8 things you need to know about the Apple iPad Air 2

Apple has revealed the iPad Air 2 at long last, and it’s the thinnest tablet in the universe. That we know about anyway.

It’s more than just a pretty face though, so without further adieu, let’s jump straight in, shall we?

1. Did we mention that it’s thin? Because it’s like, really thin

Measuring in at a quite frankly ridiculous 6.1mm thin, the iPad Air 2 makes even the size zero 7.1mm-thin iPhone 6 Plus look like a beached whale in comparison.

It’s so sleek in fact, that two of the stacked on top of each other make up the thickness of the original iPad. Praise science. Or engineering. Or both.

2. It’s got a better screen. Sort of

While the 9.7in 2048 x 1536 screen returns, the LCD, glass, and touch sensor are all bonded together, eliminating air gap layers contributing to the overall thinner body.

There’s also a new coating over the display which makes it 56% less reflective.

Ideally we should be able to watch Youtube videos on a park bench in the middle of the summer without squinting, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

3. It’s gained more megapixels

If you really care about cameras on tablets then we’ve got some good news. The rear snapper on the iPad Air 2 has been bumped up from 5MP to 8MP, with the ability to record 1080p video.

There’s also new burst shot, slow-motion and timelapse modes.

The front-facing camera’s aperture has increased which should result in better quality video calls in low light conditions.

4. It’s stronger than ever

Surprise! The iPad Air 2 is the most powerful iPad ever. It’s packing the power of Apple’s new A8X processor.

That extra ‘X’ means that the iPad Air 2’s processor is even faster than the slice of silicon found in the fresh-faced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

It’s got a total of 2 billion transistors (twice that of the regular A8), and it’s 40% faster overall, with a GPU that’s 2.5 times faster.

All those fancy numbers should translate to a buttery smooth iOS 8 experience. We expected nothing less.

READ MORE: Apple iPhone 6 review

5. It’ll scan your digits

The Touch ID sensor has finally arrived on the iPad. That means you can secure important information and apps with a simple swipe of your finger, as well as buy stuff online dangerously easily.

Death to the pin code! Death to the App Store password! It’s about damn time.

6. It’ll last a whole day

Apple has hit their standard 10 hour battery life target with the iPad Air 2, which means that it should last you a whole day, even with heavy use.

We don’t know the official capacity as of yet, but it’ll be interesting to see if Apple managed to squeeze in an even bigger battery into such a thin body.

7. It will appeal to pirates…

…or anyone else that likes gold, for that matter.

That’s right – the iPad Air 2 will land in gold, as well as the more traditional grey and silver colours. Why not buy all three and collect the whole set?

8. You can order one from 17 October, starting form £400

You can pre-order the iPad Air 2 from 17 October. Prices are:

16GB Wi-Fi: £400
64GB Wi-Fi: £480
128GB Wi-Fi: 560

16GB Cellular: £500
64GB Cellular: £580
128GB Celular: £660

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.