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macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 9, 2015
59
3
Hey.

I am about to buy an original iPad Air. I always use my idevices on latest versions. There aren't much videos on youtube iPad Air 1 running on 9.1 and i was wondering is there any performance issues like lags etc.

I am planning to use it for video watching and internet browsing. It will be my first tablet. Note: Can't afford air 2 now.

Can iPad Air 1 users give me some advice please?

Thank you.
 
I'm running 9.1 on my Air(clean install) and it's fine,the multi tasking window isn't 100% smooth like it was in 8.4 but not bad either.But the slide down to search is laggy.
Aside from these 2 minor issues,it runs fast
 
It lags, a lot. My video:


I wish I recorded lag in Safari, when you want to type something, keyboard pop-up animation is missing most of the time.
 
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I'm running 9.1 on mine. It's just fine. I've had no problems - sure it's not as fast as an Air 2, but we already know that. It's certainly fast enough for practical use.
 
What about screen issues?
I have no screen issues. The screen is gorgeous. What issues are you referring to?
Again, for real world use it is fine. Anyone can find some fault with any piece of electronics and then harp on it... But in every day use, my Air 1 works great. Would I like a 2? Sure. But I don't need one because I have the Air 1 that does everything I want it to. It won't multitask- my Mini 4 does and I've used that only to see it work, but is not anything I currently use nor is it something I can't live without on my Air 1.
I have the money Pigonholed to upgrade to the Air 2 but can't find a reason to upgrade. Seriously.
 
I'm sure that a few iPads make it through quality control with problems however they can be taken back and replaced. Not every iPad 1 has those issues, but a very very few. If you're worried that the iPad that you're going to buy has those issues then don't buy it.
 
I'm sure that a few iPads make it through quality control with problems however they can be taken back and replaced. Not every iPad 1 has those issues, but a very very few. If you're worried that the iPad that you're going to buy has those issues then don't buy it.

Not each of us have opportunity to take devices to stores easily. Nearest apple store is 300 miles away from here. I am just taking opinions.
 
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Hey.

I am about to buy an original iPad Air. I always use my idevices on latest versions. There aren't much videos on youtube iPad Air 1 running on 9.1 and i was wondering is there any performance issues like lags etc.

I am planning to use it for video watching and internet browsing. It will be my first tablet. Note: Can't afford air 2 now.

Can iPad Air 1 users give me some advice please?

Thank you.

Hi, iPad Air owner here! iPad Air was my first ever Apple device, I found it to be really useful for all my high school needs. My iPad Air was at iOS 9.1 before I recently updated to 9.2 public beta. There are MANY performance issues like lags and etc. These issues never occurred in the past while on iOS 7 or 8. It's a fact that iOS 9, 9.1, etc. are poorly optimized in terms of user interface fluidity.

After using this product for so long. I strongly recommend against buying the first generation iPad Air, because the screen isn't laminated to the glass. Thus, there is a few millimetres of 'air gap' (heh) between the LCD display and the glass. My original iPad Air had a strongly noticeable problem with colour uniformity across the screen. The left side colour looked way off compared to the right side when held in portrait view. I took it to an Apple store and the technician told me she couldn't see the problem. After a lot of awkward and surprisingly difficult arguing back and fourth with her, she decided to give me a replacement. But told me I won't get another replacement if I come back complaining about the same problem again.

And guess what? The iPad Air replacement I got also had the unpleasant screen colour problem where one side of the screen has a yellow tint. I'm stuck with the lack of colour uniformity forever I guess.

Here are my observations on iOS 9.1 running on iPad Air, hope it helps you in deciding your purchase:
  • Multitasking app switcher is INCREDIBLY laggy, the frame rate is unacceptably low switching between apps and simply opening the view itself by double pressing the home button.
  • Spotlight search is also unacceptably laggy and has choppy frame rates.
  • There are some occasional frame rate drops across the OS whenever high amounts of transparency effects are rendered.
  • To make the device near-60 FPS buttery smooth, you can: Enable Reduce Transparency and Reduce Motion. HOWEVER: The white virtual keyboard is completely borked with Reduce Transparency, the white keys do not become dark when you tap on them, making it nearly impossible to tell if a key press was registered or not. Does not affect dark virtual keyboard though. (I submitted this bug to Apple while I was running the iOS 9.1 Public Beta, it seems they either ignored my submission, or they recognized it but haven't got around to fixing it, or simply don't care.
So yeah, iPad Air is pretty bad running iOS 9.1. I suggest saving up for an Air 2 or Air 3 or iPad Pro if you can.

P.S. As much as I enjoy some of Apple's products, I will always stand at the consumer side and offer the most realistic, undistorted experience based on my usage of Apple products I own. Because I believe pro-consumer is the way to go. Being pro-company is detrimental to both the company and us consumers on the long run.
 
Hi, iPad Air owner here! iPad Air was my first ever Apple device, I found it to be really useful for all my high school needs. My iPad Air was at iOS 9.1 before I recently updated to 9.2 public beta. There are MANY performance issues like lags and etc. These issues never occurred in the past while on iOS 7 or 8. It's a fact that iOS 9, 9.1, etc. are poorly optimized in terms of user interface fluidity.

After using this product for so long. I strongly recommend against buying the first generation iPad Air, because the screen isn't laminated to the glass. Thus, there is a few millimetres of 'air gap' (heh) between the LCD display and the glass. My original iPad Air had a strongly noticeable problem with colour uniformity across the screen. The left side colour looked way off compared to the right side when held in portrait view. I took it to an Apple store and the technician told me she couldn't see the problem. After a lot of awkward and surprisingly difficult arguing back and fourth with her, she decided to give me a replacement. But told me I won't get another replacement if I come back complaining about the same problem again.

And guess what? The iPad Air replacement I got also had the unpleasant screen colour problem where one side of the screen has a yellow tint. I'm stuck with the lack of colour uniformity forever I guess.

Here are my observations on iOS 9.1 running on iPad Air, hope it helps you in deciding your purchase:
  • Multitasking app switcher is INCREDIBLY laggy, the frame rate is unacceptably low switching between apps and simply opening the view itself by double pressing the home button.
  • Spotlight search is also unacceptably laggy and has choppy frame rates.
  • There are some occasional frame rate drops across the OS whenever high amounts of transparency effects are rendered.
  • To make the device near-60 FPS buttery smooth, you can: Enable Reduce Transparency and Reduce Motion. HOWEVER: The white virtual keyboard is completely borked with Reduce Transparency, the white keys do not become dark when you tap on them, making it nearly impossible to tell if a key press was registered or not. Does not affect dark virtual keyboard though. (I submitted this bug to Apple while I was running the iOS 9.1 Public Beta, it seems they either ignored my submission, or they recognized it but haven't got around to fixing it, or simply don't care.
So yeah, iPad Air is pretty bad running iOS 9.1. I suggest saving up for an Air 2 or Air 3 or iPad Pro if you can.

P.S. As much as I enjoy some of Apple's products, I will always stand at the consumer side and offer the most realistic, undistorted experience based on my usage of Apple products I own. Because I believe pro-consumer is the way to go. Being pro-company is detrimental to both the company and us consumers on the long run.


Hey! Thank you so much for this long and precious reply! I decided to wait over all this opinions.

Thanks to everyone who shared opinions on this thread.
 
It lags, a lot. My video:


I wish I recorded lag in Safari, when you want to type something, keyboard pop-up animation is missing most of the time.

It looks OK to me but the op will need it for browsing and watch movies nothing else so Air 1 is fine with 9.1
 
Weird, my Air 1 has had zero problems on 9.1.

'Multitasking'? You don't mean running multiple 'programs' at once do you?
 
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