iPad Air 2
 | |
| File:IPad Air 2.png iPad Air 2 in Gold | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Foxconn |
| Product family | iPad |
| Type | Tablet computer |
| Generation | 6th |
| Release date | October 22, 2014 |
| Introductory price | $499 USD £399 GBP $619 AUD $549 CAD |
| Operating system | Original: iOS 8.1 Current: iOS 9.2.1, released January 19, 2016 |
| System on a chip | Apple A8X with 64-bit architecture and Apple M8 motion co-processor |
| CPU | 1.5GHz tri-core 64-bit ARMv8-A "Typhoon"[1] |
| Memory | 2GB LPDDR3 RAM[2] |
| Storage | 16, 64 or 128 GB flash memory |
| Display | 9.7 inches (250 mm) 2,048 x 1536 px (264 ppi) with a 4:3 aspect ratio |
| Graphics | PowerVR GXA6850[3] |
| Input | Multi-touch screen, headset controls, M8 motion co-processor, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass, dual microphone, Touch ID fingerprint reader, barometer[4] |
| Camera | Front: 1.2 MP, 720p HD, ƒ/2.2 aperture Rear: 8.0 MP AF, iSight with Five Element Lens, Hybrid IR filter, video stabilisation, face detection, HDR, ƒ/2.4 aperture |
| Connectivity |
|
| Power | 27.8 W·h 3.76 V 27.62 W·h (7,340 mA·h)[2] |
| Online services | App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, iCloud, Game Center |
| Dimensions | 240 mm (9.4 in) (h) 169.5 mm (6.67 in) (w) 6.1 mm (0.24 in) (d) |
| Mass | Wi-Fi: 437 g (0.963 lb) Wi-Fi + Cellular: 444 g (0.979 lb) |
| Predecessor | iPad Air |
| Website | www |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| iPad |
|---|
| List of iPad models |
The iPad Air 2 is the sixth-generation iPad tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 16, 2014 alongside the iPad Mini 3, both of which were released on October 22. The iPad Air 2 is thinner and faster than its predecessor, the iPad Air, and features Touch ID although the design, height and screen size are the same as the iPad Air.
History
The iPad Air 2 was announced during a keynote on October 16, 2014 and the theme of the keynote was "it's been way too long".[5] The Air 2 began arriving in retail stores on October 22, 2014. The slogan for the device was Change is in the Air. With the release of the new iPad Pro the slogan for the device was changed to Light. Heavyweight.
Features
Software
The iPad Air 2 ships with the iOS 8.1 operating system pre-installed and includes a version of Apple Pay with the in-store NFC functionality removed. The included Touch ID sensor allows the user to pay for items online without needing to enter the user's card details.
iOS 8.1 comes with several built-in applications, which are Camera, Photos, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Music, Safari, Maps, Siri, Calendar, iTunes Store, App Store, Notes, Contacts, iBooks, Game Center, Reminders, Clock, Videos, Newsstand, Photo Booth and Podcasts. The Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS, allows users to browse and download applications made by various developers from the iTunes Store. Additional apps made by Apple itself are available for free download, which are iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes U, Find My iPhone, Find My Friends, Apple Store, Trailers, Remote, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers).[6] Like all iOS devices, the iPad Air 2 can also sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, it can place and receive phone calls through an iPhone's cellular connection, using Apple's Continuity feature[7] (supported on iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite and later), or using a VoIP application, such as Skype.
On June 8, 2015, it was announced at the WWDC that the iPad Air 2 would support all of iOS 9's new features when it is released in Q3 2015.[8] Air 2 users with iOS 9 will be able to use Slide Over, Picture in Picture and Split View. Slide Over allows a user to "slide" a second app in from the side of the screen in a smaller window, and have it display information alongside the initial app. Picture in Picture allows a user to watch video in a small, resizable, moveable window while remaining in another app. Split View allows a user to run two apps simultaneously in a 50/50 view.
Hardware
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iPad Air 2 is 6.1mm compared to the iPad Air 7.5mm design -
iPad Air 2 is thinner than a pencil
The iPad Air 2 inherits hardware that is similar to that which is in both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. One major change is its processor, the Apple A8X which is the high-end 3-core variant of the Apple A8. The iPad Air 2 has 2 GB RAM (making the iPad Air 2 the first iOS device to have more than 1 GB RAM) and the PowerVR GPU has 8-cores.[9] It also uses the Apple M8 motion co-processor which has a barometer and is the first generation of the iPad to inherit the fingerprint Touch ID sensor from the iPhone. In addition, compared to the iPad Air, it includes an improved 8-megapixel (3264×2448) rear-facing camera with 10 fps burst mode and slow motion video at 120 fps, similar to the iPhone 5S camera capabilities. The front-facing FaceTime HD camera has also been improved with a larger ƒ/2.2 aperture, which allows 81% more light in the image.[10]
Unlike its predecessors, the mute/orientation lock switch has been removed to accommodate the reduced depth. Instead, the user must use the Control Center to access these functions.
It has a slightly smaller battery compared to the iPad Air but Apple claims the same 10-hour battery life as before. The iPad Air 2 is available in 16, 64 or 128 GB storage options with no storage expansion options. Apple has released a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos to an iPad.[11]
Apple added a gold option to the existing silver and space grey color choices for the iPad Air 2, the previous existing colors were used on the preceding iPad Air, iPad (4th generation) and iPad 3.
Reception
The iPad Air 2 was given a mixed review by The Verge, which called it "the best tablet ever made" but lamented "iterative improvement" and "missed opportunities".[12]
Timeline
| Timeline of iPad models |
|---|
 |
Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.[13]
References
- ^ Kshitiz Jaiswal (21 October 2014). "Another Geekbench result confirms triple core iPad Air 2 with 2GB RAM". Gizmobic.
- ^ a b "iPad Air 2 Teardown". iFixit. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "Apple A8X's GPU - GXA6850, Even Better Than I Thought". Anandtech. November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ Molen, Brad (October 16, 2014). "A first look at the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3". Engadget. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ "'It's been way too long': Apple sends out invites for Thursday, October 16th iPad & Mac event". 9to5Mac.
- ^ "Apple - iPad mini 3 - Technical Specifications". Apple. October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ^ "Apple iOS and OS X Continuity".
- ^ The Apple shows off iPad split-screen multitasking in iOS 9 preview. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ iPad Air 2 even more powerful than first thought. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ "Apple - iPhone 6 - Cameras". Apple.
- ^ Stevens, Tim (October 30, 2012). "iPad review (late 2012)". Engadget. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ^ "Apple iPad Air 2 Review". The Verge.
- ^ Apple Inc. (2010–2011). iPad News – Newsroom Archive. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
External links
- iPad Air 2 – official site
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