iPad Air 2
Sometimes Apple creates revolutionary products. And other times, it updates and polishes previous years' models. The 'perfect product' is a goal that devices like the iPod and the MacBook Air follow: a path that consists of subtle changes and designs until greatness. And while the iPhone is an evolving gadget, the iPad is getting closer to perfection.
The IPad Air 2 is even thinner than last year's version. It's got a faster processor, enhanced cameras, and the Touch ID fingerprint reader. The new iPad is a more polished iPad and, in essence, a perfect improvement on its latest edition. The iPad Air 2 is the ultimate in refinement, and its app catalog is the best one of them all.
The iPad Air 2 is thinner than the previous iPad Air; 6.1mm thick. It's thinner than a pencil or a magazine, it is the thinnest iOS device. The Wi-Fi version of the Air 2 weighs 435 grams, compared to 444 grams of iPad Air with Wi-Fi. The color options are gold, silver, and spatial gray, plus white or black on the front depending on the color you choose.
The Apple IPad Air 2 has finally Touch ID, the feature that arrived with the iPhone 5S, but that did not appear on the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2013. The Touch ID fingerprint identification system works extremely well and can be used to unlock the device, iTunes transactions or paying with Apple Pay. iCloud storage plans have also become cheaper for the IPad Air 2 64 GB and 128 GB version, offering 200GB of cloud storage at a lower price than it used to be. Apple says the iPad Air 2 battery can last up to 10 hours.
For the first time in two years, the 9.7-inch iPad has received a processor upgrade that puts it above most of other iPhones and iPads. The new A8X processor promises graphics power, compared to the A8 on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. And the model represents the improvement in RAM of an Ipad: 2GB, compared to the previous 1GB. The iPad Air 2 is the fastest iOS device. The iPad Air 2 has an 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which enables faster speed on compatible routers. And the M8 motion coprocessor adds a barometer to allow altitude readings with compatible apps. LTE models can be connected to multiple operators via SIM cards in ways that previous iPads could not do.
The iSight rear camera has been improved and the difference is noticeable compared to its predecessor: it has 8 megapixels instead of 5 and features slow motion, time-lapse and a better face detection. The improved front camera for FaceTime is one of the most useful enhancements: it still has 1.2 megapixels, but it registers better contrast, so you can take good pictures in low-light conditions. The camera has an aperture f2.2 and allows to have FaceTime video calls with a sharper image.
A cheap IPad Air 2 is possible if you go refurbished and choose the IPad Air 2 16GB model.