Today, the first reviews of the new iPad Air, which Apple presented last week, began to appear on foreign servers. The iPad has undergone a significant design change, it now resembles an iPad mini thanks to smaller edges, and is also a third lighter. It got a 64-bit Apple A7 processor, which provides more than enough computing power and also powers the retina display, which has been the iPad's domain since last year. And what do those who had the opportunity to test it say about the iPad Air?
John Gruber (Daring Fireball)
For me, the most interesting comparison is with the MacBook Air. In exactly three years, Apple produced the iPad, which outperformed the then-new MacBook. Three years is a long time in this industry, and the MacBook Air has come a long way since then, but this (new iPad Air vs. 2010 MacBook Air) is an amazing comparison. The iPad Air is in many ways a better device, somewhere it is quite obvious – it has a retina display, the MacBook Air does not, it has a battery life of 10 hours, the MacBook Air should have had a battery life of only 5 hours at the time.
Jim Dalrymple (The Loop)
From the moment I picked up the iPad Air at Apple's San Francisco event last week, I knew it was going to be different. Apple raised expectations very high just by using the adjective "Air", giving users the idea of a light, powerful, professional device, similar to what they think of the MacBook Air.
The good news is that the iPad Air lives up to all these expectations.
Walt Mossberg (All Things D):
Apple has taken a big step forward in terms of design and engineering, cutting weight by 28%, thickness by 20% and width by 9%, while increasing speed and keeping the amazing 9,7″ retina display. The new iPad weighs only 450 g, compared to the almost 650 g of the previous latest model, the now-discontinued iPad 4.
It did all this while maintaining the best battery life in the industry. In my testing, the iPad Air surpassed Apple's claimed ten-hour battery life. For more than 12 hours, it played high-definition video non-stop at 75% brightness, with Wi-Fi on and incoming e-mails. That's the best battery life I've ever seen on a tablet.
It may sound strange, but the latest iPad is actually just a larger version of the 7,9″ mini. As if the smaller device, which was released at the same time as the 4th generation iPad, was a pilot test for Jony Ivo's new design. The name "Air" certainly fits it, given that it is incredibly small and light compared to previous models.
It's only 7,5mm thick and weighs just 450g. Apple has also trimmed the right and left bezels by roughly 8mm on each side. If that doesn't sound like a big change, hold the Air for a minute and then pick up an older iPad. The difference is immediately apparent. Simply put, the iPad Air is the most comfortable 10″ tablet I've ever used.
So that's the new ipad Air: no longer alone in the market, no longer the only right choice, no major new features. But it's smaller, lighter and faster than ever before, even with a bigger catalog of apps – and much better ones – than the competition. If you want a large tablet, this is the one you'll be most happy with.
In other words, something is seriously up in the air.
The iPad Air is a huge improvement over the 4th generation iPad, or the iPad 2 pictured in the gallery. Its form factor is the best currently available among 10″ tablets and provides a great combination of portability and usability that we would look for at the end of the spectrum of multimedia devices.
CNET:
Functionally, the iPad Air is almost identical to last year's model, it just offers better performance and better video chatting. But when it comes to design and aesthetics, it's a completely different world. It's the best large-screen consumer tablet on the market.
iPad Air completely changes the way you look at everything. It really modernized the big iPad. While I think there will still be a lot of users who will prefer the small size of the iPad mini with a retina display, I think there are still plenty who will appreciate all the benefits that go hand in hand with a large display. Text is easier to read, especially on full versions of websites. Photos and videos are bigger and therefore more exciting. In the past, there were a lot of trade-offs you had to make when choosing an iPad or iPad mini. With this generation, Apple got away with it.
and now the main question :-D I have never followed the events surrounding the ipad :-) but when apple releases them to the world on 1.11. when will they be with us :-) Such as istyle, qstore, alza or CZC. That is, at least how it was in previous years with iPads and the official date on the Apple Store :-)
According to information from both stores, they will be available on Friday.
But I assume that there will be all memory variants too :-) I would like the black 32gb one :-D but mainly I would like to pre-order it on their website, because I would have to drive from Teplice to get it and that is quite a distance :-)
Are you going to join the queue? Or how do you see it?
I don't think it will be that hot... I will go to Prague only if I have it booked there :-) in no other case will I go there :-) If I didn't have this option, I would order it from the apple store :-)
So you're not going to wait if it's not some kind of trick? Do you need a lot of warmth in the back? Or a long-charged powerhouse?
Absolutely :-) I don't think it makes sense because the ipad has the same processor as the iphone 5S, so it won't overheat if you have a body several times bigger than the iphone :-D there's no risk of a crazy long charge either because it has a smaller battery than the ipad 4 :-) and overall I just like it :-) My ipad mini already has a girlfriend, so now something for the "big" guys :-D
I also thought that an upgrade from iPad 2 would be good :-). Because it is de facto the same as the iPad mini ;-).
Can I find somewhere that the flashlight is smaller?
I found it somewhere :-) but I won't tell you where :-) it's about 1000mah smaller :-) but thanks to the A7 the ipad lasts longer than the ipad 4 :-D at least from the test :-) and I was thinking about the minimum but there will be lack and above all I want a bigger display :-) the ipad mini is really for a lot of traveling :-D
the only thing that pisses me off is that it's like a communist... you can't reserve it in any store :-D you can just go and stand in line for bananas :-D
Reservations can be made at ElectroWorld and they also have plenty of them there, they didn't sell out in half an hour like in Apple stores. I made a reservation on Friday at 14 p.m. and picked it up on Saturday. Wifi version.
Have you considered an iPad mini with Retina? Especially if you already had one mini.
Queues? Why? I don't think it will be so hot. I just come at 9 and leave at 9:10. Either with the new black Air or pissed off without :-)
There will only be basic wifi 16 and 32gb versions in gray and silver + a single 32gb mobile internet model in grey.
and also if you could state where :-D
iWant and Qstore :)
So for 32 GB with a SIM card in iwant or qstor?
he will have both.
So the safest thing is to buy it directly from the Apple Store. Others will certainly not have other models.
For Premium Resellers such as iStyle, Qstore, etc., the fact that you can physically touch it there and maybe take it away right away speaks volumes.
Alza is quite disgusting to me, plus they usually have it more expensive than the Apple Store on the web.
Great! :)
And you don't know how it will be with Alza and CZC?
still don't even sell iPhone 5s on Alza, then only accept pre-orders..
I have an iPhone 5S on order at alga and they should be available within the next week...don't even have them at the applestore ;)
I just ordered it too. Next week?? Gosh, can't wait!
I recommend buying in CZC. You just have to wonder where anyone pays taxes
I don't have this information, can you mention a little more about it..? Thanks
The newly opened iBee on Národní should have a few pieces on Friday... Otherwise, if it's Air or Mini, I already know - Air. But now, my advice: 32GB + LTE or 64GB Wifi only. Now I have a 3G iPad 3rd and although I only used it a few times, it was very useful at that moment... kua, I really don't know :D
You can't believe these reviews ;-). They are written in peace (I mean the translations). If someone was too loud, they probably wouldn't send him :-D.
I'm mainly curious about the charging time, so the size of the battery and if it won't get too hot ;-).
Does anyone have any thoughts on the iPad Mini with Retina versus the iPad Air? The performance should be the same if it has the same cause, right?
Air will be clocked at a higher frequency - in my opinion
So hopefully we'll find out soon ;-).