After the direct acquaintance with the Apple iPad Air, we can confidently say that this model has become the most successful new line of 10-inch tablet California company in the history of its existence. The plate was fully deserves eloquent “air” prefix to the name, so a radical reduction of weight and volume of the body while retaining all the features of funkutsionalnyh we have not seen yet. I wonder? Then let’s begin to get acquainted.

The very first Apple iPad, then a simple “iPad” without serial numbers and generations, was announced January 27, 2010. On the shelves the product has only two months later, and it was the longest time gap between the announcement and supply in the future, Apple tried to withstand a waiting period of a week. Of course, Apple’s expected that it will become a popular product, but the actual numbers were even more impressive than expected. During the first month of sales was sold the first million tablets to achieve a mark of 3 million took just under three months, and just before the announcement of the iPad 2, Apple has sold 15 million tablets of the first generation, taking 75% of the emerging Tablet PC segment in 2010.

The second generation of the tablet that has received a logical name Apple iPad 2 , was presented and put on the market a year later, in March 2011. Then no one could have imagined that this model will be the LP in the line of tablet California company (recall that the iPad 2 sold so far, in contrast to the discontinued iPad 3 and 4). New product design and upgraded hardware platform, the body has become much easier, but the screen remain the same – 9.7-inch IPS with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels (132 PPI). This is despite the fact that by the time the 9 months as sold iPhone 4 Retina-display pixel density which is 326 PPI. That is why those users who have purchased their first iPad is not the start of sales, and a little later – during back-to-school and Christmas holidays, chose not to upgrade to Apple iPad 2, and wait for the next Retina-model. Interestingly, it was the second generation of the iPad appeared Smart Cover – smart cover, which allows you to unlock the screen using the built-in magnet and able to transform into a stand for watching videos or typing.

The expectations of the fans Retina-display in tablet format materialize in a year, in March, 2012. It was then that the mess with names, the company preferred the designation of The New iPad , while “the people”, he often took place under the pseudonyms Apple iPad 3 or Apple iPad Retina. Novelty was improved Apple A5X processor with quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics and twice the amount of RAM that were necessary in order to “bleed” four times more pixels (2048 x 1536, 264 PPI). The downside was the need to upgrade to the enhanced battery, its capacity has increased from 25 to 42.5 Wh, as a result of the third generation of the tablet again potyazhelela little if not to the level of the first iPad. The second problem was a significant heating of the case Apple iPad 3 under load, provoked a strong, but not the most energy efficient filling. Thus, the users got what they wanted for so long – with ultra-high resolution screen, but the rest of the user’s characteristics (weight, thickness, heat, autonomy) new lost generation ago.

It is unlikely that the company did not realize that the iPad 3 has turned out quite controversial. Apparently this is why Apple could not stand the usual yearly intervals and submitted another fourth generation tablet after only 7.5 months. The second reason for the early upgrade line could also be ready for the announcement of the new brainchild of – 7.9-inch Apple iPad Mini , to delay the output of which is meant to give a tasty compact segment budget tablets at the mercy of other companies. Nevertheless, and this wave of updates most critical of consumers met cool. New Apple iPad 4 was expected, but not too impressive work on the bugs, upsetting as we go all the iPad 3 owners who clearly did not count on the fact that their new product so quickly, “turn into a pumpkin.” Well, the main complaint against Apple iPad mini has a screen with the antediluvian screen resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels, and the hardware platform of the obsolete Apple iPad 2. Never mind that with such a diagonal screen pixel density was better than the first two senior aypadov and filling performance was sufficient for such a permit. Everyone wanted Retina and iron from the older iPad …

And behold, they finally got them. The event, which took place just a week ago, Apple has shown just two new items. Senior Apple iPad Air has become the most compact and lightweight “big” tablet of the company, dropping 180 grams / 28% weight and 1.5 mm / 20% of the thickness. Well, the younger Apple iPad mini 2 (iPad mini with Retina display) finally received the long-awaited Retina-display with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels and progressive hardware platform is fully analogous iPad Air – Apple A7 processor with 64-bit architecture and coprocessor M7 . Thus we just have to prove in practice, it is almost common good on paper novelties Apple iPad Air and Apple iPad mini with Retina display.

Options and accessories

The tablet Apple iPad Air comes in a typical of the brand package of thick white cardboard. At this time there is no need to learn to take that differentiate new items from the box packaging predecessor – on two of the four sides of the console you will find an eloquent symbol next to the Air iPad. But that is definitely worth to clarify when receiving the box, so is the amount of RAM and the availability of the optional LTE-module.

Recall that the new flagship is available in two color versions: Space Gray different black trim screen and relatively dark graphite rear panel, while Silver is made of aluminum in natural silver color and has a white border screen. Just as in the case with the predecessor iPad 4gen, four options are available capacity of internal memory 16, 32, 64, and 128 GB. Oh, and finally from the point of view of data you have to select a local “only Wi-Fi” or global LTE-version of the iPad. As a result, depending on the configuration selected, the U.S. Air will cost you anywhere from $ 499 for the initial version and $ 929 for the top-end variant.

After opening the box, you will see the Apple iPad Air, neatly packed in a transparent film in order to avoid the appearance of scuffs during transport. Under the device has two small compartments for BP, Cable Lightning and the accompanying documentation. Compact Power Adapter is equipped with a 12 W removable plug and a standard USB-connector that connects to the proprietary cable Lightning. If you purchased a configuration with integrated LTE-modem, except for brief instructions in the envelope you will find a special clip to remove the tray for nano-SIM cards.

In most cases, should not immediately think about buying a brand cover. IPad Air are available for classic covers Smart Cover polyurethane in one of six colors and new leather covers Smart Case, which are offered in six different colors. Both types of accessories can unlock the tablet using the built-in magnets and are able to transform into a stand for watching videos or typing. However, stowed Smart Cover only covers the tablet screen, while Smart Case protects the entire tablet completely, including the front and rear panels. It is interesting that in previous generations cover of “shared” on the four vertical bars, while only three of them new.

Design, connectors

Design Apple iPad Air can be fully described only one phrase – it increased in size iPad mini.

The most noticeable change on the part of the front face has minimal screen bezel along the long sides. Now Apple iPad Air just does not look slimmer but more organically through a more “widescreen” aspect ratio. Also there was a proprietary bevel around the perimeter of the front panel, Taku. You can see at the iPad mini or iPhone 5S. At the top of the screen bezel has a webcam of 1.2 megapixels and a light sensor at the bottom – a familiar hardware key Home, this time without the fingerprint sensor Touch ID.

The base case Apple iPad Air is still made ​​of aluminum with a soft-touch matte finish, but compared to its predecessor, the housing sidewalls are noticeably less sloping. The rear panel (silver or graphite, depending on the version), you can find a glossy apple, service information and the main lens 5 megapixel camera without flash. For models with built-in LTE-modem at the top of the back panel is plastic cap covering the antenna, and the right side wall – slide the card nano-SIM. Accordingly, the “only Wi-Fi” versions of the tablet and all-metal body with no slot for SIM-card.

The main controls are grouped in the upper right corner of the case Apple iPad Air, on top of this button, right – lock slider sound or autorotation, and two separate buttons change the volume. The top of the body can also find one of the two microphones (second) and a standard 3.5 mm audio jack on the bottom – Lightning proprietary connector, and two of the perforations over stereoakustikoy.

Functionality

The hardware platform of Apple iPad Air has been significantly updated, now as the central processor uses the same SoC, as in the iPhone 5S – Apple A7 dual-core processor with 64-bit architecture, the operating frequency of 1.4 GHz. To process the data from the various sensors used energy-efficient coprocessor M7, and is responsible for the graphics powerful enough GPU PowerVR G6430. In the end, if we talk about the average results of synthetic benchmarks, the new iPad is faster than about 4 and a half times.

The amount of RAM Apple iPad Air has not increased and remains at 1 GB. A data warehouse is to choose more initially, as to expand it with memory cards fail. Also note that the model of iPad Air is equipped with Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2,4 / 5,0 GHz, MIMO), and the modification with an integrated LTE-modem (UMTS / GSM / CDMA / LTE ) also boasts the presence of GPS-module hardware. By the way, now Apple releases only one-Cellular-version iPad Air, rather than two separate (AT & T and Verizon / Sprint), as it has done before.

The tablet comes with 32.4 Wh battery, which the manufacturer guarantees up to 10 hours of active work (surfing the web, watching videos, listening to music) with the included Wi-Fi or 9 hours of autonomy in the use of LTE-mode modem.

The display interface

Display characteristics Apple iPad Air remained unchanged, it is a 9.7-inch IPS-matrix with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels and a density of 264 points PPI. The viewing angles and color traditionally the mark, the picture remains lush and realistic in any position of the screen. Display brightness can be adjusted in the range from 5 to 360 cd/m2 while exactly in the middle of the scale, it is optimum when working in a room 130 cd/m2. Capacitive touchscreen with multitouch support layer provides a variety of multi-finger gestures, claims to no sensitivity. The system perfectly fulfills the false, which have become by reducing the width of the screen bezel.

The tablet Apple iPad Air comes with a preinstalled operating system iOS 7, which differs significantly revised compared to iOS 6 interface. Some users do not like the new flat icons, screaming colors, parallax, and other pieces of the new system, but any system will undergo redesign, with which ordinary users have to put up with. For more details about the operating system iOS 7 can be found in our review of “iOS 7: The future is bright … and flat”

Operation

For obvious reasons, the period of test operation of Apple iPad Air was not too long, for this time only managed to observe the basic nuances of real use. So after some time we will get back to the story about this tablet in the format of operating experience.

During operation, the plate was literally affects your weight, Air prefix here is appropriate as ever, as compared to its predecessor novelty dropped as much as 180 grams or 28% of the mass. A full-length 10-inch tablet in a metal case now weighs only 470 grams, making it easy to hold with one hand. Improves ergonomics and more compact body, which was 1.5 cm and is nearly 2 mm thinner, which in turn allowed to save 24% of the internal volume. Again, with more “elongated” body Apple iPad Air is more like a typical widescreen tablet with a 16:10 aspect ratio rather than the 4:3 variation of the apple. As a result, the new Air is quite possible to choose just because of the thin, lightweight, metal case, despite all the other features – just pick it up and release tablet of them just do not feel like it.

The new hardware platform is Apple A7/M7 went for the benefit of the tablet, talk about the mind-blowing performance boost in real life is not necessary, but it (the interface, applications, games) now runs a little faster and smoother. We note in particular the minimum heating plate even after a heated battle in a modern 3D-games – metal back slightly warmer, but this heat, which gave iPad 3 is not in sight.

Since the capacity of the battery at the Apple iPad Air has become smaller and the charger remains the same, the time required to charge the battery from 0 to 100% has declined markedly and is about 4 hours. Autonomy is consistent with the stated, the total charge is usually more than enough light for a full day of active use (browsing, video games, reading, etc.). Well, if you use the tablet for a couple of hours before / after work, its battery may be sufficient for almost the whole week.

Holders of advanced dual-band routers will appreciate the increased speed of data exchange using two-antenna module Wi-Fi 802.11n, capable of working in two operating ranges and provide a maximum speed of 300 Mbit / s. And here we get into the country at the maximum available speed LTE-networks, while, for obvious reasons, does not, at best, have to settle for 3G-connection. Finally, we note that the main camera Apple iPad Air gives good shots under good natural lighting, but in a dark room with no flash module is visibly losing their positions.

The results

As a result, iPad Air – this is the best ever released by Apple tablet a real competitor that can really make the new iPad mini with a display Retina. The younger brother has the same hardware platform, a screen with a higher pixel density, more compact and lightweight body comfortable in daily use on the move and still costs $ 100 less.

The only reason not to buy this device can be a rejection of the operating system iOS, while in terms of design, construction and hardware platform we have almost ideal. However, the ideal Apple iPad Air to stay only a year left before the announcement of the Air 2, which is (probably) will get a fingerprint Touch ID, 2 GB of RAM plus a faster processor. And here’s hoping for a redesign of the second generation Air is not worth it, and so the current version is too good to start improving it so quickly.

Liked

+ The new slim and lightweight metal case with a minimum cabinet depth
+ Design in the style of Apple iPad mini
+ Effective hardware platform Apple A7 (64-bit) with a coprocessor M7
+ Old days of battery life on a smaller capacity battery
+ The emergence of corporate cover-cover Smart Case
+ Function to improve the exchange of

Do not like it

– Still just 1 GB RAM
– No fingerprint Touch ID
– There is no way to downgrade to iOS 6

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According to analyst firm fiksu, tablet iPad Air is much more interested in people than his predecessor last year.

Such findings specialists Fiksu made on the basis of an increasing share of iPad Air models in the total number of active tablet iPad. The graphs below show that the share of the new 9.7-inch tablet iPad is growing five times faster than the share of last year’s models iPad 4 and iPad mini in the same period.

Only the first three days of receipt of the tablet iPad Air to sell its share hit 0.88% of the total number of active tablet iPad. For comparison, the share of iPad 4 and iPad mini in the same period last year was able to rise to 0.15% and 0.22%, respectively.

Thus, it can be argued that the iPad Air to launch attracted more buyers than the model iPad 4 and iPad mini together. It remains only to wait for Apple financial report for the fourth quarter, which will be able to support these conjectures real figures.

At the same time, the figures provided by another analyst firm – Mixpanel , said that the share of iPad Air generated in the Apple mobile data traffic on November 4, is 1.54%. However, with the growth of the share of iPad Air decreased the proportion of tablets iPad first and second generation. In other words, Apple only made the owners of older iPad models to replace them with new iPad Air.

In the past year Apple for the first three days has sold more than 3 million tablets iPad 4 and iPad mini. If the analysts are correct guesses, but this year sales will be much higher and that means one thing for Apple – a victory. It is not always a direct relationship between sales and the share of new devices connecting to the app store in the first few days. Do not forget that the Cupertino has not yet decided on the exact date of the sale of the tablet iPad mini with Retina. Perhaps Apple deliberately chose to take this step in order not to disperse the attention of people between the two products. In addition, those who are not satisfied with iPad Air, can later view in the direction of his younger brother.

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Following the Belkin line of accessories for the new tablet iPad Air, equipped with a 9.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, announced by Logitech.

Offers users a keyboard, which play the role of the stand and a protective cover. In particular, the model Fabricskin Keyboard Folio for $ 150 serves as cover to protect the screen and body of the tablet from scratches and other damage. It also serves as a support and fixes the position of the tablet in two positions with hidden magnets. In addition, the equipment cover is waterproof keypad that connects to the tablet by Bluetooth. Keyboard is powered by battery, which is on one charge can last up to three months (to use the keyboard for two hours a day). Built-in battery is charged by means of the port micro-USB.

Model Ultrathin Keyboard Folio virtually identical to an older model with the exception of a water-repellent coating and a simple keyboard. The device is offered in four color options (black, gray, blue and red), and the disadvantages compensated more attractive price – $ 100.

Case Keyboard Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for $ 100 executed in aluminum and protects only the screen of the tablet iPad Air. The main advantage of the keyboard is its thickness – 7.3 mm. The full dimensions of new items are expressed by the formula 240×169, 5×7, 3 mm, weight – 330 g

The latest model is the Folio Protective Case, which lacks built-in keyboard and protects your tablet from damage from both sides. As surfacing material covers the fabric with water-repellent coating. New items can also be used as an adjustable stand that allows the iPad Air put the tablet in any position. Dimensions Folio Protective Case Cover up 255h196h14 mm, weight – 261 The cost is $ 50 cover.

A detailed description of the characteristics of new accessories Logitech can be found here . Sales start in November.

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Apple has introduced a new tablet, called the iPad Air. It should say at once that this is the first iPad the company with its own name. This step is very correct, as buyers have been hard to navigate in the new versions of the device. With all of this in Apple claim that the name Air is selected on purpose. As is the case with the same laptop, the new iPad was thin and lightweight body, so fully deserves the prefix Air.

Like its predecessor, iPad Air is equipped with a 9.7-inch IPS Retina-display with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels and a density of 264 pixels per inch.

In the heart device is a system-on-chip Apple A7 with 64-bit 2-core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz. In the tablet also introduced new coprocessor M7, is responsible for tracking the position of the device in space. The amount of RAM the company traditionally does not open, but the built-in storage can have a capacity of 16, 32, 64 and even 128 GB.

The main camera in the iPad Air 5-megapixel iSight with an aperture of f/2.4, autofocus and the ability to recognize human faces. It is able to record video with the stabilization in the resolution of 1080p. Additional Camera – 1.2 megapixel FaceTime HD with a resolution of 720p is designed for video calls.

Of the sensors in the iPad Air has an accelerometer, gyroscope and light sensor. In addition, Apple has used in his first plate module Wi-Fi a / b / g / n with dual-band MIMO-antenna that allows the device to switch on the fly between channels 2.4 and 5 GHz. Of the other wireless options available Bluetooth 4.0, as well as the communication module LTE in some versions of the tablet.

The built-in battery on the iPad Air 32.4 Wh able to provide autonomy at 10:00 when using the browser on the network Wi-Fi, as well as video playback.

As Apple says that to reduce the size and weight of the iPad Air engineers had to modify almost all the components of the tablet. As a result, the thickness thereof is now only 7.5 mm at a height of 240 mm and a width of 169.5 mm. Weight plate unit depends on LTE, it is without at 469 grams, and with it – 478 grams.

Compared with its predecessor, the frame around the display iPad Air became thinner, and in general the whole design of the device has become more like the iPad mini. Connectors and controls when it has not changed.

Below the display is still on the mechanical key out of the application at the top end – the power button and 3.5mm headphone jack on the right side – a switch to mute and volume buttons, and on the lower end – Lightning connector and external speakers.

Cost of iPad Air in the U.S. starts at $ 499 and varies according to the amount of internal memory and the module LTE.

In the sale of a new tablet hits on November 1.

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