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iPad Air 2 vs Air
- Thread starter AmazingTechGeek
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Well I have the an iPad 4th gen but my sister has the Air 2 and loves it. I would definitely recommend the Air 2 over the Air because it weighs .04 pounds less (or something like that), it has 2GB of RAM instead of 1GB, 8 MP rear camera instead of 5MP with a burst mode, Touch ID which is very useful, a faster quad-core A8x chip, etc. Also, with iOS 9 the split screen feature to run two apps at a time is only compatible with the iPad Air 2.
Here is a link that compares them from Apple's site.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
Here is a link that compares them from Apple's site.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
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I have 3 iPads. In addition to the differences outlined in the last post, the Air2 has a better screen, the Air1 screen is good but has a plastic feel. There isn't much performance difference yet, but no doubt there will be with the RAM difference, as apps become more demanding. also, only the Air2 will get the multitasking feature in IOS9.
I returned my Air (1) when it was first released because at first it had a ton of issues with Safari crashing, tabs reloading (still seems to be a problem for some) and other stability issues. It seems an iOS update fixed most of those.
Before that I had a iPad 3 and while it was big and heavy I preferred the screen because it feel higher quality.
Now I have an Air 2 and I've been very happy with it. It does vibrate a bit though at higher volume levels. It doesn't really affect me because I keep it in a case but I can still kind of feel it.
Before that I had a iPad 3 and while it was big and heavy I preferred the screen because it feel higher quality.
Now I have an Air 2 and I've been very happy with it. It does vibrate a bit though at higher volume levels. It doesn't really affect me because I keep it in a case but I can still kind of feel it.
I'm going to be honest here, I own an iPad mini 2, have used the air quite a bit (friend owns one) but don't own an iPad Air 2. I've used one in stores though, and have read extensively about it.
iPad Air:
Pros: Apparently has better battery, has side switch for quicker access to rotation lock/mute, cheaper, speakers don't vibrate entire iPad, no screen distortion issues.
Cons: Stuttery mess, reloads tabs and apps constantly, no Touch ID.
iPad Air 2:
Pros: Super smooth, fast, holds many apps and tabs in memory before refreshing, Touch ID, superior camera with burst mode and slo-mo, apparently louder and generally superior speakers, superior screen (feel and no air gap)
Cons: lacks side switch (not a big deal, everything is in control center) speakers vibrate device, gripping iPad in some places on back allegedly cause screen distortions, battery is not as good.
I would definitely pick the Air 2 over the Air 1 any day. Touch ID is awesome, and the device runs iOS like it should. The air just butchers iOS and dropped frames are just everywhere. The users who own air 1's, don't say this problem doesn't exist because I've demonstrated the EXACT same issues on EVERY A7 iPad I've touched. Clean/fresh installs, store models, friends' messy cluttered iPad, my iPad... It's all the same. You have to have reduce motion off, you have to have increase contrast on.
iPad Air:
Pros: Apparently has better battery, has side switch for quicker access to rotation lock/mute, cheaper, speakers don't vibrate entire iPad, no screen distortion issues.
Cons: Stuttery mess, reloads tabs and apps constantly, no Touch ID.
iPad Air 2:
Pros: Super smooth, fast, holds many apps and tabs in memory before refreshing, Touch ID, superior camera with burst mode and slo-mo, apparently louder and generally superior speakers, superior screen (feel and no air gap)
Cons: lacks side switch (not a big deal, everything is in control center) speakers vibrate device, gripping iPad in some places on back allegedly cause screen distortions, battery is not as good.
I would definitely pick the Air 2 over the Air 1 any day. Touch ID is awesome, and the device runs iOS like it should. The air just butchers iOS and dropped frames are just everywhere. The users who own air 1's, don't say this problem doesn't exist because I've demonstrated the EXACT same issues on EVERY A7 iPad I've touched. Clean/fresh installs, store models, friends' messy cluttered iPad, my iPad... It's all the same. You have to have reduce motion off, you have to have increase contrast on.
I have both.
The 2 just screams, its thinness and weight loss is noticible. Side switch is a pity since I use it quite often, but I've gotten used to it anyway. Vibrating with sound is very real, but a case would dampen it. It sounds louder than the first Air anyway so I prefer it even with this issue. Safari reloading has always been annoying on the Air, very happy that it's gone though I don't think it's worth to upgrade for this issue only. The screen responsiveness is also much higher on the 2 (very noticible).
The advantage of the Air 2 would draw further when spilt view is enabled with iOS 9.
The 2 just screams, its thinness and weight loss is noticible. Side switch is a pity since I use it quite often, but I've gotten used to it anyway. Vibrating with sound is very real, but a case would dampen it. It sounds louder than the first Air anyway so I prefer it even with this issue. Safari reloading has always been annoying on the Air, very happy that it's gone though I don't think it's worth to upgrade for this issue only. The screen responsiveness is also much higher on the 2 (very noticible).
The advantage of the Air 2 would draw further when spilt view is enabled with iOS 9.
Biggest con of the Air 2(speaking of which there should be a Con Air 2) is that the new anti-glare material makes it near impossible to get rid of fingerprints. Other than some vibrations with audio set above 3 ticks its better than the first Air in every way.
Air 2 is noticeably better machine compared to Air 1. Thought Air 1 is still a great tablet and capable in many ways.
Air 2 has better screen, almost twice as fast processor compared to Air 1, 2Gbs of RAM, Touch ID, better camera, better speakers, thinner and lighter. And the gold version looks dope.
Air 1 has slightly longer batterylife due to bigger battery. But I havent noticed anything significant. I still get 10+ hours from my Air 2 constantly.
Air 2 has better screen, almost twice as fast processor compared to Air 1, 2Gbs of RAM, Touch ID, better camera, better speakers, thinner and lighter. And the gold version looks dope.
Air 1 has slightly longer batterylife due to bigger battery. But I havent noticed anything significant. I still get 10+ hours from my Air 2 constantly.
I have an Air 2 and I love it. My favourite things about it are Touch ID, which makes it super simple to unlock the iPad and buy stuff, and the laminated display, which is gorgeous, and makes it very hard to go back to the non-laminated display.
Other perks include the A8X, which while the A7 is not bad at all, is nice to have the smoothness and futureproofness of the A8X, 2GB RAM, but I usually have a GB free anyway, faster wifi, thinner, which is definitely nice. The speakers do vibrate, but I don't generally find that a problem, as I usually wear headphones.
Hope that helped.
EDIT: Haven't tried it yet, but split view is likely to be a huge plus.
Other perks include the A8X, which while the A7 is not bad at all, is nice to have the smoothness and futureproofness of the A8X, 2GB RAM, but I usually have a GB free anyway, faster wifi, thinner, which is definitely nice. The speakers do vibrate, but I don't generally find that a problem, as I usually wear headphones.
Hope that helped.
EDIT: Haven't tried it yet, but split view is likely to be a huge plus.
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I had both until recently. Right now, there is very little other than some games that run better/faster on the Air 2. The differences in size and weight can only be detected with a scale and calipers. However, if you are thinking of buying one now, the Air 2 is the only current iPad that's going to be able to use Split View. On the other hand, it's July and there's a good chance that there will be an Air 3 that's at least slightly spec-bumped in September, so if you're thinking about buying you might just wait another 2-3 months.
I agree.
If you 'need' an iPad now just get a certified Refurbished Air 1, they're fully capable and much cheaper than an Air 2 which will be old news in just a few short months.
Yes, if you can wait, you basically can't lose. iPad Air and Air 2 will be cheaper after the Air 3 is introduced (assuming that it is - at least the annual spec bump seems like a good guess), and if the Air 3 has some new killer feature that you have to have, then you'll be glad you waited for that. Air 1 prices are surprisingly low, even today.
I have both, and the first gen Air only gets used, when there is absolutely no battery on my iPad Air 2... The difference between the two is, in my opinion, enormous. The Air 2 is so gorgeous, while the Air 1 is, like others have said, very 'plastic-like' when you press the screen... The Air 2 has a screen with the same feel as an iPhone 4/5/6, which is great.
Buying the Air 1 right now would be very stupid - do not do it. It is not futureproof at all, while the Air 2 is.
Buying the Air 1 right now would be very stupid - do not do it. It is not futureproof at all, while the Air 2 is.
If you currently 'need' an iPad, buying an inexpensive basic Air 1 now has nothing to with future proofing (or being stupid), and everything to do with spending a minimum on hardware that 'will do for now', and saving your money for what soon will make the much more expensive iPad 2 yesterdays news.
To me it would be stupid considering the iPad Air 2 can be bought for the same price as the iPad Air 1 at Target this week.
Anytime, you can purchase an upgraded product of the one your interested in for the same price you would be wise (not stupid) to do so, and not just 'this week'.
However, buying a current model so close to the release of the next upgraded model still gives you very little in the way of 'future proofing'.
Agreed. It will also depend upon what the Air 3 actually is. If the Air 3 has the same RAM as the Air 2, then purchasing an Air 2 (at the time of the Air 3's announcement) at a price lower than the Air 3 would be a wise purchase.
This is a fair comparison and pretty accurate although my safari experience hasn't been as bad as some peoples. The HUGE gorilla in the room regarding the Air 2 is that damned vibrating problem which is a deal killer for those of us that don't use headphones. I tried one way back during launch at my local store and it was extremely obnoxious. The entire chassis and screen resonated badly with basically any speaker volume beyond a bar or two. Just sucks that something seemingly so trivial KILLED the deal for me. They'll have to correct that or I just can't get on board. Hopefully the Air 3 tackles this problem.
I never watch a video or listen to music holding the iPad, it's always standing or resting on something so the vibration is a non-issue. I suspect more people use it that way than handheld, otherwise it would have been fixed. What I do notice is that the audio from the Air 2 is head and shoulders better (and louder) than the original Air. I always had to use a BT speaker when watching movies or other video content on the Air. With the Air 2, I can just listen to the iPad without the separate speaker.
I wouldn't draw that conclusion. We've been through this before a couple of times in the history of the iPad. Here's how it goes:
- there's an issue that users discover
- Apple is silent about it
- defenders dismiss those experiencing the issue as being unreasonable, liars, or trolls
- the number of reports continue to rise
- tech blogs pick the story up
Here's where the path forks into two options:
(can be resolved by a software upgrade)
- Apple acknowledges that "some" experience the issue
- Apple releases an upgrade to address the problem
- defenders refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of the issue because they themselves didn't experience it.
(can't be resolved by a software upgrade)
- Apple refuses to acknowledge the issue
- (During the next generation of the product's release) Apple makes the necessary changes to address the issue but doesn't explicitly state that any change made was to address the issue
- defenders refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of the issue because Apple has not admitted it.
- complainers are left with no recourse other than to buy the latest gen
TL;DR -> Apple takes whatever action that will result in minimal cost/maximum profit
This is pretty clearly in category 2 and I agree with the TLDR. Results will be coming in September or October. 
Well, if you could get an Air for like half price or or less or something, that would be one thing, but for only $100 less than a comparable Air 2, you be way better off getting a 2. With the 2 there's a good chance you could keep it for a couple or three years and not really feel you were missing out. With the original Air, you will soon want to throw it to the ground due to Safari basically not working for many sites due to constant hang ups and reloads. Not sure what it is that sites are using now, but it has crushed the dream of a small lightweight tablet that can use real websites for me. (Daily iPad Air user)
Especially when you consider resale value. The older tablet is going to lose a lot more value than the new model is going to when a brand new iPad is revealed.