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Will Apple really skip updating the iPad Air 2?
- Thread starter pika2000
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Nothing beats buyers remorse like iPad 3 buyers when the iPad 4 was released. I really don't see apple releasing the air 3 in March unless the pro doesn't sell as they hope and they suffer more market erosion.
?? Not sure if you can call it "buyer's remorse." I mean it's not like I am in dire need of an iPad now. I'm just exploring the possibility of Apple updating the iPad Air 2.
I do know that buying an iPad Air 2 now means having an iPad with a generation old SoC right off the gate. Seeing the jump (especially in GPU) from A8 to A9, I think the wait is worth it. Heck, the iPad Air 2 is only faster than the 6S in multi-core performance thanks to the extra core. Each core's performance, the iPhone 6S is faster. To me, the draw of the iPad Air 2 is the price since it is available refurbished now. However, as Apple is pushing iOS into desktop-class applications, I can see the horsepower demand being much more than previously predicted.
Anyway, I can wait.
My guess is that the next version will have 3D touch. The iPhone 6s is their testbed. The larger screen likely will present some significant problems which will take time to resolve.
If this guess is correct then I wouldn't expect an upgrade to the Air 2 anytime soon.
If this guess is correct then I wouldn't expect an upgrade to the Air 2 anytime soon.
Although it seems natural for 3D touch to trickle up to iPads, I'm not sure if it make sense. On iPhone, we use our thumb primarily for interacting with the screen while resting the phone on the hand, so it supports the additional pressure for 3D touch. On an iPad, I think the index finger is the primary finger. Furthermore, the iPad never have a vibrating motor, and imagine how awkward it is to have a large iPad vibrating.
The only thing I can think of is the support for Apple pencil to trickle down to the next iPad Air, at least that's my wish.
Problem with your statement is the iPad Air 2 doesn't have the A8.....That is a dual core clocked around 1.3ghz I believe. The iPad Air 2 has the A8x which is clocked at 1.5ghz and is a triple core cpu. And let's not forget about the ram
In single core benchmarks, the iPhone 6S beat the iPad Air 2 easily, with a significant margin. Like I stated, the iPad only wins in multi-core performance for obvious reason (having more cores). But each individual core is less efficient than the A9. Now I'm not saying the iPad Air 2 is slow. It's just that for my own preference, I'd rather not buy something with a year-old SoC.
Does the ipad air 2 really NEED an upgrade right now? I play all my games, multi task like a boss, and i don't ever see any problems. Do people just want to upgrade for the sake of saying they have the newest and greatest?
same old argument always......what if i purchase and Apple upgrade? which they will of course. just a case of when.
and the answer is always the same (as non can honestly say when upgrades will happen) - if you want, then go and buy
and the answer is always the same (as non can honestly say when upgrades will happen) - if you want, then go and buy
But what other choice you have? Even the just released Mini 4 is more crippled than the Air 2 as it's missing a core and GPU is also weaker. Only the really expensive iPad Pro can beat the Air 2 in iPad land. Apple also has been pretty good in programming in leveraging the load onto the 3rd core as the Air 2 feels a bit faster than the Mini 4 and feels pretty much as fast as my 6S+
Considering that Apple released the iPad Mini 4 with similar specs to the iPad Air 2 I wouldn't expect to see an iPad Air refresh until Autumn 2016. Its not like the iPad Air 2 is a slouch, it positively flies on iOS 9.
Look at it this way, do you find the Air 2 to be slow, underpowered, and unable to meet your needs, or is it just the idea that it's a year old that bothers you? Because I think that it, and even the Mini 4, still perform well by current standards, and are likely to do so for some time. I think that people get too hung up on the idea of wanting to have the fastest, most powerful device possible, and that leads to them seldom being happy for long because a better version is always in the works.
That's only single core cpu.....And on a OS where it's not dependent on clock speed. Of course single core will win since the A9 is clocked at 2.2 and the A8x is 1.5
Cpu performance isn't a factor with ios.....with Android it does a little bit more.....either don't buy it or don't but it's specs basically matches up to the A9
I think your points on 3D Touch on an iPad make a lot of sense, though I don't know how Apple is going to view that. My own hunch on the "pencil" is that Apple will reserve that solely for the iPP in order to maintain product segregation. That's just a guess - we will have to wait to see.
I'd actually be alright if they skipped it and waited until next October. I got my Air 2 a week after launch last year so I'm OK that it hasn't been updated. A spring launch does seem possible though.
The way I see it. iPads are good for 3 years. if you buy an Air 2, you are only getting 2 of the 3 usable years. it really should be 30% less expensive.. but that's not Apple's way of doing things. So you either get the iPad Pro, knowing you will get full 3-4 years out of it, and it's a better, larger device... or wait for Air 3. Ultimatly, the iPad Pro is less expensive device than buying the Air2 if you have to bake in the fact you'll need to buy a 2nd iPad Air to make it 4 years of useful life.
Unless you "gotsta" have one this month... then you are stuck with taking a loss on an Air 2 and in 2 years having to buy the Air 4. Apply will ensure that your iPads last no more than 3 years before becoming really slow and frustrating to use for anything other than email.
Unless you "gotsta" have one this month... then you are stuck with taking a loss on an Air 2 and in 2 years having to buy the Air 4. Apply will ensure that your iPads last no more than 3 years before becoming really slow and frustrating to use for anything other than email.
The one thing on the iPad pro I'd really like to have in a new device is the audio. I really hate the audio in the existing iPad. Have to keep cupping my hand over the edge to hear its stellar mono quality.
My dilemma is your dilemma, chiming in before your request to lock this thread is honored. My dilemma is complicated by also considering a Mini 4. I went to Best Buy today and an Apple Store today to compare the Mini 4 to the Air 2 - I own an Air 32GB and iPad 3 64GB (both with LTE with VZW UL data SIMs in them - I absolutely want a cellular model, and I really want a 128 GB model). I'd love to see an Air 3.
TL;DR answer: I'm now waiting to see and buy the Pro in the 128GB cellular model (likely with a Pencil but not with the Keyboard), with an Air 2 from the Refurb Store as a back up - and sell my iPad 3 and/or Air and use the unsold iPad as a screen for my Mini with the Duet app. I also might keep my Air and not buy an Air 2 until the mythical Air 3 comes out.
Portability is a non-issue for me. I already have cloud services (like Office 365 Business/Enterprise), an UL data plan and can connect to both Comcast and VZW wifi hotspots. Oh, and I'm 6'7" - the large iPad isn't looking to be that large, to me. But, since I have two servers that I can VPN into and cloud services I see the Pro as a replacement for my 15" rMBP.
As to the Air 3? I have a Staples, Best Buy, and VZW corporate store within walking distance. None of them have the Mini 4 out, but they're in stock. They're all still displaying Mini 3s. Look at their websites - all of their Air 2s are still rocking iOS 8.1 - in other words, they've likely had those boxes of iPad Air 2s since last Christmas and it's a backstock issue IMHO. If they're not showing what they already have in stock - Mini 4s, they're not ready to push Air 3s just yet when they've likely got bunches "in the back", and it's likely they've conveyed that to Apple IMHO.
The Air 2 is sweet. But, I'm looking forward to using a Pro with a Pencil and Astropad/Duet and taking the Pro out and about and leaving my rMBP at home. Cheers!
Incorrect. iPad 3 was launched in March. iPad 4 was launched in October with the launch of the iPhone 5, giving both devices the Lightning connector. Since then all iPads have come out in the fall. iPads 1-3 were all Spring releases. All iPhones and iPads have been fall launches since then. Additionally, I don't think the next Apple Watch will come out till next fall. Keeping everything on fall releases, just in time for holidays.
I do not think we will see another iPad Air until next fall. The iPad Air 2 is still a superior device.
I think ipad air 2 won' t get the best soc/cpu, too.
I think the a9x on the ipad pro is a quadcore with 4 gb.
The air 3 will get a variation of the A9 soc, though.
I don' t know how they will call it, but i think it will be a tricore a9 soc with 2 or perhaps 3gb. Perhaps a a9LX or something like that.
My guess : march/april, with new macbooks and new version of the apple watch.