iPad Getting an iPad today - Air vs Air 2

[markosb]

I'm making my first iPad purchase today and I'm heavily leaning towards the Air 1, simply because of the price drop and it seems to have just enough for me. Touch ID isn't that important to me (I have an iPhone 6 128GB), and space also won't be too much of a factor either because I will be storing most music on my iPhone.

My question then is what is the REAL advantage of getting the Air 2 besides:
- Touch ID
- The new chip
- The new Thinness (which doesn't make a big difference to me)

I have to ask here because I haven't found an article really answering this for me. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I'm moving from the iPad 3, so it's a very easy decision iPad to iPad 3 to iPad Air 2.

 

[tx2005]

Not really true though. The "upgrades" are somewhat trivial as far as many people are concerned. The faster chip is nice but it isn't like the Air is slow. Far from it. The camera updates will only appeal to photographers who just don't use ipads for that kind of thing as far I can tell. Laminated screen? .04 pounds lighter and a mm thinner? Those are upgrades?

I suppose so....

Honestly the memory alone increase in the Air 2 is huge. It may not make much of a difference now unless you are gaming, but in a year or two when iOS 9 and 10 release, that memory is going to make a huge difference in terms of how it's able to handle the new upgrades.

 

[pik.]

for me the choices are

~300€ refurb ipad Air 1
or
500€ new iPad Air 2.

 

[RebornProphet]

Might be late to this party, but here is my take.

The A7 inside the iPad Air is a beast of a chip. It's going to be good for at least another couple of years BUT the A8X is a monster that will guarantee you further longevity, although you're going to wait a while to see the very best of the A8X.

Developers haven't even began pushing the A7 to its maximum yet and with a whole line up of iPad and iPhone running that A7, developers will target that user base first and foremost due to its sheer size.

It's become the case now with iOS devices due to the annual cycle. Sure you'll see slightly higher frame rates but both the A7 and A8/X support Metal on iOS 8, so both will churn out graphical effects galore.

Interestingly, albeit only Benchmarks, the single core score on the A7 and A8X are relatively close compared to that multi core score, which streaks ahead due to that extra core. With closely matched single core scores it means that normal day to day tasks won't see smoothness or vastly increased load times.

At £/$100 off that first Air is an incredible device, but the Air 2 won't show its true power anytime soon while the install base of that chipset is smaller than that of the A6/A7 combined.

 

[ZachSpringman]

Might be late to this party, but here is my take.



The A7 inside the iPad Air is a beast of a chip. It's going to be good for at least another couple of years BUT the A8X is a monster that will guarantee you further longevity, although you're going to wait a while to see the very best of the A8X.



Developers haven't even began pushing the A7 to its maximum yet and with a whole line up of iPad and iPhone running that A7, developers will target that user base first and foremost due to its sheer size.



It's become the case now with iOS devices due to the annual cycle. Sure you'll see slightly higher frame rates but both the A7 and A8/X support Metal on iOS 8, so both will churn out graphical effects galore.



Interestingly, albeit only Benchmarks, the single core score on the A7 and A8X are relatively close compared to that multi core score, which streaks ahead due to that extra core. With closely matched single core scores it means that normal day to day tasks won't see smoothness or vastly increased load times.



At £/$100 off that first Air is an incredible device, but the Air 2 won't show its true power anytime soon while the install base of that chipset is smaller than that of the A6/A7 combined.

You sir just convinced me to stick with my Air 1 and wait for an Air 3. Thank you for the detailed description.

 

[kmj2318]

The refurb Air looks like a really good deal. Especially because it comes in 32gb, which was the perfect capacity for me.

 

[RebornProphet]

You sir just convinced me to stick with my Air 1 and wait for an Air 3. Thank you for the detailed description.

Not a problem!

It's easy to get carried away when new Apple gear comes out. It's what we, as Apple users do.

I went from iPad 3 to iPad 4 to iPad Air and this year I'm sticking. On each of those previous occasions I had real reason to upgrade.

iPad 3 was my first iPad, but as much as I loved it there was issues with the A5X chip and the Retina Display. It meant games were choppy at times and the whole NOVA 3 debacle summed it up for me when I had to choose between Retina Display resolution or full graphical effects. It couldn't handle both at once. Reason to upgrade right there.

iPad 4 is essentially what iPad 3 should have been and I still insist that Apple blundered with the A5X choice and perhaps didn't appreciate just how far that display and developers would push it. iPad 4 could handle Retina Display resolution with all effects enabled, it screamed.

The iPad Air was announced. Slimmer, lighter, it was another no brainier to upgrade. Going back to my wife's iPad 4 (my old iPad), is tough once used to the Air. The Air can handle Retina Display resolution, it can handle shed loads of visual effects thanks to the A7 chip and now Metal with iOS 8. I have no reason to upgrade and, what is also interesting is that the iPad Air clocks near identical scores as the iPhone 6 Plus on Geekbench.

The A8 is going to add ANOTHER large user base into the mix that developers will need to support, so the Air has plenty of life left in it yet.

I'm not trying to justify not upgrading, I could do so immediately if I wished to and I'm not knocking anyone who does upgrade from Air to Air 2.

I just think when new shiny things come out we tend to lose our minds, and it helps to rationalise for a second or two.

Cheers.

 

[DSTOFEL]

The refurb Air looks like a really good deal. Especially because it comes in 32gb, which was the perfect capacity for me.

If you have a Microcenter in your area (ie we do in Atlanta), you can get the 32GB Air (Original) new for $399. That's just $10 more than the refurbished price at Apple. Quite a deal!

I just stopped by and grabbed a 32GB Space gray at that price. Wanted to get it while they are still available. I've also got a 64GB Air 2 on pre order (arrives next Monday).

Now I've just got to decide which one to keep! $200 price difference between the two. Both will remain unopened until I decide. I'm typing on my Wife's Air now.....so I know what it's all about. Will check out the Air 2 in the Apple Store this weekend. The Air (original) at that price is awfully tempting....should be very easy to sell in a year without losing too much $ if I wanted to upgrade.

Btw...sold my Mini-Retina in anticipation of getting the fabulous Mini 3.....we all know how this story ends. There was no fabulous Mini 3....the reason for my current iPad Delema.

 

[iRobby]

iPad Air is still great.

However, iPad Air 2 is thinner, faster, lighter, better screen, better camera and Touch ID.

It's a fairly substantial upgrade to be honest.

You sir just convinced me to stick with my Air 1 and wait for an Air 3. Thank you for the detailed description.

You should rethink the 2GB RAM will extend the life of the iPad with future iOS updates. Also, if you are doing a cellular model the Apple Sim lets you change providers if you wish.

 

[ZachSpringman]

You should rethink the 2GB RAM will extend the life of the iPad with future iOS updates. Also, if you are doing a cellular model the Apple Sim lets you change providers if you wish.

No cellular model for me....but the 2GB of RAM is the only thing having me re-consider....I still have 10 days

 

[Uofmtiger]

I'm moving from the iPad 3, so it's a very easy decision iPad to iPad 3 to iPad Air 2.

I went the exact same route. I didn't buy an Air last year because I want TouchID. It is just better for lounging around than typing in the code and I don't want to leave it unlocked all the time.

The main reason I am moving up this time is to go to 64GBs. My 3 is a 32GB model and I needed to constantly find stuff to delete. This will give me some breathing room.

 

[markosb]

I went the exact same route. I didn't buy an Air last year because I want TouchID. It is just better for lounging around than typing in the code and I don't want to leave it unlocked all the time.

The main reason I am moving up this time is to go to 64GBs. My 3 is a 32GB model and I needed to constantly find stuff to delete. This will give me some breathing room.

I have the iPad 3 32GB as well. The 64 will be nice as now I can leave video I shoot with the iPad or iPod on it for editing on the device. I wanted TouchID as well. I am looking forward to a much faster device and I think the iPad 3 ran iOS 8.1 just fine, no real hiccups other than when starting to type on occasion.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I have the iPad 3 32GB as well. The 64 will be nice as now I can leave video I shoot with the iPad or iPod on it for editing on the device. I wanted TouchID as well. I am looking forward to a much faster device and I think the iPad 3 ran iOS 8.1 just fine, no real hiccups other than when starting to type on occasion.

I still like my iPad3 and I am keeping it for when I need something more rugged (thought about trading it in to Best Buy, but decided against it). I have a Lifeproof case on it, so it is nice to use in the hot tub and when I am outside on the deck grilling or by the pool.

We have the iPad 1 in the kitchen, mainly for music, and we will probably keep it in there. I will probably put the 3 in my office and use it as a second monitor or to use it as a Remote (Roomie).

 

[sonicrobby]

Get the Air 2, the 2GBs of RAM alone is worth the extra 100$

 

[Gincoma]

Gald I preordered 2 iPad Air 2s coming on the 27th and holding out till the iPhone 6s+ comes out next year hopefully with 2gb of ram as well... so OP its worth the extra 100 to get the Air 2 IMO.
sidenote: my iPhone 5s is still a beast with that A7 chip