First iPad Air Reviews: 'Ridiculously Small and Light', Apple's Most 'Tempting Tablet Yet'

[lk400]

Heh, as usual the sock puppets give glowing reviews...

I mean, what's really that drastically different other than being lighter and thinner?

I think those two variables were the reason many people went to the mini. To have the big screen and light and thin, while being faster and with equal or better battery life is an engineering achievement.

Anybody can stick a bigger, faster processor or more ram in a tablet or computer. Drastically reducing form factor while maintaining or improving on features is much more difficult.

 

[baxterbrittle]

iPad Pro

The new iPad naming clearly leaves room for an iPad Pro...

Hopefully having a bigger screen isn't all that is required to make something 'Pro' in Apple iPad world

 

[lk400]

Of course, Apple will be very happy to sell you an iPad Air 2 next year with a Touch ID and 2 GB RAM.... Otherwise you would be just happy with your iPad Air, rather than feel inclined to continuously drive their revenue stream. This is the name of their game, and we know it. We may hate it, but we all decided to play along.

Yeah, because a couple of years ago when Apple went bigger and heavier to accomodate the retina, they actually could have done the iPad air form factor - they just decided to hold off a few years so to rob you of your money.

 

[Zerilos]

Heh, as usual the sock puppets give glowing reviews...

I mean, what's really that drastically different other than being lighter and thinner?

I assume you didn't read any of the reviews. The list of differences as mentioned in the reviews are as follows (not including the two very significant features you mentioned): 1. Faster 2. Better wifi speed 3. Better battery life 4. better GPU.

If these improvements don't matter to you then I recommend not getting the Air.

 

[macred]

With some luck, Apple May sell enough of these to help increase their stock price. I'm not interested in another iPad, but would like to see an improvement in my shareholder investment. There's lots of people that should buy them just to have the latest.

 

[oliversl]

Its a sure buy, well, before the iPad Pro arrives thats for sure

 

[Zerilos]

Yeah, because a couple of years ago when Apple went bigger and heavier to accomodate the retina, they actually could have done the iPad air form factor - they just decided to hold off a few years so to rob you of your money.

Yeah...but it wouldn't have been Retina if they had. The whole point is that the Air has the retina display merged with the form factor.

 

[Marc-SP]

Ram lets you have opened more apps in the background... And I really like that.

That's exactly my point. May be more RAM is not a necessity, but sure it comes handy many times.

 

[BarryL]

I think I'm going to have to get one now.

 

[Matt8045]

Will there be a flash if I want to take a pic in a dark setting?

 

[iEnvy]

The android tablet experience simply isn't as buttoned up as the android smartphone experience. I still have my eye on iPads. It's a damn shame the iPad mini retina got bumped up in pricing. Would have really considered returning to iOS for my tablet uses.

I guess I also don't mind waiting for iOS 8 either. There are still plenty iOS can do better and add. That keyboard for example...ugh.

Coincidentally, I think 2014 will also be a big year for the iPhone. I'm looking forward to seeing what they bring to the table.

I agree. I see the iPhone 6 having a bigger (wider) screen. I would be surprised if Apple didn't do this.

 

[flux73]

Try to copy this, Samsung.

 

[Marc-SP]

Right. Just like a Core 2 Duo machine is basically the same as the Haswell-based machine. I mean, it's a little faster and the battery lasts a little longer, but so what? Can you really do anything on the latter that you can't do on the former?

For many people your (sarcastic?) example is totally right . It has been some time now that most computers are capable enough for any of the basic tasks. You can perfectly use a web browser, email, office suite, view HD videos and many, many other things in a 2009 core 2 Duo Macbook pro or iMac (4GB RAM).
If you are not into the lastest 3d games or some other heavy software, Core 2 duo = Haswell from a usability point of view. You would notice a far bigger difference in performance by using a SSD than changing the CPU, and still you would do the same things. Maybe the battery life of laptops is the most important change.

It's not like new computers understand what you say like HAL 9000, or can proyect holograms that you can manipulate by hand, or can recognice your gestures or mood. The computers of 5 years ago are basically the same as now.
Now are faster, better, but not really that different. Same user interface, same input, same output. Sure everything is better in some degree, and that's great, I am not saying you can't notice the difference, but there was not any quantum leap that changes the experience or open new horizons.

 

[FatLip]

just another ipad if you ask me, allot of what it offers dont appeal since ipad 2 (jb) that is.

 

[Xerotech]

Try to copy this, Samsung.

They always start copying based on rumors. A product is probably already coming out soon and with a touch sensor that won't work very well.

 

[unobtainium]

Heh, as usual the sock puppets give glowing reviews...

I mean, what's really that drastically different other than being lighter and thinner?

Huh? Why wouldn't "thinner/lighter/more powerful" get glowing reviews? Does it have to transform into an airplane to deserve praise?

Look, when new car models are released people expect improvements in design, fuel economy, performance, price etc. It's no different for tablets now. They're now a mature product category that improves incrementally each year.

 

[BvizioN]

To be honest, I was hoping the move of the CPU from 32->64 would also mean the RAM went up to 2 Gigs.

I guess that is reserved for the Pro model. Gotta make them different somehow.

What is it with people being so obsessed with ram? Does the iPad really need more ram? Do you feel the iPad being slow because of the lack of ram?

 

[WilliamG]

Lol, had to dig up this quote.
This pretentious dude sneeringly attempted to hand me my own ass for saying that the iPad benchmarks likely wouldn't whup on iPhone benchmarks b/c they share the EXACT same cpu/gpu, but iPad is pushing FAR more pixels.
I had a gloat moment when Anand posted his review, proving me right & exposing Mr. Priyamsingh as the bullying/belittling wannabe know-it-all that he apparently is.
Thank you Anand!!!!!! =)
(btw, congrats on being so "experienced")

But it's not "exactly" the same. Clock speeds are different.

 

[smoking monkey]

It's time to upgrade that iPad2

Oh yeah.

I've just updated my 4s to a 5s. my 2009 MBP to a new rMBP and tomorrow my ipad 2 to an Air. I will finally feel like all my products will work together the way I've always hoped they would. (air drop from phone to computer would be really useful though!)

 

[sanook997]

You know what this means, right?

Come spring you can almost see the 13" iPad Pro model in 64/128/256GB running the 64bit A7++, a detachable keyboard and iWork etc.

 

[flottenheimer]

I don't mind 16GB base at all. As long as they keep it starting at $499 I'm fine. I would never buy more than 16GB in the iPad and that is because I would only use it at home in which case you need absolutely 0 music and videos on it due to home sharing, and as for apps, you can redownload any you want anytime...

Many top apps are +1GB these days. Some are even +1.5GB.
I'd never go for a 16GB device. For me 32GB is the absolute minimum — that goes for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Conclusion: There is a market for 16GB (you + millions of others) and 32GB or more (me + millions of others).
Sweet.

 

[bluebird3]

Can it play YouTube video now?
Is this good for iTunes music?
How do I watch movies?
Cell or wifi model?
May be should buy the air instated of lap top...

 

[henhowc]

hopefully the long charge times of the ipad 3 and 4 are gone. do any of the reviews talk about this?

 

[haruhiko]

hopefully the long charge times of the ipad 3 and 4 are gone. do any of the reviews talk about this?

The battery is 20% smaller and yet delivers the same amount of battery life due to reduced power consumption of the system. And you guessed right, the charge time is shorter too because of this.

 

[Narcaz]

As an iPad 3 owner i'm missing stuff like Wifi AC, Touch ID, 2gb Ram, 32gb base model and IGZO displays (better battery life). It's a nice product with good improvements, but besides the faster A7, I don't see any reason to upgrade right now. 64bit needs time to spread, and the battery life/display has not improved. And I don't why people freak out about weight and size of the iPad Air. Most of the time this thing stands on a desk or lies on my legs and i never felt, that the 650g of the previous generation was way to heavy. People have the option to get an iPad mini retina if they do so. I think Apple will "surprise" us next year a device with some of the features I mentioned above, but they could offer most of them today, if they would have wanted.