iPad Air 2

iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 now available to purchase from T-Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 10, 2017

Keeping true to its promise, T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest carrier, on Wednesday announced that customers can now buy Apple's iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 in participating T-Mobile stores and online. The new tablets are available in Wi-Fi-only and cellular flavors and in all three colors.

The top-of-the-line iPad Air 2 model with 128 gigabytes of storage is not yet available, leaving early adopters to choose between 16GB and 64GB iPad Air 2 models. The iPad mini 3 is available in 16/64/128GB storage flavors.

iPad Air 2 costs roughly the same to build as its predecessor

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 28, 2014

Apple's latest iPad Air 2 costs roughly the same as its predecessor, an analysis from the research firm IHS quoted Tuesday by Re/Code has determined. An entry-level Wi-Fi-only model with sixteen gigabytes of storage costs an estimated $275 in parts, excluding costs associated with sales, marketing, advertising, packaging, software licensees, research and development and so forth.

It's interesting that Apple pays about $60 for NAND flash chips in the high-end 128GB model and only $9.20 on memory for the low-end 16 GB devices. At retail, the difference between the 128 and 16GB model is $300. “Apple reaps a pretty good profit for all that memory,” IHS analyst Andrew Rassweiler observed.

iPad Air 2’s anti-reflective screen reduces ambient light reflections dramatically

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 27, 2014

DisplayMate Technologies has put the screens of the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 through a barrage of tests concluding that the former's anti-reflective screen reduces ambient light reflections dramatically compared to any other tablet display out there.

The technology, DisplayMate discovered, reduces ambient light reflections by about 3:1 over most other tablets, including the previous iPads, and about 2:1 over all of the very best competing tablets and smartphones, including the iPhone 6.

Activating Apple SIM on AT&T locks it to their network

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

Just a heads up for folks looking to get a Wi-Fi + Cellular version of one of the new iPads. It was discovered on Friday that the awesome new Apple SIM feature, which is supposed to allow you to switch seamlessly between compatible carriers, doesn't play well with all providers.

More specifically, MacRumors points to an Apple support page that says when you activate your new iPad with AT&T, the carrier dedicates its Apple SIM to their network only. So if you wanted to move the tablet to another provider, you'd have to purchase and install a new SIM.

Video shows iPad Air 2 being subjected to non-scientific drop test

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 24, 2014

Every time a new Apple mobile product comes along, you can bet that prolific YouTubers will be first out of the gate with those silly, non-scientific drop test videos. As you may have guessed, the iPad Air 2 is no exception.

Courtesy of YouTuber TechRax, we now know that the latest 9.7-inch Apple tablet's screen won't survive being dropped on the front glass panel from approximately five feet high. Watch the video embedded right after the break.

iFixit finds smaller battery, reworked internals in iPad Air 2 teardown

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As the new iPads begin arriving in stores and on doorsteps, iFixit has gotten its hands on an iPad Air 2 and performed its usual teardown ritual. Upon popping the tablet open, the team discovered a more powerful processor, 2GB of RAM, and a smaller battery.

The processor is of course the new A8X, which is similar to the A8 in the iPhone 6 but with improved graphics. The RAM is comprised of two 1GB Elpida F8164A3MD sticks placed on either side of the A8X, and the battery is of the 27.62 Whr; 7,340 mAh variety.

New iPads now available for in-store pickup at some Apple Stores

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 22, 2014

Apple's latest iPads, the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, are now available for in-store pickup at a growing list of retail locations in the United States, MacRumors reported Wednesday. Initially limited to Wi-Fi-only iPads and available for a limited number of retail locations that have received shipments, every Apple Store in the United States and abroad will provide personal pickup as soon as Apple catches up to demand for the new tablets.

If you are planning on purchasing one of the new iPads for in-store pickup, head over to Apple's US Online Store, choose your iPad model and check the bottom of the page: if personal pickup is available, you'll see the “Available for pickup” message. You can also click the “Check availability” link and enter your ZIP code to get a list of nearby stores that will let you pick up your iPad in person.

Early iPad Air 2 reviews praise display, performance

Cody Lee ∙ October 22, 2014

Right after its iPad event on Thursday, Apple gave a select group of journalists early access to its two new tablets— the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3—for early review. Tonight, a number of those reviews hit the web, offering up initial feedback on the two devices.

Reviews for the new iPad mini seem pretty dull, given how similar it is to its predecessor, but reviewers had some interesting things to say about the iPad Air 2. So, as usual, we've rounded up some excerpts from Air 2 reviews to give you an idea of the consensus.

The iPad Air 2 is much faster than the iPhone 6 and the original iPad Air

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 21, 2014

No big shocker at first glance. Of course the iPad Air 2, a device that's just now landing into the hands of rabid fans, is faster than the year-old device that it's intended to replace. Yes, the iPad Air 2 is faster, but it's the way that it's faster that is truly noteworthy.

The A8X processor that's nestled deep within the confines of the iPad Air 2's new slim and trim body is, for the first time in the history of iOS devices, a 1.5Ghz triple-core processor. The iPad Air 2 also features a healthy 2GB of RAM. Coincidentally, the 2GB of RAM is also a first for any iOS device.

Needless to say, the iPad Air 2 is a beast on paper, but it's no mere paper tiger. This thing screams, and the first benchmarks posted on MacRumors comparing it to previous iOS devices are proving that point.

T-Mobile to begin offering iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 for $0 down

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Folks looking to score a new iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 without having to pay a lot of money upfront will be happy to hear that T-Mobile has announced that it will soon begin offering the new tablets under its equipment installment plan.

Starting tomorrow, qualified Simple Choice customers will be able to pre-order a Cellular + Wi-Fi iPad mini 3 for as little as $0 down and $22.08 per month for two years, or a Cellular + Wi-Fi iPad Air 2 for $0 down and $26.24/month.

How to use Apple Pay

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As expected, Apple rolled out Apple Pay to the masses today, courtesy of its iOS 8.1 update for eligible devices. Apple Pay, as you know, allows users to make in-app and online purchases using certain devices equipped with a Touch ID sensor, and in-store purchases using the NFC chips found in the recently released iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of setting up Apple Pay, including adding eligible credit cards, along with making in-app, and in-store purchases.

Apple starts accepting pre-orders for new iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple's Online Store went down for more than three hours earlier this morning as the Cupertino firm was gearing up to start accepting pre-orders for the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

Lo and behold, Apple has now begun accepting pre-orders for the new tablets from customers in 29 countries and territories.

Additional global availability is due in the coming months. Interestingly enough, U.S. carrier AT&T started accepting pre-orders for the new tablets ahead of Apple. If you're interested, head over to the Online Apple Store and make your reservation for one of the new iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 models.

Apple promised to start shipping these “later next week”.