iPad Air 2

the iPad Air 2 is the second generation of the iPad Air series tablet designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The device was officially unveiled on October 16, 2014, simultaneously with the iPad Mini 3. Both models went on sale on October 22 of the same year.

the iPad Air 2 features an improved design compared to its predecessor, the first generation iPad Air. It is distinguished primarily by a slimmer and lighter chassis, while maintaining identical height and width dimensions and screen size. In addition, the new model offers enhanced performance and an innovative Touch ID feature that allows you to unlock your device using your fingerprint.

In Apple's product hierarchy, the iPad Air 2 initially occupied the position of the company's flagship tablet. However, with the launch of the first generation of the iPad Pro, including the 9.7-inch version that debuted on March 31, 2016, the iPad Air 2 was moved to the mid-range segment of the price range.

The life cycle of the iPad Air 2 on the market ended on March 21, 2017, when Apple officially withdrew it from sale. At the same time, the iPad Mini 2 also disappeared from the range. The iPad Air 2's place as the entry-level model in Apple's tablet lineup has been taken by the newly introduced fifth-generation iPad. The successor to the iPad Air 2 became the third-generation iPad Air, which went on sale on March 18, 2019.

the iPad Air 2 stood out for its impressive software support, receiving updates to eight successive versions of iOS and iPadOS, starting with iOS 8 and ending with iPadOS 15. Unfortunately, due to hardware limitations, the device did not receive support for iPadOS 16, which meant the end of official system updates for this model.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the iPad Air 2 was equipped with Bluetooth version 4.2, which provided fast and stable communication with compatible accessories and other devices.

iPad Air 2

By Netspy - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44055812

Premiere and marketing

the iPad Air 2 was officially unveiled at a special Apple event held on October 16, 2014. The conference went down in history under the slogan "it's been way too long" to highlight the company's long-awaited new products. the iPad Air 2 had the distinction of being the first Apple tablet to feature a Touch ID fingerprint reader, a significant step forward in security and convenience.

The device began appearing in retail stores on October 22, 2014, giving customers quick access to Apple's latest tablet technology. The marketing campaign accompanying the launch of the iPad Air 2 was based on the catchy slogan "Change Is in the Air" to emphasize the innovation and technological advances represented by the model.

The iPad Air 2's positioning in the market has changed with the introduction of a new product line, the iPad Pro. In response, Apple adjusted its marketing strategy for the iPad Air 2, changing its slogan to "Light. Heavyweight." ("Light. Heavyweight."). This new phrase accurately captured the nature of the device, emphasizing its slim design while maintaining its powerful computing capabilities.

Software and functionality

In terms of software, the iPad Air 2 was launched with iOS 8.1 pre-installed. This version of the operating system included a number of important features, including a modified version of Apple Pay. Unlike the implementation in iPhones, the iPad Air 2 has removed NFC contactless payment functionality in stationary stores. However, with the built-in Touch ID reader, users were able to conveniently and securely make online payments without having to enter their payment card information each time.

IOS 8 shipped with the iPad Air 2 included a rich set of pre-installed apps, including: Camera, Photos, Messaging, FaceTime, Mail, Music, Safari, Maps, Siri, Calendar, iTunes Store, App Store, Notes, Contacts, iBooks, Home, Reminders, Clock, Video, News, Photo Booth and Podcasts. In addition, users were able to download additional Apple apps for free, such as iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes U, Find iPhone, Find Friends, Apple Store, Trailers, Pilot and the iWork suite (Pages, Keynote and Numbers).

the iPad Air 2, like other iOS devices, offered the ability to sync content and data with Macs or PCs via iTunes. Although the tablet was not originally designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users were able to use Apple's Continuity feature to make and receive calls via an iPhone connected to a cellular network. The feature was available in iOS 8 and later versions, as well as in OS X Yosemite and later versions of macOS. Alternatively, users were able to use VoIP applications, such as Skype, to make voice calls.

on June 8, 2015, at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced that the iPad Air 2 will support all the new features of iOS 9, which was scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2015. This update brought a number of innovative solutions, significantly expanding multitasking capabilities on the tablet. Among them were:

1. Slide Over - a feature that allows users to "slide out" a second application from the side of the screen in a smaller window, allowing information to be displayed alongside the main application.

2. Picture in Picture - an option that allows you to watch video in a small, scalable and movable window while using another application.

3. Split View - a feature that allows two applications to run simultaneously in a split view in half.

At WWDC 2019, Apple revealed that the iPad Air 2 will be compatible with the new iPadOS. However, due to the presence of the Apple A8X processor, some features were not available for this model. Among them were Memoji Stickers, apps based on Apple's ARKit, and support for the Sidecar feature in macOS Catalina. Still, most of the new features introduced in iPadOS worked on the iPad Air 2, including support for external USB drives (using camera connection kits), a redesigned split-screen and multitasking interface (with the ability to open two apps at once), and support for Haptic Touch (without physical feedback because iPads don't have haptic motors).

With the release of iPadOS 13.4, the iPad Air 2 has gained support for a new mouse and trackpad feature. This capability worked both through camera connection kits and via Bluetooth. Bluetooth keyboards with a built-in trackpad were also compatible, depending on the manufacturer.

System support and technical specifications

At WWDC 2020, Apple announced that the iPad Air 2 will be compatible with iPadOS 14. Although the device did not support some advanced features such as ARKit 4, users were able to enjoy an improved Safari browser and a new version of the Messages app. It is worth noting that iPadOS 14 support was also given to the iPad mini 4, indicating Apple's long-standing support for older tablet models.

on June 7, 2021, during WWDC 2021, Apple confirmed that the iPad Air 2 will receive an update to iPadOS 15. This event was particularly significant because it made the iPad Air 2 the first device in Apple's history to receive up to seven years of software update support, covering both iOS and iPadOS. This fact highlighted the exceptional durability and longevity of this tablet model.

However, the era of support for the iPad Air 2 came to an end on June 6, 2022. At WWDC 2022, after announcing iPadOS 16, Apple revealed that the iPad Air 2 will no longer be compatible with the latest version of the operating system. This decision ended an impressive cycle of software support for the device.

In terms of hardware, the iPad Air 2 shared many similarities with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but was distinguished by a significant change in the area of processor. It was equipped with the Apple A8X chip, which was a high-performance, triple-core variant of the Apple A8 processor. the iPad Air 2 had 2 GB of RAM, making it the first iOS device with more than 1 GB of RAM. The PowerVR GPU in this model had 8 cores, providing impressive performance in graphics tasks.

In addition, the iPad Air 2 used Apple's M8 motion coprocessor, which included a barometer. It was also the first iPad model to feature the Touch ID fingerprint reader, previously known from iPhones. Compared to its predecessor, the iPad Air 2 offered an improved 8-megapixel (3264x2448) rear camera, with continuous shooting at 10 frames per second and slow-motion video recording at 120 frames per second. The front FaceTime HD camera also got an upgrade, receiving a larger f/2.2 aperture to increase the amount of light reaching the sensor by 81%.

Apple has also expanded the color palette of the iPad Air 2, adding a gold option to the pre-existing silver and star gray variants. In order to reduce the thickness of the device, the mute/orientation lock switch has been abandoned, moving these functions to the Control Center.

Despite a slightly smaller battery compared to its predecessor, Apple claimed the same 10-hour runtime on a single charge. the iPad Air 2 was available in variants with 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB of internal memory, with no storage expansion option. Apple also offered a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader to transfer photos and videos to the iPad.

the iPad Air 2 has received a positive reception from reviewers. The Verge portal called it "the best tablet ever made," giving it a rating of 9.3 out of 10. However, it also noted that the device offered only "incremental improvements" and that there were "untapped capabilities in its design".

Technical specifications

IPad products on telesalon.pl:

• iPad case
• iPad protection glasses and films
• iPad spare parts
• apple inductive chargers
• apple car chargers
• apple mains chargers
• apple docking stations

Models and series iPad:

• iPad 1
• iPad 2
• iPad 3
• iPad 4
• iPad 5
• iPad 6
• iPad 7
• iPad 8
• iPad 9
• iPad 10

iPad Air

• iPad Air 1
• iPad Air 3
• iPad Air 4
• iPad Air 5
• iPad Air 6