Apple’s new iPad Air – everything you need to know.
During last week’s Apple announced at a special event in San Francisco on October 22 the new iPad Air. The new tablet is lighter and thinner than the previous generation. It weighs only one pound and improved internals. It features the same 64-bit A7 processor , the same chip as iPhone 5s making it run an amazing 72 times faster than the original iPad. support for MIMO Wi-Fi, improved FaceTime camera and is just 7.5mm thick.
*The iPad mini with retina display went on sale on November 1st.
But should you upgrade from an older iPad? Or opt for the smaller iPad Mini?
Specifications.
- Prices.
- iPad Air prices start at £399 16GB Wi-Fi only model. The prices increase until you hit 128GB, which costs £639.
- Adding 3G capability will cost you £100, so those models range in price from £499 to £739.
- As for the iPad mini with retina display, prices start at £319 for the 16GB Wi-fi only model. The 128GB Wi-fi only model costs £559.
- If you want 3G capability, you need to fork out an extra £100 – so prices range from £419 to £659.
- Storage.
It’ll be available in 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB.
- Power & Battery.
Built-in 32.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music.
- Dual Microphones.
Also new to the iPad Air, the dual mic help out with sound quality on audio and video FaceTime calls, and the motion coprocessor means that you’ll start to see more activity tracking built into the iPad, too.
- Colours.
White, black or silver grey.
- Cover.
The new Smart cover is constructed from a single piece of polyurethane and it comes in 6 colours: black, blue, green, brown, beige and pink. It also wakes up the iPad Air when opened and puts it to sleep when closed.
The best design is the one you hardly notice. Apple Team
So, what is everyone else saying across the web?
Its light weight and thin form mean it gets out of the way – you don’t notice it, but you notice what you’re doing on it. That, potentially, unleashes a new generation of tablet-based productivity. The Telegraph
Those 6.4 ounces make all the difference when, as you recline while reading or watching a movie, you conk out and the iPad falls forward to bonk you on the nose. The Air won’t hurt you the way the old iPad did. New York Times
- iPad Dimensions/Weight Comparison
- iPad Specification Comparison
- Cons: not the cheapest; screen PPI lower than some Android tablets; Keynote missing some functionality.
- Pros: very light; very thin; large screen area; powerful A7 chip deals with big spreadsheets or games easily; long battery life; great free iLife and iWork software; huge third-party app ecosystem designed for tablets.
What do you think of the iPad Air? Are you planning to buy it?
