Overview and operating experience of iPad Air 2. Stylish, slim, powerful

At the recent presentation of the new tablet "apple" of the company's expected, it was presented the new generation of the updated device - iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. And if about the "younger" model is nothing special to say, as the significant changes it has not received (except Touch ID, perhaps), the "elder brother" has completely justified its flagship title. I studied the new tablet a week and is ready to share his impressions of his work, as well as to conclude whether or not to change their "old» iPad Air to the new.

Picking up the device for the first time and producing its activation, I was five minutes later realized, "Damn, this is really cool stuff!". For the first time in my life I wanted to buy a tablet. The fact is that for my daily needs I always had my MacBook Air 11 and the iPhone (now it is 6 Plus). In my family there are a couple of iPad, and for surfing the web or running any of the always enough toys, but a personal plate I did not need. Until the iPad Air 2.

Equipment

Let's not much to focus on a box with wires embedded in her little book and, except to say that there were no changes in internal and external equipment is not undergone. At least, I did not see those. And I look at it, if you have all the fun in it - it is the device itself? The only disappointment, which comprehends every year - no headphones. However, this is not a problem for the iPhone owners. But I believe that one day a miracle will happen, and Apple will add to the set of his EarPods.

Appearance

As we already know, the new tablet has become even thinner. He was even thinner than the new iPhone 6. And even the two put together thinner iPad Air 2 of the first tablet kupertinovtsy. It's really cool. However, the question is interesting enough subtlety: iPad Air the first generation has been presented so thin that reduce the size of the next model was almost unreal. But the engineers at Apple wonder eat their own bread. Another thing - the question of necessity of such an approach. The fact that the tablet has become even thinner without losing performance and autonomy, of course, is good, but whether it is necessary? Moot. Perhaps, leaving the same thickness, it was possible to increase the battery - thereby win autonomy.

In general appearance of two iPad Air is practically no different from each other. One of the noticeable differences - it is speaker holes, which are located all in the same place, but no longer in two rows, and in one. Sami holes become bigger, but the difference in the sound, I do not feel it. "Musical ear" I have like no, so I'm not one of those fans who Give Flac instead of mp3. I think we are the majority, so we do not notice the difference. And what then can be Flac through the mono speaker?
And changed the look of the volume buttons - now they are exactly the same as on the iPhone 6. But the lock switch / silent mode had to be sacrificed for the sake of thickness, so it completely abandoned. Again debatable.

And probably the most important thing is that the first catches the eye - it is a fingerprint sensor Touch ID. Finally he got to the plate. I look forward to his appearance on laptops and keyboards. Now you can unlock the device using a fingerprint, and to make purchases in the App Store will become even easier, the password will not be so much bother, when you decide to buy a new attachment. And of course there was Pay support. However, only for online purchases, despite the fact that the NFC-chip is installed. But this is a good decision, and now spend more money even easier :)

And, of course, not to mention the new "gold" color. Now, as the iPhone, iPad is available in three colors. We can only select the appropriate.

Display and Camera

The display in the new iPad has not changed: all the same resolution and the same iPS matrix. However, according to statements, it has been improved composition of anti-reflective coating, which was 56% more efficient. Many doubt that it's true, but I can say with confidence that the improvements seen "with the naked eye." And like the sun, and under indoor lighting.
But in contrast to the display refreshed camera. Not as dramatically as in the iPhone 6 Plus is, but enough for a good and high-quality images. The new module is now exactly the same as in the iPhone 5S, and means for the tablet from Apple have become available and all his "chips": the 43 megapixel panoramic photos, Slow-motion at 120 frames per second and so Further. Nothing compared to the 5S we are not cheated. And, perhaps, if we consider the cameras tablets from other manufacturers, then the iPad Air 2, perhaps, at the moment one of the best sensors.

Someone might say that the shoot on the iPad - a perversion (some believeThat on the iPhone, too), but more and more people can be seen on the street, photographing on the tablet. Yes, it looks quite strange, but nevertheless there is a demand. So there will be supply.
For example, for FaceTime calls can use both cameras. In order to show something, not necessarily to turn the phone in your hand, just press one button and switch one camera to another. Also do not forget that besides the fact that you can make ordinary photos, there are a variety of professional applications that you can not use. But others use, so the extra camera will not be exact.

Performance

Everything is simple - it rolls over. At the moment, iPad Air 2 - the most powerful tablet on the market. Coupled with a good optimization, a new processor and A8x first installed RAM to 2 GB device simply has no equal. Talk about any brakes not necessary, even if you do not make allowances for iOS 8 (though personally I have it and had no complaints). interface system running smoothly, and games do not allow to sink under the FPS even fireworks effects.

Graphic test AnTuTu iPad Air goes with stable 60th frames per second, whereas the first Air, and even the iPhone 6 Plus handle only 45 - 55 FPS. It is terrible to imagine what will happen when developers will learn Metal and begin to produce AAA projects for iOS. At this point, certainly will happen is another revolution in mobile gaming, if the developers do not decide to pay for their projects at the expense of permanent built-in purchases and / or will not produce endless clones Flappy Bird.

Of course, if you look in the App Store now - in the category of games made in the MetalBarely can count and ten. All that awaits us - will be released later. And all the used resources of the new iPad so far only for the future. Very strong backlog, we must admit. The potential of the tablet, I think big enough. So great that next year, Apple simply can not update its iPad lineup, while not at all lost.

general impression

Of course, a strictly positive. iPad Air 2 - the slimmest, most powerful and most high-quality tablet to date. But the most important question, which is likely tormented all holders of "old" devices "should be updated or? No ", I will answer honestly, at this point, probably when you upgrade you nothing if you are not an avid gamer you're playing. But if you understand that with the advent of toys on Metal technology, the potential of the tablet will be able to open up to all 146%, this is a definite reason to think about buying. On the other hand, if these games will be released only by the summer, will be easier to wait for the next iPad update (if it will be exact).

However, the first generation iPad Air is quite able to cope well with even the most challenging tasks on a par with Air 2. Which probably would not be said of the fourth generation tablet from Apple. So, if you're holding there last year's unit, run to the store is no much sense. But if there is something more than the old, that is a reason to think. In any case, the choice is always yours.