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Depends on what you're doing. For non-gaming, non-media editing/creation, I think it's okay. It's not snappy like iPads with newer chipsets but it's certainly faster than the Windows 7/10 PCs with spinning platters that we have at the office.

That said, if you don't absolutely require the laminated screen, the iPad 6th gen (A10/2GB) at $250 is a better budget-friendly option.
 
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I had the air 2 and loved it. I have a 6th gen now and I dont really mind the non laminated screen. I really wish it had the quad speakers my pro has tho.
 
I think that the Air 2 is a better device than the 5th and 6th gen iPads. Lighter and thinner device as well as a better screen.
You only go down on processor, not even RAM. And from A8X to A10 is not a real difference.

Spare your money
 
I think that the Air 2 is a better device than the 5th and 6th gen iPads. Lighter and thinner device as well as a better screen.
You only go down on processor, not even RAM. And from A8X to A10 is not a real difference.

Spare your money
Oh no, the difference is real, and you can clearly see and feel it when comparing with a10 or a9x. Having said that the air 2 is still very usable with ios 12. It's definitely better than ipad 5, as to 6th gen, it really depends on your priorities. If you don't care about the pencil it can be better, it's thinner, slightly lighter and less reflective, but as mentioned it has no hardware HEVC decoding....
 
I think that the Air 2 is a better device than the 5th and 6th gen iPads. Lighter and thinner device as well as a better screen.
You only go down on processor, not even RAM. And from A8X to A10 is not a real difference.

Spare your money

Owning the Air 2, 10.5 Pro, and 2018 12.9 Pro, I'd really disagree with this assessment.
 
Owning the Air 2, 10.5 Pro, and 2018 12.9 Pro, I'd really disagree with this assessment.
Technically, that's A8X/2GB, A10X/4GB and A12X/4-6GB so you don't really have all the requisite devices to disagree. ;)

That said, we do have Air 2, 5th gen (A9/2GB) and 6th gen (A10/2GB) in the household and yes, even the 5th gen is noticeably faster on occasion. Iirc, loading Apple.com was 3-5 seconds faster on A9 than A8X.

The Air 2 even on iOS 12 is still fairly decent (I'd even say better than iPad Air on iOS 7). Given the OP's use-case includes 4K video playback though, better to get an iPad with HEVC hardware decoding. Even if A8X can do brute-force decoding of HEVC (maybe up to 1080p? 4K would be difficult), that would drain the battery quickly.
 
For web safari, youtuber, facetime, book reading, this is a decent device, better than anything from Amazon kindle.
if you want to play the 3A games, sorry, you should save some money for the PRO
 
i love my air2 - the best ipad ever made. i can do the same stuff with it than i do daily with my ipp 12,9” - of course i use A-pencil with ipp... but anything else works great.
 
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