Apple iPad Air 2 Pro Reviews

A brilliant tablet that has further raised the bar for the rest of the competition. If you're in two minds what to go for - this is your choice.

Besides the Touch ID fingerprint feature, the new screen assembly and uprated processor are the headline features. New cameras are a bonus too. Overall the Apple iPad Air 2 is the best tablet you can buy, without even a close competitor in performance, attention to detail, quality of build and sheer usability.

Besides the Touch ID fingerprint feature, the new screen assembly and uprated processor are the headline features. New cameras are a bonus too. Overall the Apple iPad Air 2 is the best tablet you can buy, without even a close competitor in performance, attention to detail, quality of build and sheer usability.

These two couldn’t be any more different on the outside, as one impressively stands out for its premium design and svelte construction – while the other follows a more humble and modest path. Mainly due to that disparity, it makes perfect sense why the iPad Air 2 costs $500, versus the $400 price tag of the Nexus 9. Obviously, the difference in that chunk of change is profound, one that favors Apple’s achievement in producing its tablet. Eliminating their looks and specs, these two tablets rival one another in a variety of key categories. For examples, they have stunningly detailed screens, they snap sharp looking photos with their cameras, and they even perform swimmingly with barely a hint of slowdown or lag. However, there’s the matter regarding their platform experiences – where the Android 5.0 Lollipop experience of the Nexus 9 proves to be more versatile and customizable when it comes to its core experience, the iOS's polished UI takes advantage of a richer app ecosystem that considerably widens its productivity and entertainment capabilities. All told, if you’re looking for an excellent all-around tablet that has a stunning design to match its prowess, then stick with the iPad Air 2 – more so if cost isn’t a factor for you. Conversely, go with the Nexus 9 if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper tablet that’ll be used more in the home by multiple members, in addition to yourself.

Separated by only $100, it’s really tough for us to recommend going with the iPad mini 3 – even though it’s the cheaper of the two models, at $399. It’s even tougher to swallow knowing that it doesn’t see any major improvements, or differences, with its own predecessor. Flipping it around, the $500 cost of the iPad Air 2 makes plenty of sense, since it’s boasting the better internals and performance. At the same time, we have to point out that the iPad Air 2’s larger size makes it more ideal for certain things – such as typing up documents, surfing the web, and watching videos. And best of all, it’s incredibly thin with its construction! Unless you prefer the more compact size of the iPad mini 3, don’t waste your money picking it up knowing that the iPad Air 2 is without question the superior tablet.

If you don't have an iPad and want an iPad, this is the best iPad there is. It's meaningfully better in terms of portability (light, thin, rigid, glare-resistant) than the previous iPad Air, and that's about it. But for $450, the previous 32GB iPad Air will suit you fine, or the 32GB iPad Mini 2 (not the Mini 3) for $350. And trust me, if you don't have a tablet and want a tablet, you probably want an iPad. Unless you're looking for a Windows 2-in-1 with a nice keyboard dock or a stylus or something, which you won't get here. You can do work on the iPad, but it's not made for work in the traditional sense. I still wouldn't trust myself to edit Gizmodo reviews in mobile Safari, for instance. But back to the big question: if you do have an iPad, is it finally worth upgrading to the latest and greatest? For me, the answer is still no. I simply don't use my existing iPad enough to shell out $600 for a new one, even if this is the first model that actually tempts me to do so. But I don't think it will take many more meaningful differences to push me over the edge. New technology is always right around the corner. Next time, maybe my silly excuse will be that I need an iPad for work, too.

Apple certainly hits it on the mark with the iPad Air 2, seeing that it receives all the incremental upgrades we’d commonly expect to find on any successive device. It’s thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever before, while still being treated to an even better camera and enhanced platform experience, but we’re not inclined to say that it’s a huge leap forward. Rather, it’s more like a single step forward, which might not sound as compelling, but it’s still some of the best tablet offerings around. With a starting price of $500 for the base 16GB model, which goes up by $100 with each additional increased storage option, the iPad Air 2 once again delivers a balanced value that makes it the perfect bridge device between our smartphones and laptops. Not only can we have some fun using it while we’re out, such as taking photos or watching a video leisurely at the beach, but it can also serve the purpose of being a light productivity tool as well – one that’s great for typing up long documents and surfing the web. For all of its worth, though, the iOS 8 experience can’t match the kind of depth and function we get from full-blown desktop platforms. So, if you currently own the iPad Air, should you go ahead and shell out the money to pick up this new one? Well, that’s certainly a tough decision, because quite frankly, the experience doesn’t differ all that much between them – more so when they’re benefiting from all of the new features of iOS 8. What’s notable here is that you’re getting a thinner model in the iPad Air 2, a better camera, and a Touch ID finger print sensor. Needless to say, if those are features you drool over, it might be worth the investment to pick it up.

The iPad is thinner, faster and all-round better than before, maintaining Apple’s lead at the top of the tablet tree

After a year tied with the iPad mini, the iPad Air 2 has reclaimed the 9.7-inch iPad's spot as the flagship of Apple's tablet range. Easier to hold, faster, with a better display, and yet with no noticeable penalty in battery life, the iPad Air 2 takes what we liked about the original Air and improves on just about every area.It's also sufficiently removed from the iPhone 6 Plus so as to escape any cannibalization there, unlike what the iPad mini 3 will perhaps face. Having eschewed the Air in favor of an iPad mini 2 this past year, I'm now left reconsidering my allegiances with the arrival of the iPad Air 2. True, iOS 8 may do the same - and boast the same strong Yosemite integration - on each slate, but the decision no longer comes down to just one of screen size. Its surge forward in speed and the convenience of the refined form-factor and Touch ID leaves the iPad Air 2 feeling like the true iPad for power users.