iPad Will the iPad Air (1) slow down next year?

[Windows&Apple]

I'm thinking about getting my parent's their first tablet, but I'm not sure if they need the iPad Air 2 or the iPad Air. They are light users, usually just YouTube, Netflix, Candy Crush, Facebook, and a little bit of web browsing and taking some pictures.

It will be their first tablet, so I'm not sure what would suit their needs best. One thing I'm scared of is next year, the iPad Air will be two years old, and won't iOS 9 slow things down?

I'm in Canada, so I would be spending around $200 extra for the upgrade to the iPad Air 2. Is it worth it?

 

[s2mikey]

Not at all. The Air is quite a solid performer and will be for a while. It's a7 chip is no slouch and neither is its graphics processor. For your parents, and most other people, the Air is still a beast. The Air 2 is a super beast but there is hardly anyhting out there to take advantage of it.

 

[GreatDrok]

I'm thinking about getting my parent's their first tablet, but I'm not sure if they need the iPad Air 2 or the iPad Air. They are light users, usually just YouTube, Netflix, Candy Crush, Facebook, and a little bit of web browsing and taking some pictures.

It will be their first tablet, so I'm not sure what would suit their needs best. One thing I'm scared of is next year, the iPad Air will be two years old, and won't iOS 9 slow things down?

I'm in Canada, so I would be spending around $200 extra for the upgrade to the iPad Air 2. Is it worth it?

If you find any iOS device slowing down, wipe it and set it up as a fresh device rather than restoring from a backup. I've had issues with my iPad mini after iOS8 hit and starting fresh fixed all the slowness issues. I did the same with my iPhone 4 and even my old iPad 1 and they're all decently quick again. I'm not sure why iOS gets so slow as you upgrade but it may just be clearing out all those old apps you don't use and putting just the ones you actually want back on is what fixes things up. Amazing how much stuff you can have running in the background after a while.

 

[ClemsonDV]

I'm thinking about getting my parent's their first tablet, but I'm not sure if they need the iPad Air 2 or the iPad Air. They are light users, usually just YouTube, Netflix, Candy Crush, Facebook, and a little bit of web browsing and taking some pictures.

It will be their first tablet, so I'm not sure what would suit their needs best. One thing I'm scared of is next year, the iPad Air will be two years old, and won't iOS 9 slow things down?

I'm in Canada, so I would be spending around $200 extra for the upgrade to the iPad Air 2. Is it worth it?

I have an iPad 2 (just literally upgraded this week to Air 1). I think the 1 GB RAM and A7 of Air will be good for a while. I think Apple will try to force you into buying a new one within 2-3 years, but just be wary of upgrading your iOS.

My iPad 2 worked great on iOS7, and like the dumb, bleeding edger I am... I upgraded to iOS8 first day. Then it slowed down the ipad to an unbearable crawl and there was no looking back. So... long story short... I think the Air will be fine for the net couple of years. the Air 2 would be the best case scenario for the long run (2 GB RAM and A8x). But I bought the Air for the price and hopefully will use it til it dies of natural causes and not some Apple iOS disease.

 

[mattopotamus]

If apple releases the 6s with 2gb of RAM, you can almost be certain it will slow down or features will be held back. That would mean both the ipad and iphone would have 2gb of RAM, and I would imagine they would utilize it. There are strong rumors of multi-tasking capabilities coming to IOS. If that happens the features will either be held back from all 1gb RAM devices or it would slow them down massively.

This is all based on rumors, but they are adding more RAM to the phones/tablets for a reason. I would think IOS 9 would utilize that RAM. It is more a matter of if the features will work on older devices.

The increase in RAM makes the ipad air 2 the most future proof device in their current IOS lineup.

 

[RebornProphet]

The A8 chip in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus has the same 1GB of RAM as the A7 enabled iPad Air.

Given that the iPhone 6 with its A8 will continue to be sold next year and given that the current roster of three A7 enabled devices have a large install base and are still being sold (5s, mini 2, Air 1) I think they'll handle iOS 9 just fine. There may well be some stutter or UI lag due to age, but part of me hopes that iOS 9 will be the "Snow Leopard" of iOS in that it focuses mainly on speed and fluidity under the hood rather than yet more somewhat gimmicky new features.

 

[GreatDrok]

I have an iPad 2 (just literally upgraded this week to Air 1). I think the 1 GB RAM and A7 of Air will be good for a while. I think Apple will try to force you into buying a new one within 2-3 years, but just be wary of upgrading your iOS.

My iPad 2 worked great on iOS7, and like the dumb, bleeding edger I am... I upgraded to iOS8 first day. Then it slowed down the ipad to an unbearable crawl and there was no looking back. So... long story short... I think the Air will be fine for the net couple of years. the Air 2 would be the best case scenario for the long run (2 GB RAM and A8x). But I bought the Air for the price and hopefully will use it til it dies of natural causes and not some Apple iOS disease.

Do a factory restore on the iPad 2 and set it up as a new machine. I had the same issues with my iPad mini after upgrading to iOS 8 but after restoring and setting up fresh it feels nice and quick again. I've done this for all my iOS devices that have slowed down after upgrades. Almost regret buying my iPhone 6+ to replace my iPhone 4 because the 4 feels fine on iOS 7 now.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

The iPad Air is already a slow mess compared to the Air 2. I have both side by side right now and a lot of transition animations (especially in safari) lag and stutter like it's a 4 year old device. It's quite pathetic Apple has made the Air this bad on iOS8.

 

[Brittany246]

Yeah, it probably will slow down with iOS 9, which is why I probably won't be updating. If they're light users it probably won't matter to them much though.

 

[RebornProphet]

The iPad Air is already a slow mess compared to the Air 2. I have both side by side right now and a lot of transition animations (especially in safari) lag and stutter like it's a 4 year old device. It's quite pathetic Apple has made the Air this bad on iOS8.

It's not THAT bad, but it is a noticeable difference. Run an iPad Air on iOS 7.1.2 beside an iPad Air 2 on iOS 8.1.2 and they're identical in UI smoothness and speed.

Run any graphically intense app on both tablets and they are identical (for now until developers begin targeting the A8X specifically) bar loading times. iOS 8 on the iPad Air exists in its current form simply to give the iPad Air 2 an instant visual difference in terms of UI when side by side in the store in front of deciding customers. Nothing will convince me of anything otherwise.

There is no reason whatsoever for the iPad Air to be slower in terms of the UI transitions and smoothness on iOS 8 when it's so smooth on iOS 7.1.2.

 

[ClemsonDV]

I am currently contemplating upgrading the newly purchased iPad Air ($350 for 32GB) for the $559 iPad Air 2 64 GB. RAM is a draw...extra space is a draw, but price isn't.

I will say I was content with my iPad 2. It did have a crack in the screen, but not terribly noticeable on movies. The Air completely fits my needs, but I don't like the idea of a new iOS just hampering my newly purchased Air. No way Apple makes the new iOS completely irradicate over half of their iPad line. I think the 512 MB RAM devices wont be upgradeable next time, but the 1 GB should be safe for couple of years. I am not a heavy user on the iPad anyways. Its more of a couch laptop for surfing and movies.

That being said. I am no longer going to be a blind early adopter. I will likely wait a few months to see the bugs pop up with iOS9. But still... we're a year away from that. I like the Air. It's much faster and nicer looking than the 2. I can always use the two for trips/entertainment without the worry of it dying.

 

[BenTrovato]

All iPads and iPhones "slow down" every year with the new software. Some people don't mind the slow down and say their old device still performs great every year. That's how I am with my iPad 4. It runs awesome on iOS 8! I don't need an Air or an Air 2. In reality - both the Air and Air 2 are much faster than the iPad 4 which is much faster than the iPad 3. It's the same every year, I don't get how people don't want to admit it. The Air will slow down next year, it's just a matter if you're willing to be happy with it or not.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

It's not THAT bad, but it is a noticeable difference. Run an iPad Air on iOS 7.1.2 beside an iPad Air 2 on iOS 8.1.2 and they're identical in UI smoothness and speed.

Run any graphically intense app on both tablets and they are identical (for now until developers begin targeting the A8X specifically) bar loading times. iOS 8 on the iPad Air exists in its current form simply to give the iPad Air 2 an instant visual difference in terms of UI when side by side in the store in front of deciding customers. Nothing will convince me of anything otherwise.

There is no reason whatsoever for the iPad Air to be slower in terms of the UI transitions and smoothness on iOS 8 when it's so smooth on iOS 7.1.2.

It's pretty bad in safari, elsewhere it is 50/50. I've just noticed even scrolling is jittery on the Air compared to the Air 2 a lot of the time. Try typing anything in the website field, the lag of the keyboard is ridiculous.

I would keep the Air 2 if it wasn't so much in Canada but more importantly, at least on mine, the battery on the Air 2 seems to be quite a bit worse.

 

[RebornProphet]

It's pretty bad in safari, elsewhere it is 50/50. I've just noticed even scrolling is jittery on the Air compared to the Air 2 a lot of the time. Try typing anything in the website field, the lag of the keyboard is ridiculous.

I would keep the Air 2 if it wasn't so much in Canada but more importantly, at least on mine, the battery on the Air 2 seems to be quite a bit worse.

Yeah, Safari is a mess on 8.1.x ... the stutter/lag (call it what you like) when you tap the omnibar and the address highlights and slides left to reveal the full address of the site you're currently on, is odd.

And I agree about the keyboard lag/delay on 8.1.x. Typing this on my Air 1 on iOS 7.1.2 is great, it's responsive and fluid typing.

I hold out some kind of hope that 8.2 will sort these 'bugs' but I can't see it.

 

[kaielement]

I understand they might just be light users, but if you want the iPad to last a year or two longer the. Yes go with the iPad Air 2. If you don't care about longevity and only price go with the original iPad Air. Jut my thoughts.

 

[teknikal90]

The A8 chip in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus has the same 1GB of RAM as the A7 enabled iPad Air.

Given that the iPhone 6 with its A8 will continue to be sold next year and given that the current roster of three A7 enabled devices have a large install base and are still being sold (5s, mini 2, Air 1) I think they'll handle iOS 9 just fine. There may well be some stutter or UI lag due to age, but part of me hopes that iOS 9 will be the "Snow Leopard" of iOS in that it focuses mainly on speed and fluidity under the hood rather than yet more somewhat gimmicky new features.

that's not a fair reasoning given that the iPad mini is still being sold today and its sluggish

 

[RebornProphet]

that's not a fair reasoning given that the iPad mini is still being sold today and its sluggish

It's sluggish but it "handles it fine" enough for Apple to sell it.

As I said in the very post you quoted, the Air will support iOS 9 but there may well be a degree of UI lag in there unless Apple (unlikely) throw us the iOS equivalent of Snow Leopard with iOS 9.

 

[teknikal90]

It's sluggish but it "handles it fine" enough for Apple to sell it.

As I said in the very post you quoted, the Air will support iOS 9 but there may well be a degree of UI lag in there unless Apple (unlikely) throw us the iOS equivalent of Snow Leopard with iOS 9.

I dont know hey.. i have an ipad mini 1 with iOS 8 i reckon i would be upset if i had bought that device today.

 

[mangomind]

I hold out some kind of hope that 8.2 will sort these 'bugs' but I can't see it.

I can absolutely see this happening in 8.2 and 8.3. I still have some faith in Apple.

 

[doug in albq]

These days, one should be very weary of Tim Cook's device-murdering OS updates.

Tim seems to like to kill any Apple hardware more than 18 months old.

Does this sound harsh? Take it up with Tim Cook...

 

[RebornProphet]

I dont know hey.. i have an ipad mini 1 with iOS 8 i reckon i would be upset if i had bought that device today.

I'd be the same but then you and I aren't the kind of users who are in the market for the iPad mini 1st gen. At £199 it's an entry level, low spec, small tablet ideal perhaps for younger kids as a first iOS device. It's for users who want affordability and don't care about longevity or cutting edge performance.

 

[s2mikey]

The iPad Air is already a slow mess compared to the Air 2. I have both side by side right now and a lot of transition animations (especially in safari) lag and stutter like it's a 4 year old device. It's quite pathetic Apple has made the Air this bad on iOS8.

No, it isn't. Mine certainly isn't. Yours is effed for whatever reason but it's not the norm. Nope.

 

[HeisenbergOSX]

The iPad Air is already a slow mess compared to the Air 2. I have both side by side right now and a lot of transition animations (especially in safari) lag and stutter like it's a 4 year old device. It's quite pathetic Apple has made the Air this bad on iOS8.

I just bought an Air a few days ago after not having an Ipad or any iOS product for quite a while (I last had an Ipad 2). At the price its at now it seems like a great deal.

But I've already had a couple issues that I never would've expected. Firstly I couldn't connect to the app store and itunes, even after numerous reformats. Finally I signed out and back into my account and it worked. Secondly I had the latest OS update fail to install a couple times. Finally worked the third attempt.

And lastly, as you mention above - Safari. I feel like the transitions to the keyboard and even some of the scrolling are grinding, it is not nearly as smooth as what I remember my Ipad 2 being. I've had several browser crashas and even a time where the bookmark menu wouldn't disappear after I selected a site, the button just strangely was unresponsive.

So generally, while i love the build quality and weight of the Ipad Air, the overall experience has been sub par.

Did I just get a lemon? If I exchange it for another one will it just be the same thing?

This is far from the "it just works" experience I remember with Apple.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

No, it isn't. Mine certainly isn't. Yours is effed for whatever reason but it's not the norm. Nope.

Wow, easy there.

A lot of people in this thread have the same problems (look at more than one post) and all the demo units show the same problems.

You have some magical device? No. More likely your standards are a lot lower.

I just bought an Air a few days ago after not having an Ipad or any iOS product for quite a while (I last had an Ipad 2). At the price its at now it seems like a great deal.

But I've already had a couple issues that I never would've expected. Firstly I couldn't connect to the app store and itunes, even after numerous reformats. Finally I signed out and back into my account and it worked. Secondly I had the latest OS update fail to install a couple times. Finally worked the third attempt.

And lastly, as you mention above - Safari. I feel like the transitions to the keyboard and even some of the scrolling are grinding, it is not nearly as smooth as what I remember my Ipad 2 being. I've had several browser crashas and even a time where the bookmark menu wouldn't disappear after I selected a site, the button just strangely was unresponsive.

So generally, while i love the build quality and weight of the Ipad Air, the overall experience has been sub par.

Did I just get a lemon? If I exchange it for another one will it just be the same thing?

This is far from the "it just works" experience I remember with Apple.

I haven't encountered the iTunes or App Store issues at all with the iPad. Your safari complaints seem right on track though. Most if not all of my issues are with safari. You could try exchanging but at least for this problem, it happens across the board.

I decided to keep the air 1 over the 2 in hopes that Safari might be patched sometime soon.

 

[FatPuppy]

Will the ipad air 1 slow down next year?

You spelled "this year" wrong.