Selecting between these two standout iPads is challenging, but we’ve reviewed them both to help you make your decision. These two iPad models are so similar that most of the differences that influence buyers are screen size, speed, and availability.
Screen size is a matter of personal preference, although bigger is usually better for productivity, while the speeds are almost the same.
Because Apple discontinued both of these models, the ability to find them online is part of the buying decision.
The same resolution on the smaller screen gives the iPad mini 2 326 pixels per inch (PPI), while the iPad Air’s resolution is only 264 pixels per inch. We were wary of the smaller screen size when the original iPad mini arrived, having owned other 7-inch tablets and found them lacking.
While it is easier to use the iPad mini 2 one-handed, there are areas such as typing on the on-screen keyboard where the extra real estate of the larger iPad Air gains an advantage. iPad Air Easier to type on the larger virtual keyboard.
Not only is it much easier to type on an iPad Air, but the 9.7-inch iPad also has more screen space to make it easier to manipulate images, edit videos, arrange text, and perform other tasks.
Speed: It’s Close, but iPad Air Is Slightly Faster
Most people won’t see the difference, but this makes the iPad Air slightly faster. Apple moved the iPad lineup in the direction of giving customers a choice in screen size without the trade-off in slower processor speed, and that makes us the winner.
However, that extra cash buys a lot of real estate. This makes the full-sized iPad best for people who use it for work or anyone who has big fingers.
iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 originally shipped with iOS 8 pre-installed and includes a version of Apple Pay with the in-store NFC functionality removed. iOS 8 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, Home, Reminders, Clock, Videos, News, Photo Booth and Podcasts. 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).
[9] 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[10] (supported on iOS 8 and later versions of iOS, and OS X Yosemite and later versions of macOS), 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.
Apart from this, most of the features that were introduced in iPadOS will work with this iPad, including support for external USB drives (using the camera connection kits), the redesigned split screen and multitasking interface (with support for two apps to be open at once) and support for Haptic Touch (no haptic feedback will be felt as the iPad family don’t have Taptic Engines). On June 6, 2022 after iPadOS 16 was announced at the WWDC 2022, it was revealed that the iPad Air 2 will not be compatible with this new version of the operating system.
[15] 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.
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. Unlike its iPad predecessors, the mute/orientation lock switch has been removed to accommodate the reduced depth. 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.
The Verge called the Air 2 “the best tablet ever made”, giving it a score of 9.3 out of 10 while noting that it offered only “iterative improvement” and that there were “missed opportunities” in its design.
Will an iPad Air 2 case fit on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro?
An iPad Air 2 case could block this flash (thanks to reader @nchia for pointing this out). Another thing that’s probably less of a concern is the Smart Connector; a case could block it, preventing you from using an encased iPad Pro with a keyboard.
Most keyboards that use the Smart Connector also serve as a case, so this probably isn’t a big issue.
iPad – Compare Models
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Apple iPad Air 2 vs iPad Mini 4: Should you buy an older iPad?
Apple launched its iPad Mini 4 back in September of 2015, though you’d hardly know it from the ‘Hey Siri’ event. The Cupertino company barely showed off its pint-sized pad until essentially the end of the event when it revealed pricing.
Apple did give the internals a kick, though, bringing them up to match the iPad Air 2 — the company’s flagship at the time. We had been using Apple’s previous tablets for a while, but the Air 2 was the only device worth turning to for gaming or slo-mo video capture. We can’t just boil everything down to processing power, but it’s a good indicator that these two tablets aren’t quite as identical as Apple says. You’ll find all of the same sensors onboard, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and even the microphones are in the same place.
The length and width of each device are different to account for the screen size, yet Apple has managed to match them in terms of thickness. We’re expecting that many people will turn to the larger iPad Air 2 for productivity tasks, so we can’t complain that it’s more powerful. On the other hand, people will probably want to grab the smaller iPad Mini 4 for entertainment on the go or browsing social media. Even Apple’s newest 10.2-inch iPad is more affordable than its current Air and Mini options straight out of the box. It’s closer to the iPad Mini with an A12 Bionic chip, though it offers plenty of extra screen real estate. If you have a larger budget and you want a real powerhouse tablet, you can also check out Apple’s iPad Pro lineup.
iPad Air vs. iPad mini 2
Selecting between these two standout iPads is challenging, but we’ve reviewed them both to help you make your decision. These two iPad models are so similar that most of the differences that influence buyers are screen size, speed, and availability. Screen size is a matter of personal preference, although bigger is usually better for productivity, while the speeds are almost the same. Because Apple discontinued both of these models, the ability to find them online is part of the buying decision. The same resolution on the smaller screen gives the iPad mini 2 326 pixels per inch (PPI), while the iPad Air’s resolution is only 264 pixels per inch. We were wary of the smaller screen size when the original iPad mini arrived, having owned other 7-inch tablets and found them lacking.
While it is easier to use the iPad mini 2 one-handed, there are areas such as typing on the on-screen keyboard where the extra real estate of the larger iPad Air gains an advantage. iPad Air Easier to type on the larger virtual keyboard.
Not only is it much easier to type on an iPad Air, but the 9.7-inch iPad also has more screen space to make it easier to manipulate images, edit videos, arrange text, and perform other tasks. Speed: It’s Close, but iPad Air Is Slightly Faster
Most people won’t see the difference, but this makes the iPad Air slightly faster. Apple moved the iPad lineup in the direction of giving customers a choice in screen size without the trade-off in slower processor speed, and that makes us the winner.
However, that extra cash buys a lot of real estate. This makes the full-sized iPad best for people who use it for work or anyone who has big fingers.
iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 Display Technology Shoot-Out
Apple iPads (and iPhones) were up until recently at the leading edge of mobile displays: they were early adopters of high performance IPS LCDs, the full 100 percent sRGB Color Gamut, and full 24-bit color, all of which dramatically improve image and picture quality and display performance. iPad 3: Their most famous and aggressive innovation came with the introduction of the Retina display in 2010 for the iPhone 4, where Apple doubled the pixel resolution and Pixels Per Inch (ppi) up to where the screen appeared perfectly sharp for normal 20/20 Vision at typical Tablet viewing distances of 10.5 inches or more.
Up until that time almost all LCD Tablets and Smartphones had 55-65 percent Color Gamuts, which produced washed out, under saturated and distorted colors, so that red tomatoes, fire trucks, and Coke cans looked a bit orange rather than deep red, for example. Competition: While Apple display innovation slowed, many other manufacturers just steadily pushed ahead to take the lead. We’ll cover these issues and much more, with in-depth comprehensive display tests, measurements and analysis that you will find nowhere else. The main Display Shoot-Out Comparison Table summarizes the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 Lab measurements in the following categories: Screen Reflections, Brightness and Contrast, Colors and Intensities, Viewing Angles, LCD Spectra, Display Power. A major innovation for the iPad Air 2 (that is not fully appreciated) is an anti-reflection coating on the cover glass that reduces ambient light reflections by about 3:1 over most other Tablets and Smartphones (including the previous iPads), and about 2:1 over all of the very best competing Tablets and Smartphones (including the new iPhone 6). We measured a 62 percent decrease in reflected light glare compared to the previous iPads (Apple claims 56 percent) and agree with Apple’s claim that the iPad Air 2 is “the least reflective display of any Tablet in the world” – both are in fact understatements.
To visually compare the difference for yourself, hold two Tablets or Smartphones side-by-side and turn off the displays so you just see the reflections.
Other than the new anti-reflection coating and bonded cover glass, the display on the iPad Air 2 is essentially unchanged and identical in performance to the iPad 4 introduced in 2012, and is actually slightly lower in performance than the original iPad Air (for example 8% lower Brightness and 16% lower display Power Efficiency) – most likely the result of an obsession with producing a thinner Tablet forcing compromises in the LCD backlight. In order to deliver accurate image colors, a display needs a 100 percent sRGB / Rec.709 Standard Color Gamut that is used in virtually all current consumer content for digital cameras, HDTVs, the internet, and computers, including photos, videos, and movies. The new iPads both have very accurate Intensity Scales with Gammas very close to the 2.2 standard, however, they both have a Slightly Bluish White Point, with Color Temperatures of 7,086K to 7,355K, which is still (marginally) Very Good.
Mobile displays are often used under relatively bright ambient light, which washes out the image colors and contrast, reducing picture quality and making it harder to view or read the screen. On the other hand, the iPad mini 3 lacks the anti-reflection coating and has an air gap beneath the cover glass, which results in a moderately high screen Reflectance of 6.5 percent, almost triple that of iPad Air 2, so its Contrast Rating for High Ambient Light is 61, which further washes out its image colors in ambient light…
See the Brightness and Contrast, the High Ambient Light and the Screen Reflections sections for measurements and details. For example, the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (with a Low Temperature Poly Silicon IPS LCD) is 27 percent more power efficient than the iPad Air 2 for the same Luminance and screen area.
The iPads all have IPS LCD displays, so we expected them to show very small color shifts with Viewing Angle, and our lab measurements confirmed their excellent Viewing Angle performance, with no visually noticeable color shifts. The iPad Air 2 provides very nice, pleasing and fairly accurate colors and picture quality. None-the-less, the very challenging set of DisplayMate Test and Calibration Photos that we use to evaluate picture quality looked Beautiful, even to my experienced hyper-critical eyes. On the other hand, for the iPad mini 3, the much smaller 62 percent Color Gamut produced visibly washed out, under saturated and distorted colors, so that red tomatoes, fire trucks, and Coke cans looked a bit orange rather than deep red, for example.
A major innovation for the iPad Air 2 (that is not fully appreciated) is an anti-reflection coating on the cover glass that reduces ambient light reflections by about 3:1 over most other Tablets and Smartphones (including the previous iPads), and about 2:1 over all of the very best competing Tablets and Smartphones (including the new iPhone 6).
We measured a 62 percent decrease in reflected light glare compared to the previous iPads (Apple claims 56 percent) and agree with Apple’s claim that the iPad Air 2 is “the least reflective display of any Tablet in the world” – both are in fact understatements. To visually compare the difference for yourself, hold two Tablets or Smartphones side-by-side and turn off the displays so you just see the reflections. However, the iPad Air 2 matches or breaks new records in Tablet (and Smartphone) display performance for: the most accurate (pure logarithmic power-law) Intensity Scale and Gamma, most accurate Image Contrast, (by far) the Lowest Screen Reflectance, and the Highest Contrast Rating for Ambient Light.
So in addition to washed out, under saturated and distorted colors (red tomatoes, fire trucks, and Coke cans look a bit orange rather than deep red, for example) it continues with a moderately high screen Reflectance of 6.5 percent, almost triple that of its favored littermate, which further washes out its image colors in ambient light… For a company like Apple that prides itself on producing great products, the iPad mini 3 is embarrassingly mediocre and way overpriced… We recently gave the Samsung Galaxy Tab S our overall Best Tablet Display award, and for the time being that continues for all of the reasons originally mentioned there. The best performing LCD and OLED displays are now delivering impressive sharpness, brightness, low reflectance, high color accuracy, accurate image contrast, and great viewing angles. At 500 lux, which corresponds to typical indoor office lighting, the on-screen colors are washed out by the reflected ambient light, typically reducing the on-screen Color Gamut from 100 percent down to 80 percent, plus the image contrast is also significantly affected. This article is a lite version of our advanced scientific analysis – before the benefits of our DisplayMate Display Optimization Technology, which can correct or improve all of these issues.
Dr. Raymond Soneira is President of DisplayMate Technologies Corporation of Amherst, New Hampshire, which produces display calibration, evaluation, and diagnostic products for consumers, technicians, and manufacturers. He is a research scientist with a career that spans physics, computer science, and television system design.
Dr. Soneira obtained his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Princeton University, spent 5 years as a Long-Term Member of the world famous Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, another 5 years as a Principal Investigator in the Computer Systems Research Laboratory at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and has also designed, tested, and installed color television broadcast equipment for the CBS Television Network Engineering and Development Department. This article is a lite version of our advanced scientific analysis – before the benefits of our DisplayMate Display Optimization Technology, which can correct or improve all of these issues. For manufacturers we offer Consulting Services that include advanced Lab testing and evaluations, confidential Shoot-Outs with competing products, calibration and optimization for displays, cameras and their User Interface, plus on-site and factory visits. See our world renown Display Technology Shoot-Out public article series for an introduction and preview.
DisplayMate’s advanced scientific optimizations can make lower cost panels look as good or better than more expensive higher performance displays.
Apple Adds iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 2 to Vintage Products List
It also used Apple’s A8X processor and had a laminated gapless display, which made it significantly thinner than the original iPad Air.
iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 originally shipped with iOS 8 pre-installed and includes a version of Apple Pay with the in-store NFC functionality removed. iOS 8 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, Home, Reminders, Clock, Videos, News, Photo Booth and Podcasts. 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).
[9] 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[10] (supported on iOS 8 and later versions of iOS, and OS X Yosemite and later versions of macOS), 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. Apart from this, most of the features that were introduced in iPadOS will work with this iPad, including support for external USB drives (using the camera connection kits), the redesigned split screen and multitasking interface (with support for two apps to be open at once) and support for Haptic Touch (no haptic feedback will be felt as the iPad family don’t have Taptic Engines). On June 6, 2022 after iPadOS 16 was announced at the WWDC 2022, it was revealed that the iPad Air 2 will not be compatible with this new version of the operating system.
[15] 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.
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. Unlike its iPad predecessors, the mute/orientation lock switch has been removed to accommodate the reduced depth. 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.
The Verge called the Air 2 “the best tablet ever made”, giving it a score of 9.3 out of 10 while noting that it offered only “iterative improvement” and that there were “missed opportunities” in its design.
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