Apple iPad Air 2 vs. iPad Air: Should You Upgrade?

The Apple iPad Air 2 has recently been introduced alongside the compact version iPad Mini 3 on October 16. On the other hand, the ever-green Apple iPad Air was released in November 2013. Readers who are interested in upgrading their iPad Air to the latest iPad Air 2 should check out the similarities, differences and the verdict.

Similarities

Both the tablets feature the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD display and 1,536 x 2,048 pixels resolution. This combination translates to a pixel density of 264 ppi. According to Apple, the iPad Air 2 will provide the same 10 hours of battery life, similar to the iPad Air. However, the company has not disclosed the exact battery spec, whereas the 2013 version comes with a non-removable Li-Po 8600 mAh unit.

Differences

Speaking of size, the latest iPad Air 2 has gone through some visible changes when compared to the original version. The iPad Air 2 comes with a thickness of 6.1 mm, whereas the iPad Air is relatively bigger at 7.5 mm. Plus, the weights of 2014 and 2013 models stand at (437 g (Wi-Fi) / 444 g (3G LTE)) and (469 g (Wi-Fi) / 478 g (3G LTE)), respectively. Therefore, the latest handset is 18 percent thinner and much lighter than the original iPad Air. Plus, the latest iPad Air 2's display is anti-reflective. Meaning, the device can easily be used under sun/well-lit areas, says Tech Radar.

Moving on to camera configuration, the iPad Air 2 sports an improved 8 MP primary camera unit, while the iPad Air houses a 5 MP unit. In addition, both the devices come with the same 1.2 MP front-facing shooter. The brand new "iSight" camera in the Air 2 offers better image quality and low-light performance, when compared to the original version. However, there is no optical image stabilisation (OIS) support. Other newly introduced camera aspects include a burst mode, time-lapse and slo-mo features, according to the same site.

The Apple iPad Air 2 runs on the latest iOS 8.1, while the iPad Air runs on iOS 7. Nonetheless, it is upgradable to iOS 8.0.2. Additionally, Apple has eliminated the 32 GB storage option seen in the iPad Air. Therefore, only the 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB storages are available in the Air 2.

Under the hood, the 2014 model houses an Apple A8 processor, while the 2013 model is powered by Apple A7 processor. The company says the A8 processor can provide up to 40 percent better CPU performance when compared to its predecessor.

Additionally, the Air 2 comes with the much-appreciated Fingerprint scanner (Touch ID) support, while the original iPad Air doesn't. This scanner can be utilised to unlock the device as well as for making mobile based payments. The payment system utilises the new Apple Pay service, by partnering with Visa, MasterCard and AMEX. Moreover, Apple has introduced a new shade "Gold" to the already existing Space Gray and Silver colour options in the latest iPad Air 2.

As far as the price goes, the Apple iPad Air 2's 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB models are priced at US$499, US$599 and US$699, respectively. Meanwhile, the original 16 GB iPad Air model can be purchased for US$399, with the latest discount offer.

Verdict

By all means, Apple iPad Air 2 is better specced than the iPad Air. The device has a faster processor, thinner profile, improved camera features and the Touch ID. Nevertheless, Apple has not improved the much-required battery configuration. Instead, the tablet's size is reduced further, thereby eliminating the possibility of housing a bigger battery. As Tech Radar puts it, iPad Air 2 buyers are not going to be unhappy, however, no one will desperately make a bee line towards the shop wanting to buy the device.

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