Apple iPad Air 2 (2GB + 32GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The iPad Air 2 is described by 4G.co.uk as a "brilliant tablet" that offers a significant evolution of Apple's 9.7-inch slate, featuring a stunning, thin, and lightweight design. Key pros include the powerful A8X chip and 2GB of RAM that deliver fast performance, alongside the introduction of Touch ID, a bright Retina screen with reduced glare, and an upgraded 8-megapixel camera. Conversely, the review notes that the device is too similar to the original Air, offers no improvement in battery life, and carries a high price tag with no option for microSD storage. 4

The Expert Reviews assessment of the Apple iPad Air 2 highlights it as a high-performance tablet featuring an incredibly slim 6.1mm profile and the powerful A8X triple-core processor, which delivers substantial speed and graphics improvements. The display is highly praised for its fully laminated, anti-reflective design, while key features include the Touch ID sensor and an upgraded 8-megapixel camera. Despite its strengths, the review notes the speaker quality is thin, and the battery life, while solid, did not improve over the original iPad Air.

The Tech Advisor review highlights the Apple iPad Air 2 as a top-tier tablet defined by its ultra-thin 6.1mm design and improved performance from the A8X processor and 2GB of RAM. Key pros include the addition of Touch ID for security and superior multitasking capabilities, alongside a significantly improved, laminated display that reduces glare by over 50%. While cameras are upgraded to 8MP and Wi-Fi speeds are faster, the review notes minor cons, such as a smaller battery capacity compared to its predecessor—though it still meets the 10-hour usage claim—and the 4:3 screen ratio causing black bars during video playback. Consequently, the review suggests that for current iPad Air owners, the incremental upgrades may not justify the cost unless enhanced security or storage are necessary.

TechRadar's review highlights the iPad Air 2 as a significant refinement, boasting a 6.1mm, 437g design that feels premium, plus the addition of Touch ID and an optically bonded screen with reduced reflection. Performance is a key strength, with the tri-core A8X chip and 2GB of RAM providing top-tier power, while the 8MP camera brings improved, though not leading, photo capabilities. While deemed the best tablet available at the time, drawbacks include a slight regression in battery life compared to its predecessor, the loss of the physical mute switch, and a 16GB base model that is too small for modern needs.

Stuff praises the Apple iPad Air 2 for its 6.1mm thin design, superior laminated display, and effective anti-reflective coating, making it an exceptional tablet for media consumption. Key performance improvements come from the A8X chip and 2GB of RAM, alongside the addition of Touch ID for security. While highly functional, the device faces limitations with slightly reduced battery life under heavy use and, by modern standards, no longer receives software updates.

What Hi-Fi? hails the iPad Air 2 as a refined device, highlighting its 6.1mm slim, lightweight design and an upgraded, laminated display that boosts immersion. Key improvements include a significant 56% reduction in screen glare via anti-reflective coating, the addition of TouchID, and a powerful A8X processor ensuring high-level, immediate performance. What Hi-Fi? The tablet excels in audio-visual performance, delivering dynamic sound with headphones and superior 8MP camera capabilities, including slow-motion video. While the device excels, limitations include slightly resonant, poorly positioned speakers on the thinner chassis and the lack of expandable storage. Despite these drawbacks, the review calls it the "iPad to beat" at the time, offering a premium, highly responsive experience. What Hi-Fi?

Trusted Reviews describes the iPad Air 2 as a "triumph" that refines the original design with an ultra-slim 6.1mm profile and a bonded display that enhances visual quality. Key performance upgrades include the fast A8X processor, the introduction of Touch ID for security, and a improved 8-megapixel rear camera. While offering top-tier performance, the device lacks the physical mute/rotation-lock switch, provides lower battery capacity than some competitors, and features a limiting 16GB base storage option.

The Guardian's 2014 review hails the 6.1mm-thick iPad Air 2 as a refined, lightweight tablet featuring the A8X processor, Touch ID, and an improved anti-reflective display. Key advantages include its comfortable form factor,10-hour battery life, and high-performance, offering a vast, optimized app ecosystem. Conversely, the device represents an incremental update, with drawbacks including the 4:3 screen ratio for video, high cost, and lack of expandable storage.

Wired’s 2014 review rates the Apple iPad Air 2 a 10/10, highlighting its incredibly thin 6.1mm design and powerful A8X triple-core processor, which delivered a 40% CPU performance boost over its predecessor. The addition of Touch ID brought parity with the iPhone, while the improved 8-megapixel rear camera enhanced its overall utility. Key pros included an optically bonded display with an anti-reflective coating that reduced glare by 50% and made content feel closer to the surface, alongside the addition of 2GB of RAM to boost multitasking. However, the push for thinness resulted in cons like the removal of the physical mute/rotation lock switch. WIREDAdditionally, the review noted reduced speaker quality, with the thinner body delivering less bass and more vibration compared to the previous model. While the 10-hour battery life was robust, intensive use cases like 3D gaming were noted to drain the battery faster than earlier, thicker models.

The Verge's 2014 review hails the Apple iPad Air 2 as the best tablet available, highlighting its 6.1mm thinness and 0.96lb weight as major hardware achievements. Key pros include the new Touch ID sensor, an improved anti-reflective display, and the powerful A8X processor. However, the review notes the removal of the physical mute/orientation switch, while noting battery life remains consistent with previous models rather than improving. Despite the hardware advancements, a significant con highlighted is the lack of specific iOS 8.1 tablet features, which makes the software feel like a scaled-up iPhone experience rather than taking full advantage of the larger screen. While the app ecosystem and build quality remain superior, the review describes the device as a "case study in missed opportunities" regarding software, making it a difficult sell as a "must-have" upgrade for existing users. Ultimately, the review finds that while the iPad Air 2 is arguably the best tablet on the market due to its design and power, the software limitations limit its overall potential, say The Verge.

One year after its launch, the Macworld review highlights the iPad Air 2 as a top-tier, mid-size tablet, characterized by its exceptionally thin 6.1mm profile and lightweight, 0.96-pound design. The device features a powerful A8X processor, 2GB of RAM, and a fully laminated 9.7-inch Retina display, providing high-level performance and superior visibility in bright environments. While the iPad Air 2 excels in performance, the review identifies key cons including relatively weak, thin audio output compared to newer pro-level devices and a lack of support for the Apple Pencil and 3D Touch. The 8-megapixel rear camera, though upgraded from the original Air, still lacks a flash and shows limitations in low-light conditions. Despite these limitations, the review concludes that the iPad Air 2 offers excellent value for money, combining near-Pro speeds with a robust 10-hour battery life, making it a compelling choice for users looking for a reliable, everyday tablet. It is considered a strong upgrade from older iPad generations and remains relevant even with the introduction of newer, more powerful alternatives.

In his 2015 MacStories review, Federico Viticci details how the iPad Air 2 became his primary computer, driven by a need for extreme portability and the device's thin, lightweight design. The review highlights that the hardware effectively acts as a "screen" that disappears in the user's hands, making it ideal for work on the go. Key advantages of the iPad Air 2 included the efficiency of Touch ID and the performance boost from 2GB of RAM, combined with the transformative power of iOS 8 extensions. These software improvements, along with automation tools like Workflow, made professional-level productivity viable. MacStoriesHowever, the review noted cons such as the lack of a built-in kickstand, making it physically awkward to use compared to a laptop. Additionally, while the 10-hour battery life was consistent, it hadn't seen major improvements, and certain complex workflows still required workarounds that felt like "hacks" compared to a Mac.

The Apple iPad Air 2 review by PCMag UK highlights a remarkably thin 6.1mm design and enhanced display technology featuring optical bonding for improved visual quality. The device delivers substantial performance gains, utilizing a triple-core A8X processor and 2GB of RAM that yielded benchmark results roughly twice as fast as its predecessor. Key additions included Touch ID for security and improved, yet still relatively low-resolution, front-facing camera capabilities. However, the pursuit of a thinner design resulted in a "just okay" battery life, lasting only 5 hours and 15 minutes during maximum brightness testing. Other reported drawbacks included significant chassis vibration when audio was played at high volume and a high price point for both the unit and its accessories. Despite these flaws, the device was recognized for setting a high standard in tablet performance and display quality at the time of its release.

The Apple iPad Air 2 features a refined 6.1mm, 437g design with a fully laminated 9.7-inch display, improved Touch ID security, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. Performance is boosted by the A8X chip and 2GB of RAM, maintaining 10-hour battery life despite the thinner chassis. Key compromises include the removal of the physical mute switch and, sometimes, chassis vibration from the speakers at high volumes. Copy

PCMag's review highlights the Apple iPad Air 2's exceptionally slim 6.1mm, lightweight, and sturdy aluminum unibody construction, featuring the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The 9.7-inch Retina display is enhanced with an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare by 56%, providing superior screen quality compared to its predecessor. Key pros include the premium build, top-tier app ecosystem, and highly responsive performance, although the 16GB base model is deemed insufficient. The iPad Air 2 delivers massive performance gains, with the A8X processor offering 40% faster CPU speeds and doubled graphics performance, making it ideal for demanding tasks like video editing. While the hardware is highly capable, the review notes that some third-party apps have yet to fully utilize this power. A significant drawback of the design is that the focus on extreme thinness results in a smaller battery, leading to only average endurance compared to competitors, according to the review. The iPad Air 2 also remains a high-priced investment. Copy

The PCMag review highlights the Apple iPad Air 2 as a top-tier, ultra-slim 6.1mm tablet featuring an anti-reflective Retina display, Touch ID, and the powerful A8X chip. Key pros include exceptional performance, improved Wi-Fi/LTE, and a thinner design than its predecessor. However, the, thinner build results in "just okay" battery life and a high price point for limited storage, constituting notable cons. Copy