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iOS 11 runs like a dream on iPad Air 2

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
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Disclaimer: I reset the iPad and set it up as new. I also only use Safari, comiXology, Kindle, YouTube, and watch movies.

I'm a firm believer in not upgrading iOS past 2 generations of a device since they tend to slow down dramatically. iPad Air 2 launched with iOS 8 so I wanted iOS 10 to be my last update but I took the plunge and happy to say there is zero lag with iOS 11 on my iPad Air 2 and it runs just as smooth as iOS 10. In fact, my movies actually load faster when viewing the TV app because with iOS 10 there was major lag and stuttering if I changed the tab between TV shows and movies.
 
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What build? 11.0.3 or 11.1 Beta 3? Until Beta 3, I saw lots of stutter on my fresh install of 11 on my 128GB LTE Air 2. Stutter would occur when unlocking and populating the screen, opening folders, opening apps, etc. Beta 3 looks to have cleared that up almost completely though I still still occasional stutter under the same situations as earlier.
 
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Kendo said:
Disclaimer: I reset the iPad and set it up as new. I also only use Safari, comiXology, Kindle, YouTube, and watch movies.

I'm a firm believer in not upgrading iOS past 2 generations of a device since they tend to slow down dramatically. iPad Air 2 launched with iOS 8 so I wanted iOS 10 to be my last update but I took the plunge and happy to say there is zero lag with iOS 11 on my iPad Air 2 and it runs just as smooth as iOS 10. In fact, my movies actually load faster when viewing the TV app because with iOS 10 there was major lag and stuttering if I changed the tab between TV shows and movies.
Click to expand...
I agree, Air 2 runs well on IOS 11, Im on 11.1 Beta 3.
 
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I was not happy with 11.0 or 11.0.1 on my Air 2. It was very laggy/jerky, even with all animation and similar settings set to 'off.' I'm hoping Apple will fix this, because I like several of the iOS changes (especially the new keyboard and the improved dock).
 
newellj said:
I was not happy with 11.0 or 11.0.1 on my Air 2. It was very laggy/jerky, even with all animation and similar settings set to 'off.' I'm hoping Apple will fix this, because I like several of the iOS changes (especially the new keyboard and the improved dock).
Click to expand...

It is fixed in the recent 11.1 Beta.
 
sparksd said:
What build? 11.0.3 or 11.1 Beta 3? Until Beta 3, I saw lots of stutter on my fresh install of 11 on my 128GB LTE Air 2. Stutter would occur when unlocking and populating the screen, opening folders, opening apps, etc. Beta 3 looks to have cleared that up almost completely though I still still occasional stutter under the same situations as earlier.
Click to expand...

I updated last night so whatever the latest public build is. Coming from a guy that had an iPad 3 (first Retina model), I know lag and stutter when I see one. I cannot locate any lag on the Air 2 which I was shocked with.
 
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Kendo said:
A11X will finally be the time for me to upgrade. 4 years out of an iPad is an amazing value.
Click to expand...
iPad is more of a desktop, you end up keeping it for a while.
Its also partly due to the bigger size and heat distribution. The larger size allows more heat to leave, thus allowing more sustained clock speeds.

In other words, the iPad throttles much less.
 
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The Air 2 is still viewed as a premier device given its cost so Apple will need to keep it supported for at least the next 4 years. Expect the 2017 iPad to have fallen by the wayside by then as it's a cheapie and there's no recurring revenue from iPad 2017 buys compared to Air 2 users.
 
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dogslobber said:
The Air 2 is still viewed as a premier device given its cost so Apple will need to keep it supported for at least the next 4 years. Expect the 2017 iPad to have fallen by the wayside by then as it's a cheapie and there's no recurring revenue from iPad 2017 buys compared to Air 2 users.
Click to expand...
2gb devices should have a good life span. I expect the 6S to last while, also powerful.
 
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dogslobber said:
The Air 2 is still viewed as a premier device given its cost so Apple will need to keep it supported for at least the next 4 years. Expect the 2017 iPad to have fallen by the wayside by then as it's a cheapie and there's no recurring revenue from iPad 2017 buys compared to Air 2 users.
Click to expand...
Performance-wise, the Air 2 and 2017 iPad are around the same so I expect remaining useful life on both will be quite similar. Although at this point in time, I doubt that's going to be another 4 years.

The no recurring revenue from the 2017 iPad comment doesn't make sense to me. Apps and games that work on the Air 2 also work on the 2017 iPad.
 
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I moved from a fist gen iPad to the air 2. I was using the iPad 1 right up until I got the air 2, not for much to be fair. My air 2 was just a standard update , not a clean install, and it runs like a dream. Im loving iOS 11
 
sparksd said:
It is fixed in the recent 11.1 Beta.
Click to expand...

That would be great news. I'm not going to jump into the beta, though, because I can't go back to iOS 10 at this point if it doesn't work out. I'll munch popcorn while we wait and see how the final release works.
[doublepost=1508535622][/doublepost]
Zaft said:
Air 2 is truly a beast, that triple core really made it future proof.
Click to expand...

Yes, that and finally getting enough RAM.
 
newellj said:
That would be great news. I'm not going to jump into the beta, though, because I can't go back to iOS 10 at this point if it doesn't work out. I'll munch popcorn while we wait and see how the final release works.
[doublepost=1508535622][/doublepost]

Yes, that and finally getting enough RAM.
Click to expand...

Loaded 11.1 Beta 4 today - no lag anywhere that I can see. Really quick and smooth. Looks like 11.1 is close to shipping.
 
dogslobber said:
The Air 2 is still viewed as a premier device given its cost so Apple will need to keep it supported for at least the next 4 years. Expect the 2017 iPad to have fallen by the wayside by then as it's a cheapie and there's no recurring revenue from iPad 2017 buys compared to Air 2 users.
Click to expand...

Nothing suggests that the Air 2 will be supported longer than the current iPad. How did you measure that the users of a new iPad won’t bring any recurring revenue for Apple? That sounds like guesswork to me.
 
rui no onna said:
The no recurring revenue from the 2017 iPad comment doesn't make sense to me. Apps and games that work on the Air 2 also work on the 2017 iPad.
Click to expand...
That’s your problem between the ISV and iPad owner, not Apple’s. That being said, a cheaper device leads to less investment per dollar than the higher priced iPads.
[doublepost=1508596195][/doublepost]
ericwn said:
Nothing suggests that the Air 2 will be supported longer than the current iPad. How did you measure that the users of a new iPad won’t bring any recurring revenue for Apple? That sounds like guesswork to me.
Click to expand...
Guess work on your part. Go read the financials if you want to educate yourself to a point of being able to contribute to the discussion.
 
dogslobber said:
That’s your problem between the ISV and iPad owner, not Apple’s. That being said, a cheaper device leads to less investment per dollar than the higher priced iPads.
[doublepost=1508596195][/doublepost]
Guess work on your part. Go read the financials if you want to educate yourself to a point of being able to contribute to the discussion.
Click to expand...

Ah the wonderful world of Macrumors where you get attitude when you ask for facts or an explanation.
Fine then. The newer device will get less support in your opinion than a model that’s years old and we leave it there.
 
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Kendo said:
Disclaimer: I reset the iPad and set it up as new. I also only use Safari, comiXology, Kindle, YouTube, and watch movies.

I'm a firm believer in not upgrading iOS past 2 generations of a device since they tend to slow down dramatically. iPad Air 2 launched with iOS 8 so I wanted iOS 10 to be my last update but I took the plunge and happy to say there is zero lag with iOS 11 on my iPad Air 2 and it runs just as smooth as iOS 10. In fact, my movies actually load faster when viewing the TV app because with iOS 10 there was major lag and stuttering if I changed the tab between TV shows and movies.
Click to expand...

IPad Air 2 Features a CPU that was ahead of its time. Which was a Tripple Core A8X and 2GB of RAM
IOS 11 is now fully Supporting Tripple Core CPUs now that 32-Bit Support is Gone.
IOS 11 probably just sees the 3 Cores and uses them Fully All the Time.
Unlikel the 9.7” Pro which just has 2 Cores which are faster
 
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TheRealAlex said:
IPad Air 2 Features a CPU that was ahead of its time. Which was a Tripple Core A8X and 2GB of RAM
IOS 11 is now fully Supporting Tripple Core CPUs now that 32-Bit Support is Gone.
IOS 11 probably just sees the 3 Cores and uses them Fully All the Time.
Unlikel the 9.7” Pro which just has 2 Cores which are faster
Click to expand...
That's a good way to kill battery life. More likely, cores are probably on idle majority of the time and just ramp up as needed.

A8X is when Apple started catching up with x86 (albeit just Atom-level at the time).
 
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