Specifications
Screen: 9.7in 2048x1536 retina display(264 pixels per inch)
Processor: Apple 64-bit A8X with M8 coprocessor
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16/64/128 GB
Operating system: iOS 8.1
Camera: 8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front-facing camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi(4G optional), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm for both Wi-Fi and 4G versions
Weight: 437g(4G version: 444g)
The Air 2 is a spec-bump model – the iPhone 5S to the iPhone 5. It is 40% faster than the Air, with the A8X, a version of the A8 processor first seen in the iPhone 6 in September but with a more powerful quad-core graphics processor. It also has 2GB of RAM – a first for Apple’s iOS devices.The iPad Air 2 has a new, improved eight-megapixel camera. Images have decent detail and exposure, while the high resolution panorama mode is impressive. Burst and slow motion modes bring the iPad up to speed with smartphone camera features, but taking pictures with an iPad is still not ideal with the large, heavy viewfinder. The iPhone and many other top-end smartphones still have better cameras.Touch ID has been added from last year’s iPhone. It allows unlocking of the tablet with a fingerprint, as well as authenticating purchases through the App Store and iTunes. It will also allow people to purchase goods and services online using Apple Pay, although only in the US for the time being.
Third-party apps like Dropbox, Evernote and Lastpass also use Touch ID to login, which works well. Samsung and China’s Huawei have devices with fingerprint scanners similar to Touch ID, but Apple’s third-party app support is likely to be greater as it has opened up the APIs to developers to build authentication into their apps.(The apps don’t see the fingerprint; they just ask iOS for verification, and get a “verified/not verified” response from iOS.)
A secure fingerprint reader adds appeal for businesses too. Enterprise can secure devices without forcing users to enter long, hard-to-remember passwords, which ensures users actually stick to secure methods and don’t attempt to circumvent what can be tedious login processes.