The Apple iPad Air 2 is Apple's latest attempt to grab your attention, and after going through the spec sheet, there is a fair bit here worth talking about. Announced in 2014, October 16. Released 2014, October 24, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
The Apple iPad Air 2 comes with a 9.7 inches, 291.4 cm 2 (~71.6% screen-to-body ratio) display, pushing a resolution of 1536 x 2048 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~264 ppi density), and in real-world use it looks bright, crisp and easy on the eyes. In terms of design, the Apple iPad Air 2 keeps things modern and comfortable to hold. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Space Gray.
Performance & Software
At the heart of it sits the Apple A8X (20 nm), paired with 2GB of RAM, which means smooth scrolling, quick app switching and no real hiccups in normal use. It runs iOS 8.1, upgradable to iPadOS 15.8.5 out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
The camera setup is one of the talking points here, with a 8 MP sensor doing the heavy lifting. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
Battery duties are handled by a Li-Po 7340 mAh, non-removable (27.62 Wh) unit, and that is a healthy number that keeps range anxiety at bay.
Our Opinion
So, what do we actually make of the Apple iPad Air 2? What you are getting is a device that quietly covers the fundamentals rather than shouting about them. It gets the basics right, offering strong battery life, a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. In day-to-day use it feels like the kind of device you can rely on, whether you are replying to messages, scrolling through social media, watching videos or taking the odd photo. Is it perfect? No phone is, and you will always find a sharper camera or a faster chip somewhere else for a little more money. Overall though, the Apple iPad Air 2 is easy to recommend to the right buyer. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
