that’s even more befitting the ethereal moniker the iPad bears second year in a row. Outside of that little fact however, the changes may not be as easy to spot. And that’s hardly a surprise. Apple’s...

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AnonD-314503, 19 Nov 2014Yeah, I know that. Something like 90% of what you said iPad... moreThe Surface 2 or an iPad are in-between devices. They are both half baked. I even had the chance of getting the Samsung Note Pro 12.2, but I was thinking more of the right size and the purpose. I could have also really gotten an iPad Air.

I use my Surface 2 for my graduate schooling, and my thesis is coming up. I got 200GB OneDrive free from the purchase as well for 2 years. For the price, full USB 3.0, very big cloud storage, better front facing camera of 3.5MP for Skype, easier connection for presentations, full Office with full Outlook, and good full tactile keyboard.

It's true that iOS devices have the most and latest apps. But I have the essentials for what I intend to use my Surface 2's features for. Direct files transfers is very essential as well, especially big ones without special connectors or adapters.

    AnonD-314503, 19 Nov 2014Yeah, I know that. Something like 90% of what you said iPad... moreNo need for iTunes.

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      • AnonD-314503
      • 3Y6
      • 19 Nov 2014

      TheNeighbor, 19 Nov 2014Sounds like somebody just read up about it... You would ... moreYeah, I know that. Something like 90% of what you said iPad is capable of sans multi window, USB 3.0 and micro SD card slot. iPad comes with iWorks also, an full blown Office Suite of Apple. Macs and iOS are more virus free than windows and built with security in priority. Kick Stand, keyboard? There are vast array of hardware accessories purposely designed for iOS devices, nothing comes close to that, there is even a camera drone! If I need something for Office, I would rather buy device with full blown windows rather than half baked RT which has the least apps available. Everybody else are enjoying top games and apps while windows RT is left behind. This device simply doesnt have any purpose, doesnt run desktop apps and doesnt come with decent app marketplace? What else could you do with it?

        AnonD-314503, 18 Nov 2014Of course I know windows RT running surface, those poor tab... moreSounds like somebody just read up about it...

        You would know that malware can't get through WInRT, right? It's a closed system.

        The thing about these "poor" Surface RT tablets is that they are more focused for those who would need a virus free and more productive with Office, and that built-in kickstand and FULL USB 3.0 go a long way.

        I can mirror to a smart TV wirelessly and without a special device like an Apple Airport. I can have multi-windows. I have the full Office free. I can plug in to an HDMI projector. I have a micro SD card memory expansion. I bought that 5.5mm thick tactile full keyboard cover that has back-lighting.

        I can definitely see the iPad Air as a very light fun device, however I just don't like the fact I can't directly transfer data to and from anyone without those special accessories.

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          • applelover
          • N9@
          • 18 Nov 2014

          Anonymous, 18 Nov 2014I am using iPad 4 64 GB(wifi Only) ..thinking to buy iPad A... moreI agree, I use an iPad 4 32gig cellular. it handles all my work and leisure apps smoothly on iOS 8.

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            • AnonD-314503
            • nCe
            • 18 Nov 2014

            Hey GSMArena, where is the sunlight legibility test?

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              • AnonD-209094
              • Kg%
              • 18 Nov 2014

              AnonD-1825, 18 Nov 2014Wacom has great pressure sensitive stylus for iPad. The pre... moreThe pressure is only in the s-pen tip on Galaxy Note devices too, nothing to write home about really, very underwhelming compared to the true active styluses used on for example Sony Vaio Duo and Tap. Galaxy Note devices feel cheap, no doubt about it.

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                • AnonD-209094
                • Kg%
                • 18 Nov 2014

                Unknown, 18 Nov 2014Looks like an amazing tablet but I very satisfied with its ... moreAgreed, those who have Air have enough power even for 3D games in Retina resolution, but those with iPad 3 and 4 should really consider upgrading, either to Air or Air 2, the 3 and 4 are seriously underpowered for their display resolution, plus big and heavy and in general unpleasant to use compared to Air. I know some would disagree and say that iPad 4 is good enough becoze of its connector but i think that is unsound reasoning, iPad 3 and 4 are both the reason why so many developers dont make even simple gamez in retina resolution, 3 and 4 just cant run any games in that resolution.

                Air 2 for heavy duty tablet gamers, 32GB Air for everyone else, according to this review it even offers an hour more webbrowsing, that matters to normal users.

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                  • AnonD-314503
                  • nCe
                  • 18 Nov 2014

                  TheNeighbor, 18 Nov 2014LOL, it runs Windows RT. You must be confusing it with the ... moreOf course I know windows RT running surface, those poor tablet with app marketplace that can be counted by hands only.

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                    • Unknown
                    • fkq
                    • 18 Nov 2014

                    Looks like an amazing tablet but I very satisfied with its predecessor and I will and I think I will not upgrade before air 4 or 5

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                      • X
                      • Am9
                      • 18 Nov 2014

                      thatGuy, 18 Nov 2014So a quick question to anyone who knows/cares. What is the ... moreIs not only performance it's the UI too:

                      arstechnica dot com/gadgets/2014/11/the-nexus-10-lollipop-and-the-problem-with-big-android-tablets/

                        AnonD-278523, 18 Nov 2014I am seeing a lot of taunts, complains, and negatives about... moreDon't generalize, I for one pay for my apps, and I do listen to streaming music. Does that make me a bad Android user?

                        And at the same time, you can download torrents with your iOS devices with a specific procedure. Should I judge them or you as well?

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                          • meh
                          • dNA
                          • 18 Nov 2014

                          The split screen on the Samsung (all TabPRO and Tab S) can support up to four apps running simultaneously with a very small, simple mod....

                          Can't believe Apple's penny pinching still robs users of GPS on wi-fi versions - even my kid's sub $50 tablet manages to still have it...

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                            • AnonD-278523
                            • KAe
                            • 18 Nov 2014

                            I am seeing a lot of taunts, complains, and negatives about air 2. if people hate it so much why are they taking pain to read all the review and write their opinions in here. my guess is they are jealous, because ipads are always so great. my apps, games and everything like projects and slides. runs smoothly. and even if you have to buy songs and games, but thats good thing. better than piracy right? I mean people in android mostly uses pirated softwares and songs etc. so that's illegal, and they doing crime in one way, otherwise can be said as criminals. apple takes the pain to stop piracy, thats a good thing I would say.

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                              • Muthu
                              • 9Lc
                              • 18 Nov 2014

                              thatGuy, 18 Nov 2014So a quick question to anyone who knows/cares. What is the ... moreThat is a good question. Short answer is Yes, it does not matter that it has the best CPU/GPU till date than any tablet produced so far. But 2GB RAM is required in ipad air 2, since my ipad air did stutter occasionally (with IOS7) due to lack of RAM. With IOS8, crashes are norm now. This upgrade will make it perform flawlessly (of course within the boundaries defined by apple) in whatever it actually does. You may not see those stutters/crashes in ipad air 2 due to excellent CPU/GPU/RAM.

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                                • AnonD-278523
                                • KAe
                                • 18 Nov 2014

                                kris, 18 Nov 2014LOL at everyone arguing about the performance. Apple cheats... moreare. you out of your mind , arm v8 architecture on 64bit is very powerful hardware, much faster than snapdragon 805. get technical man

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                                  • thatGuy
                                  • rvg
                                  • 18 Nov 2014

                                  So a quick question to anyone who knows/cares. What is the actual benefit to the ipad being a better preformer than the nexus? The OS does not really allow you to do any resource heavy work anyway (ie. Apps have to work on a massively less powerfull iphone 4 aswell, or atleast I think thats how their store thing works. Sorry for ignorance... Android user)

                                    AnonD-314503, 18 Nov 2014Yeah your surface 2 has desktop OS different from iOS and n... moreLOL, it runs Windows RT. You must be confusing it with the Surface Pro lineup. It has a kickstand, memory expansion, universal wireless files transfer function and that full USB 3.0. You can choose to get the very useful keyboard cover.

                                    .exe apllications can't run on the Surface 2. Only apps from the Windows store can be installed. That's why I'm confident in sharing files with anyone on the go.

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                                      • AnonD-314503
                                      • 3Y6
                                      • 18 Nov 2014

                                      Anonymous, 18 Nov 2014Sorry, i was thinking about android where you can actually ... moreWere talking about navigation! Yeah you can save maps for offline use as with iPad also but can you search for POI sans the internet connection? Thats where navigation starts! Try to read previous comments rather than joining halfway without understanding the argument flow.

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                                        • AnonD-314503
                                        • 3Y6
                                        • 18 Nov 2014

                                        TheNeighbor, 18 Nov 2014LOL, my Surface 2 has a FULL USB port, but does what I need... moreYeah your surface 2 has desktop OS different from iOS and notice the number of windows' flash drive-borne malwares and virus? I know you wont allow anyone to stick flash drive into your table PC for security reason. By the way, there are lots of apps to handle mp3 and video downloads not just iTunes so it doesnt matter.

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