First iPad Air 2 Reviews: 'Ridiculously Fast', 'Vibrant Display', Thinner Profile Comes at the Cost of Battery Life

[Spa]

For all the complaints re: battery life vs thinness

Guys, let's perhaps think from Apple's prospects on this subject:

1. Purely from profits prospect: thinner case = less costs (case metal + battery). end result is purely numbers game: saving*total units sold=pure profits. We need to factor in perhaps there are additional costs to the new iPad Air 2, such as the new A8X chip, costs of additional RAM (unit cost is low but again multiple by total units), new NFC chip etc... Maybe Apple has to balance it's profit margin on this thing so thinner design (costs) is the way?

2. Battery life reduction: yes thinner profile will reduce the battery pack and hence reduced usage, however, don't forget we (or whoever buying it) got new 3-core processor plus additional 1G RAM which all consume higher energy. My take is, we are all pretty 'spoiled' with Air's (or prior generations) battery performance in relative to Apple's 'target' of 10hrs usage - think about that ever since 1gen iPad apple always mention 10hrs usability in their introduction. There is no difference in this beast, the target is 10hrs and it delivered in current design and configuration. Do I want longer battery life? of course I do, can I cope with charge it every night if need to? guess i can.

3. Finally, about the thin profile and slight reduction on weight: Tesco (UK super market store) used to say, Every Little Helps. I certainly like it to get ever thinner and lighter, I'm quite a big guy and works out a lot and hold heavy things no prob, but hey lighter iPad always help with my own experience (maybe I used it too much while laying down)... I think it will help the young (kids), the senior (the old - no offense here) and the disadvantaged groups.

Something else on the disappearance of the mute button, unlike most of the forum users, for one I am with Apple on this, I actually rarely use the button! I always control the volume via app or press hold the vol -. Less moving parts = hopefully longer life (well hope the Vol- button will hold up to the increased challenge).

With all these, I personally think this is still the best ever iPad and certainly the best tablet in the market (well Android users may disagree). And I am thinking if I can hold off buying one! (Air still perfectly fine, after all I had only replaced my 1gen iPad with it last year)

Cheers to everyone who bought/buying the Air2, hopefully you will really enjoy it

 

[RockSpider]

No, what I see are people who complain that the battery life is lower on the Air 2 than on the Air 1, even though hardly anyone ever complained about the battery life on previous iPads. How many of the people who complain about battery life now complained that their iPad 1/2/3/4 didn't have sufficient battery life? And is it really so cumbersome to charge an iPad ten times a month as opposed to charging it eight times a month?

But in any case, there are always people who want more battery life. There are also heaps of people who want a higher resolution screen, split-screen multitasking, a stylus, a 13 inch iPad, an SD card slot, 4GB of RAM, two USB ports, a keyboard, a mouse, an FM receiver, etc. "Heaps of people" often translates to "10 people on some forum".

So you're saying you only need to charge an iPad 10 times a month, you obviously don't own one or you hardly use it.

How long have you been on Forums, a week, thousands if not millions of people are clamouring for advancements in tech, the only ones who aren't are pure Apple lovers, people who have no idea whatsoever.
Just read the uproar over the iPad Mini and the Mac Mini,"10 people on some forum" what a joke.

 

[monaarts]

Apple is a company that often builds trains its users to get used to something before releasing a feature that relies on it (I.e. Swiping back and forward in safari before releasing a larger iPhone). I've been saying for the last year that I think Apple is trying to make its devices as thin as possible for a similar reason. IDK, I just don't think Apple would work so hard to make a device .05 inches thinner and compromise battery life for no reason other than it just being thinner. Time will tell I guess.

 

[0098386]

Battery and toggle switch (quick rotation switch) are why if, right now, my iPad 3 died I'd get the original iPad Air. This battle for thinness is becoming a joke. The Air is thin enough.

 

[roadbloc]

Even less battery life? Boo! Stop focusing on making things thinner Apple! Battery life is far more important!

 

[NickPhamUK]

I've been waiting days and night since the iPad event to hear the news on the RAM.

Touch ID for quick App Store purchase - check
A8X CPU (and an extra core for that matter) - check, the faster the merrier
The price for the 128GB option goes down - check
More vibrant display - check

The only bad thing I guess is the battery life. To be honest, I don't care if it is the thinnest tablet on the market. The size of the iPad Air is already perfect. Why do you need to make it thinner and thus compromise the battery life? I don't know about others but I'll put the iPad in a leather case anyway, so thin or not - doesn't matter much to me.

Anyway, still looking forward to buying this baby. I think it's gonna be future proof. I tried iPad Mini 1 1.5 year ago and I sold it after 1 month. 512 RAM, constantly reloading web pages, you serious Apple?

 

[bsolar]

Someone gets a review version of a quite expensive device that a lot of people would like to have and actually breaks it by putting it "down for a second on a bench". And then comments on this by saying "Sure, I'm to blame, but actually, Apple is to blame."

The reviewer's comment is perfectly fine. He acknowleges that he's responsible of the device breaking, but points out that the device broke very easily. It's to be expected since the iPad is not meant for "rough" usage, but Apple explicitly promoted the iPad for serious mountaneering, hence the "climb every mountan" comment.

As a side note, using the iPad for serious mountaineering is actually not a good idea given the device's characteristics.

If I get a device from my employer and I break it, I will have a non-enjoyable conversation with my boss. Apparently, the WSJ is a bit more relaxed when it comes to breaking items provided to their employees.

If you get the device with the goal of reviewing it, it might be that you are actually requested by your employer to also test its sturdiness, which means handling it roughly or even making "drop tests".

 

[RockSpider]

Guys, let's perhaps think from Apple's prospects on this subject:

1. Purely from profits prospect: thinner case = less costs (case metal + battery). end result is purely numbers game: saving*total units sold=pure profits. We need to factor in perhaps there are additional costs to the new iPad Air 2, such as the new A8X chip, costs of additional RAM (unit cost is low but again multiple by total units), new NFC chip etc... Maybe Apple has to balance it's profit margin on this thing so thinner design (costs) is the way?

2. Battery life reduction: yes thinner profile will reduce the battery pack and hence reduced usage, however, don't forget we (or whoever buying it) got new 3-core processor plus additional 1G RAM which all consume higher energy. My take is, we are all pretty 'spoiled' with Air's (or prior generations) battery performance in relative to Apple's 'target' of 10hrs usage - think about that ever since 1gen iPad apple always mention 10hrs usability in their introduction. There is no difference in this beast, the target is 10hrs and it delivered in current design and configuration. Do I want longer battery life? of course I do, can I cope with charge it every night if need to? guess i can.

3. Finally, about the thin profile and slight reduction on weight: Tesco (UK super market store) used to say, Every Little Helps. I certainly like it to get ever thinner and lighter, I'm quite a big guy and works out a lot and hold heavy things no prob, but hey lighter iPad always help with my own experience (maybe I used it too much while laying down)... I think it will help the young (kids), the senior (the old - no offense here) and the disadvantaged groups.

Something else on the disappearance of the mute button, unlike most of the forum users, for one I am with Apple on this, I actually rarely use the button! I always control the volume via app or press hold the vol -. Less moving parts = hopefully longer life (well hope the Vol- button will hold up to the increased challenge).

With all these, I personally think this is still the best ever iPad and certainly the best tablet in the market (well Android users may disagree). And I am thinking if I can hold off buying one! (Air still perfectly fine, after all I had only replaced my 1gen iPad with it last year)

Cheers to everyone who bought/buying the Air2, hopefully you will really enjoy it

Why would people worry about what Apples take is on this thing, every company goes through the same hoops every year, more memory, more ram and faster CPU etc.
As far as margins go Apple makes bigger margins than any other company. You can worry about Apples margin, I'll worry about my back pocket.
Go and have a look at a Samsung tablet and see how much Apple is starting to fall behind.

 

[MentalFloss]

So you're saying you only need to charge an iPad 10 times a month, you obviously don't own one or you hardly use it.

I own two. They are in constant use. I charge them more than 10 times a month. However, most people don't.

What has certainly never happened is that I had to charge an iPad during the day after having charged it overnight. As long as that doesn't happen, complaining about battery life is silly. Having a thin iPad is more important to me than an iPad that still has 50% battery life left at the end of the day when I plug in the charger. What benefit do you draw from that?

How long have you been on Forums, a week, thousands if not millions of people are clamouring for advancements in tech, the only ones who aren't are pure Apple lovers, people who have no idea whatsoever.

Translated: The only people who can disagree with you are stupid people "who have no idea whatsoever". You apparently have an extremely high opinion of yourself. I guess I shouldn't even bother discussing with you, as you have already made up your mind about anyone who doesn't share your opinion.

The thought that other people might use the same devices differently has not occurred to you? Or even the thought that these people might be in the majority? I have most likely been on Internet forums longer than you, I'd be willing to bet actual money on that, so I know that there is always a vocal minority clamouring for features that are pointless for the silent minority.

Just read the uproar over the iPad Mini and the Mac Mini,"10 people on some forum" what a joke.

Yes. Please read the uproar over the Mac Mini. I was clamouring there for a quad core Mac Mini. I was one of the vocal minority.

Millions of people. What a joke.

 

[Jsameds]

Ordered a 64GB Space Gray.

The battery on the Air was amazing so a small reduction on that and it's still a great battery life which I'm not too bothered about, considering all the other improvements all in all it's a minor disadvantage.

You'll still get a day heavy, 2 days normal, 3 days light use out of it, which is fine.

 

[FieldingMellish]

These will all get so thin that all content will be on a cloud that we'll all be paying rent for in perpetuity.

 

[ericlmercer]

90 minutes less battery life than the original iPad Air. It's THINNER though. What a joke!

So... 2Gb ram -90 minutes battery life or 1Gb ram -0 minutes battery life? I prefer Apple's trade-off...

 

[ISanych]

Didn't Steve Jobs once say that if "we add a feature, we can't get rid of it later?"

Well, I guess he was wrong

They do it all the time: 17", RJ45, DVD, upgradability - everything became smaller and thinner and loosing parts on that journey.

 

[Spa]

Why would people worry about what Apples take is on this thing, every company goes through the same hoops every year, more memory, more ram and faster CPU etc.
As far as margins go Apple makes bigger margins than any other company. You can worry about Apples margin, I'll worry about my back pocket.
Go and have a look at a Samsung tablet and see how much Apple is starting to fall behind.

No one is worrying what is Apple's take, it is purely thinking differently and might be the reasons for what we got offered in such state of Air2. Company is not charity and hence they won't make non-economical decisions. Apple of course will try to continue make the best margins if they can, they won't until other start to catch up, certainly not significant yet.

I don't see how far Apple is falling behind, do elaborate further?

 

[Jsameds]

These will all get so thin that all content will be on a cloud that we'll all be paying rent for in perpetuity.

I dunno, they are upping the storage on them, albeit slowly. Do we really need more than 128GB in the next few years? I can fill 64GB fairly easily but that's with lossless music and a couple of HD movies, for the vast majority of us 64GB is plenty and 128GB even more so, any more and you can get those "Personal Cloud" devices that you can plug a memory stick/SD card into.

 

[ericlmercer]

Waiting for the next iPad (hopefully) which incorporates the smooth rounded screen edge, a la iPhone 6 and 6+. Keep getting weight indents between thumb and index finger when holding the iPad. As for speed and performance, the 1st iPad mini retina will do for now...

I agree. I was sure of this design change after seeing the 6. Bummer... But my own nerve endings there are somewhat deadened by the Air 1 already, so ...

 

[MentalFloss]

If you get the device with the goal of reviewing it, it might be that you are actually requested by your employer to also test its sturdiness, which means handling it roughly or even making "drop tests".

True, but I am quite sure that this device was given to the reviewer with a "Don't drop it, or reviewing it will become difficult!" comment as opposed to "Drop it by mistake, please."

 

[jenre]

Is it sexist for me to not be surprised that the only reviewer to destroy her review unit is Joanna?

yes it is

 

[Ramchi]

True. Buying iPad is like buying an HDTV. Upgrade cycle is twice or thrice than the iPhone. Why? Unlike the iPhone, iPad is simply less personal. It's like a consumption device for browsing, maybe occasional video watching and hardly doing anything productive. But iPhone is where you make phone calls, social media, chatting etc. It may be used for work, colleagues, family. It's more needed and crucial than iPad will ever be. Decreasing sales number proves that.

iPads are difficult to carry unlike iPhones. iPad started as a fun product and really got traction very quickly. Now it stagnates because users do not find it really necessary to upgrade it. They really do not feel the big difference between iPad 2 and iPad Air 2 in terms of weight, thickness etc...Performance as such, even iPad 2 itself was meeting the requirements of most of the users (sales figures of iPad Mini and Mini 2 with two years olde components proved the same).

Now unless iPad can replace your Laptop, people may not get excited to upgrade every two years!

I feel, if Apple is working on a converging device something like iPad Pro (12.9) that can improve the sale of iPad but that would cannibalise Macbook Air or even Pro (entry level). So the whole cycle starts again from Mac, iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro.

May be Apple has deliberately engineering this cycle after finding out our buying tastes, patterns!

 

[dumastudetto]

Mossberg is useless. Why anybody still reads his copy is beyond me.

Apple were quoting him during their last two keynotes. So I guess he isn't all that bad.

 

[diamond.g]

So... 2Gb ram -90 minutes battery life or 1Gb ram -0 minutes battery life? I prefer Apple's trade-off...

uh, didn't they say the battery is smaller in the Air 2? Seems like that and the 3rd core would account for battery life more than the extra GB of RAM.

Though if you meant you didn't care about losing 90 minutes of use over getting 2GB of RAM I am with you there!

 

[Piggie]

That verge review hit it pretty bang on the money.

All the App developers were TOLD right at the beginning of the iPad era NOT to just enlarge up iPhone Apps.

Apple even stopped hi-res iPhone apps from using the screen correctly.

The only company that DID just enlarge the iPhone software was Apple itself!

Let's be honest here, the iPad Air 2 is embarrassingly just the same as it was on launch day of the iPad 1. It's a magnified 4" Mobile Phone user interface on a 10" screen.

And Apple should be dam well ashamed to be launching this amazing piece of hardware without after all this time dealing with this.

I can forgive them, with the iPad1. They never knew it was going to be a success, so why invent a new UI. Also they did not want to make the device seem strange to current iPhone users, so it was a no pain changeover.
So I can forgive that. It was probably the safest and cheapest thing to do at the time.

But that was in the Spring of 2010 Six hardware models ago. And we are now at the end of 2014, and they STILL have not improved this.

Then wonder why people are looking at new tablets and not finding enough of a reason to change, as hey, it does not really do anything that much better than the model I already have.

Apple need a SLAP big time for their laziness and complacency on letting this product down software wise.

 

[cwwilson]

I was just awaiting confirmation on the RAM before I made the purchase. Did not expect an extra core too

This thing is gonna blow my iPad 4 away.

 

[kazmac]

...

While 2gb of RAM is tempting and what I was hoping for, the price you pay for that is unfortunate: less battery life. That's big for my commute.

My history with iPads is crappy anyway, so I might as well eat humble pie and wait for the iPhone 6 Plus stock to balance out. I keep my iPhones for a little over 2 years unlike iPads.

For everyone who buys one, enjoy it!

 

[Rogifan]

The headline perpetuates an idea that battery performance is seriously impacted in the iPad Air 2. When in fact, the difference is minimal, and it still stands up to Apple's usage claims.

Yeah the headline actually ticks me off. By reading this headline you'd think every review said battery life sucked. That's not the case. I've skimmed over most of these reviews and some of them contradict each other. Walt Mossberg says he didn't notice the Air 2 being that much faster or lighter than the Air. Other reviews say the complete opposite. The only consistency in these reviews seems to be that Apple isn't doing enough to move iPad forward (especially on the software side). That I would agree with.