Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad iPad Air 2 worth it?

I was more impressed with the jump from the iPad Air to iPad Air 2 then I was for iPad 4 to iPad Air. This is simply because 2GB RAM made it that much better of an experience and the laminated screen with anti reflective coating is something you'll appreciate every time you turn your device on
 
mrex said:
Im not sure have you understood it correctly. With some ipad air2 you get distortions just when the device is laying on your hands... You dont need to apply any force. I had two, this one cannot produce distortions even when im trying it hard. The other one gets distortions while keeping it on your hand...
Click to expand...


If the screen is distorting with normal use, then it's obviously defective so it should be replaced, like what you did.

Claiming all Air 2s are defective just because some of them are is silly.
 
iPad Air 2 worth it?

Morac said:
If the screen is distorting with normal use, then it's obviously defective so it should be replaced, like what you did.

Claiming all Air 2s are defective just because some of them are is silly.
Click to expand...


Sorry, have.. Not had.. I still have both of them (the other one is a gift). If only we had applestores here, i would go and replace the other one immediately. But we dont and i would need to post it etc... Every ipads in stores i have tried have terrible distortions... It may be that earlier batches suffered this even worse. Anyway, these two are from the same factory thought, only difference is the color and cell vs wifi version... But both have good displays (no uneven colours, bookspines etc.), so im not sure do i want to try my chance by replacing the other one and get a bad screen or so...
 
harrypham said:
Because I experienced almost 20 bad screen iPads (iPad 3, Air 1 and Air 2), all of them are DL. On contrast, most of DM iPads I saw are almost perfec such as coool tone screen, bright white, non dead pixel etc
Click to expand...

Mine is a DL... haven't noticed any problems.
 
I just upgraded from an iPad 3 to the Air 2 today and what a difference. It's quite a change in almost every aspect from my three. I'm not sure the screen is better, but I've only had it for a few hours. Mine is a DM, but I'm not sure if that matters
 
iososx said:
My Air 2 is excellent, reliable, fast and stable. Screen is flawless.
Click to expand...

Good to hear. Maybe I'll order it 1 time and hope it is as good as yours. Else I'll ask for a refund. I wasn't impressed by the demo units in the Apple Store.
 
I went from a first gen Air to an Air 2. Heck YES, IT's worth it in my opinion! I thought there would be no difference in the screen and in general use, but I was wrong. The screen is beautiful! The icons on the home screens seem to almost pop out on you. In a game I play called Kings Road, a wizard spell called frost armor, now looks amazing! It looked nice on my Air 1 but on my Air 2...the effect is gorgeous!

Web pages load faster that's faster. The extra gig of ram is noticeable to me. It's so light! It's like I'm holding an iPad mini 2 because it's so incredibly light weight. I don't regret upgrading from my Air to the Air 2 one bit, so very much worth it to me. 🙂
 
UBS28 said:
Good to hear. Maybe I'll order it 1 time and hope it is as good as yours. Else I'll ask for a refund. I wasn't impressed by the demo units in the Apple Store.
Click to expand...
I deliberately ignore store demo devices. Years of experience have taught me there's no substitute for testing and evaluation in my own environment. Store units are too abused.
 
CandyNJ66 said:
I went from a first gen Air to an Air 2. Heck YES, IT's worth it in my opinion! I thought there would be no difference in the screen and in general use, but I was wrong. The screen is beautiful! The icons on the home screens seem to almost pop out on you. In a game I play called Kings Road, a wizard spell called frost armor, now looks amazing! It looked nice on my Air 1 but on my Air 2...the effect is gorgeous!

Web pages load faster that's faster. The extra gig of ram is noticeable to me. It's so light! It's like I'm holding an iPad mini 2 because it's so incredibly light weight. I don't regret upgrading from my Air to the Air 2 one bit, so very much worth it to me. 🙂
Click to expand...

I would urge everyone on Air 1 to sell it immediately. Take a few hundred dollars hit but buy Air 2 and then keep it for 2-3 years.

I sold my Air 1 and got 2 Air 2s. 2GB RAM and 2.5 times faster GPU is a REAL upgrade of all time.
 
I think this is a very subjective question. I can't see any defects with the one I just received and am really quite impressed with the build. Ultimately I am an iPad mini kinda guy so this one will be getting returned, but not because of the build, of which I have no complaints and am quite captivated with.

I always thought it would be the weight that turned me off from a 9.7" iPad but oddly it's the screen size. It feels tiring for my eyes to look at it for more than twenty minutes at a time. This is after adjusting for text size and brightness. I concluded that had this been an upgraded mini with all the Air 2's features, I would be ecstatic but feel pretty certain that the Air 2 will get little use with my mini around.

Oh well, maybe next year.
 
7thson said:
I think this is a very subjective question. I can't see any defects with the one I just received and am really quite impressed with the build. Ultimately I am an iPad mini kinda guy so this one will be getting returned, but not because of the build, of which I have no complaints and am quite captivated with.

I always thought it would be the weight that turned me off from a 9.7" iPad but oddly it's the screen size. It feels tiring for my eyes to look at it for more than twenty minutes at a time. This is after adjusting for text size and brightness. I concluded that had this been an upgraded mini with all the Air 2's features, I would be ecstatic but feel pretty certain that the Air 2 will get little use with my mini around.

Oh well, maybe next year.
Click to expand...
I feel the mini 3 a little bit underwhelming compared to the iPad air 2.
 
sanke1 said:
I would urge everyone on Air 1 to sell it immediately. Take a few hundred dollars hit but buy Air 2 and then keep it for 2-3 years.

I sold my Air 1 and got 2 Air 2s. 2GB RAM and 2.5 times faster GPU is a REAL upgrade of all time.
Click to expand...

It'll be worth it when you see real differences in third party apps. Right now a second or two (if you're lucky) quicker loading times is the main difference.

For now, and of course this will change, the Air 1 and Air 2 run every graphically intense app identically. I know exactly what will happen in June when I get my Air 2 on my annual upgrade ... I'll be sitting there asking, "This is it"? Hopefully by then something is on the App Store that truly shows the difference but I'm skeptical. The iPad 4th gen still runs most graphically intense apps at near identical performance to the iPad Air. Games that use Metal, like Asphalt 8, look stunning on the Air and Air 2 and run at identical frame rates with all effects enabled.

The Air 2 has legs, and it will stretch them eventually, but right now anyone insisting there is an instant and immediately perceivable difference or "wow" factor in terms of performance is bending the truth.

The annual cycle means that NO iPad since (in my eyes) the iPad 4th gen has been given time to be pushed to what it's capable of and it's certainly never shown its full hand within 12 months. These devices are so powerful that developers are still getting plenty out of the outgoing model then a new one comes out. This means they will never fully utilise their power in a mere 12 months.

What excites me more is what the iPad Air 2 will be doing this time next year, if not sooner. However by then the Air 3 will be out and the same people will be logging on here, waxing lyrically about the Air 3 specs, calling the Air 2 "obsolete" and "old tech" and running it down.

Happens every year on here. And I GUARANTEE that more than half of those over the various threads on here who are going on and on about the Air 2's potential longevity won't even keep their Air 2 next year anyway!

I've a cheek to talk though, I upgrade annually (company provide me with a new iPad, the amount is discounted 20% and the remaining balance is deducted from my salary before tax over 12 months) but it's always in June meaning I'm near the end of the iPad's "life" when I get the latest one. So for me this iPad Air is "only" 6 months old and it screams (well, as long as it's kept on 7.1.2).
 
Last edited:
I bought one iPad Air 2 for my wife and one for me this Christmas.
My wife is coming from an iPad 2 and I am coming from an iPad 3.
So far, we have been extremely excited with both devices.
The performance is flawless, they are fast, the screen is looking great, no distortion discernible in everyday use, the vibration of the case does occur, but not to a relevant degree so far...

We are two happy users.
 
There will always be a better model the next year. Personally I think if you want it, go for it. People come on forums a lot and complain, and sadly that's what you see most of.

I have an iPad Air and for me the iPad Air 2 isn't worth it. I played with it at the Apple Store and thought it was very nice.
 
Primejimbo said:
There will always be a better model the next year. Personally I think if you want it, go for it. People come on forums a lot and complain, and sadly that's what you see most of.

I have an iPad Air and for me the iPad Air 2 isn't worth it. I played with it at the Apple Store and thought it was very nice.
Click to expand...

Right, the next iPad isnt due for another 10 months, so now is the time to upgrade if you want to
 
It's worth it if you don't have a iPad Air and you can find Air 2 under $400. Just don't pay retail. My local Microcenter has the Air 2 16gig for $400. But with large phones there is less need for a tablet nowadays.
 
Max(IT) said:
I'm using it right now.
Not a single difference in performances from iOS 7.1.2
Click to expand...

Tap the omnibar on Safari while on a website and watch the sluggish animation as the address highlights and slides left to reveal the full address (ignore the keyboard coming up from the bottom of the screen).

It's horrid. And it does it on every iPad Air I've tried in different stores. The animation Siri is activated (as it fades in) isn't as smooth and returning to the home screen when in Spotlight is also sluggish as the home screen fades back in and the blur effect fades.

Add the keyboard typing delay (it's nowhere near as responsive to type on) and slow WiFi and it's a world apart. I can touch type on iPad as well as I do a physical keyboard and the delay leapt out at me.

And a Jet Set Radio doesn't work on iOS 8! 😀
 
RebornProphet said:
Tap the omnibar on Safari while on a website and watch the sluggish animation as the address highlights and slides left to reveal the full address (ignore the keyboard coming up from the bottom of the screen).

It's horrid. And it does it on every iPad Air I've tried in different stores. The animation Siri is activated (as it fades in) isn't as smooth and returning to the home screen when in Spotlight is also sluggish as the home screen fades back in and the blur effect fades.

Add the keyboard typing delay (it's nowhere near as responsive to type on) and slow WiFi and it's a world apart. I can touch type on iPad as well as I do a physical keyboard and the delay leapt out at me.

And a Jet Set Radio doesn't work on iOS 8! 😀
Click to expand...
Sorry,i don't use safari on my air. I prefer mercury browser.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back