The iPad Air 2 will be available from 17 October. We preview the iPad Air 2 here in our first look review to give you an idea of what new features, design updates and specs you can expect from Apple's new iPad Air.
iPad Air 2: design
There are two big changes this time round when it comes to the design of the iPad Air - there is a new gold version, just like the iPhone, and the new iPad Air 2 is even thinner than before. Actually it’s 18% thinner, which is pretty impressive given that the iPad Air was already remarkably thin.This is the thinnest iPad - the iPad mini is thicker at 7.5mm compared to 6.1mm on the new iPad Air 2.
iPad Air 2: Touch ID
Of course the other big difference is that the new iPad Air 2 offers Touch ID.We watched Touch ID in use and it seemed as straight forward as it is with the iPhone. You will be able to use Touch ID to unlock your iPad Air 2, and to unlock various apps. You will also be able to use it to do your online shopping, as long as those stores have Apple Pay implemented. Apple has concluded that people are unlikely to take their iPad shopping in the real world so that aspect of Apple Pay and Touch ID - as seen in the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch - won’t be coming to the iPad Air 2.
iPad Air 2: dimensions
The iPad Air 2 is thinner and lighter than last year’s iPad Air, although the length and width remain the same. The new dimensions are as follows:- iPad Air 2: 240mm x 169.5mm x 6.1mm
- Original iPad Air (still available): 240mm x 169.5mm x 7.5mm
- iPad Air 2: 437g for the Wi-Fi only model, or 444g for the cellular model.
- Original iPad Air: 469g for the Wi-Fi only model, and 478 g for the older cellular model.
iPad Air 2: display
Apple says that it has redesigned the Retina display on this new iPad Air: the three layers that make up the display have been fused together to make one. What this effectively means is that the display can be thinner, but also that it can offer vivid colours and better contrast - according to Apple.We had some time with the iPad Air, but the conditions in the press room were such that we wouldn’t want to give a verdict on whether the images were any better (dim lighting doesn’t necessarily show these things off in their best, light).
The new iPad Air 2 gets an anti-reflective coating and fully laminated display. It’s the only iPad to boast these new features - even the new iPad mini 3 doesn’t offer this new coating. We like the sound of this non-reflective coating, we’ve often been frustrated when watching footage on our iPad (BBC iPlayer, iTunes Movies) only to see our own face starring back at us as soon as the lighting changes. We will test this out when we get to spend more time with the new iPad Air. (Our photo below doesn't really do the screen justice, but we have to admit there are reflections on it...)
The iPad Air 2 display remains at the same resolution: 2048x1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch.
iPad Air 2: processor
The new iPad Air gets a new processor: the A8X. This chip offers a 64-bit desktop-class architecture and 3 billion transistors. It is the only iPad to gain this new processor. Apple says the CPU performance is 12x faster than the original iPad.Thanks to this chip the new iPad Air 2 is 40% faster than the previous generation, according to Apple.
The iPad Air 2 also gains the M8 motion co-processor. (The iPad mini 3 keeps it's A7 and M7 chips)
iPad Air 2: Graphics
Apple says the graphics are 2.5x faster than the iPad Air graphics were. Apple says that this iPad is capable of the kind of graphics “once possible only on desktop computers and gaming consoles.”We can’t wait to test some games on the device.
The A8X chip will also be of benefit to other graphics intensive apps.
iPad Air 2: Battery life
Apple says that the battery will last 10 hours, which is the same as previously.iPad Air 2: specs
Other differences between the new and old iPad Airs include the Burst shooting mode and Slow-mo video shooting found in the iPhone 5s and iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. Only the iPad Air 2 gains these features. It also gains the barometer that features in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and enables fitness monitoring.The new iPad Air 2 offers better Wi-Fi connectivity than the last generation, thanks to the inclusion of the latest 802.11ac technology.
iPad Air 2: availability
Apple says the iPad Air will be shipping from 17 October, they aren’t promoting a launch date in the same way as they do the iPhone, you can just expect the units to start arriving in store tomorrow.iPad Air 2: UK Price
The price of the iPad Air 2 will start at £399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version, rising to £499 if you add cellular connectivity.As with the iPhone 6, there is no 32GB iPad Air 2, instead you jump straight to 64GB for £479 (£579 for cellular).
The top of the range 128GB iPad Air 2 costs £559 (£659 for the cellular version).
This compares pretty favourably with the original launch prices of the iPad Air, which started at £399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, and rose to a whopping £739 for the 128GB version.
The iPad Air remains on sale, now it’ll cost £319 for the 16GB or £359 for the 32GB version. In both cases add £100 on to the price for the cellular model pricing.
If you turn to the next page you can read our original preview of the iPad Air 2, based on our own best guesses of what could be expected from the new iPad.
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