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iPad Air Review

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 01 November 2013 0 komentar

Apple introduced two new iPads this month at a special event in San Francisco on October 22, and the first of those to go on sale is the iPad Air, which is in stores and on virtual shelves this Friday, November 1. After a week with Apple’s newest 9.7-inch device, it’s clear there’s a new champion of the large tablet market, and one that breathes new life into Apple’s original slab-style game-changer.

Basics

2048 x 1536 (Retina) 9.7-inch display
16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB
A7 processor
802.11n dual-channel Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
10 hours general use Wi-Fi surfing, 9 hours on cellular
Starts at $499

Pros

Thin and light design is a huge improvement over 4th-gen iPad
No battery life sacrifices required

Cons

Hard sell over the iPad mini with Retina, which also now has A7 power

Design

The design is the star of Apple’s iPad Air refresh this time around; the 9.7-inch Apple tablet has had the same form factor for two generations now, and that one actually made the design worse – it got heavier, and it got thicker. This new iPad mini-inspired look sheds both size and weight, giving the iPad Air a 43 percent smaller bezel, a 20 percent thinner case, and making it 28 percent lighter, at just one pound.

It’s a difference that you feel, all numbers and measurements aside. The iPad Air is much, much more comfortable to hold than the iPad 4th-gen it replaces; This isn’t strictly a one-handed device, but it’s as close as you can get with a tablet that still has a gorgeous, expansive 9.7-inch Retina Display.

The aesthetics of the iPad Air are also improved: That smaller bezel better showcases the screen, for instance, and the mirror finish Apple logo is a nice touch. The silver version I reviewed is very nice, though I personally prefer the space gray finish in this device based on comparing them both at the Apple event itself. Plus, the speaker design is improved both in terms of looks and sound quality.

Display

The screen on the iPad Air is a Retina display, which means that when viewed from a standard distance, the human eye shouldn’t be able to make out individual pixels. The actual pixel density of that 2048 x 1536 9.7-inch display is 264 PPI, which is much less dense than the iPad mini, but you’d have a hard time telling the difference when you’re actually using the thing. In short, both are excellent, and lead the market in terms of quality when you factor in color rendering, viewing angle and other visual attributes.

Having used primarily an iPad mini for the past year, there’s no question that coming back to the 9.7-inch Retina display was an uplifting experience. It felt a little like getting your prescription adjusted and realizing you’ve been seeing everything poorly for a long time. Video shines on the iPad Air, as does image-rich content like comic books and photos.

There’s no question that coming back to the 9.7-inch Retina display was an uplifting experience.

Not to mention that all that extra space makes for a much more comfortable browsing experience, and offers a lot of benefits when it comes to content creation. It doesn’t feel arduous doing work on the iPad; you can start to remember why people touted the iPad as a PC-killer when it debuted, and it edges ever closer to being able to truly replace notebooks for the majority of everyday users.

Apple’s iPad Air has some new powers compared to its predecessor – chief among those is the new A7 64-bit processor, and the M7 motion coprocessor that goes along with that. This means that like its cousin the iPhone 5s, it’s a “forward thinking” device, but it also brings benefits right away, thanks in large part to Apple’s own redesigned first-party apps.Features

When using the new iLife and iWork suites, performance is considerably bolstered by the 64-bit retrofits they got with their recent redesigns – everything feels faster and more responsive. 64-bit processing doesn’t mean that every app necessarily gets a 2x boost in performance over those made for the traditional 32-bit architecture used in previous iPads, but it does mean that software made for those processors will feel even more instantly responsive than it has in the past.

Also new to the iPad Air are dual microphones which help out with sound quality on audio and video FaceTime calls, and the motion coprocessor means that you’ll start to see more activity tracking built into the iPad, too. It may seem an odd feature for a tablet, but the iPad is designed to go with you where you go, and it might be even more representative of your general activity level since it won’t be triggered so easily as a phone worn close to the body.

Cameras also get an update with the iPad Air, which is to be expected. The real gem here is the FaceTime HD camera that offers 1080p video calling instead of 720p on the last model, which does make a difference. It also has a new 5-megapixel shooter that gets bigger pixels on the sensor, which does lead to better photos. I feel no less ridiculous taking photos with a 9.7-inch tablet than I did before, however, but if that’s the type of photography you go in for, you’ll be better served with this device.

Performance & Battery

The iPad Air may be a lightweight device physically, but it’s a heavyweight when it comes to performance. Benchmarks tell only one side of the story, and the one that most users will be more interested in is around how the tablet work under normal, everyday usage conditions. Put simply, Apple’s latest iPad soars.

Put simply, Apple’s latest iPad soars.

Other performance tweaks from the A7 include support for OpenGL ES version 3.0 graphics, which makes it possible to build effects into games that were previously only available on the desktop. This iPad is a really strong gaming advice I learned based on my testing with Batman: Arkham Origins on the tablet, and you really get the sense that developers are just cracking the surface when it comes to what they can do with these new graphics capabilities.

The version I tested also supports LTE, and this iPad supports the most frequencies of that network technology than ever before. I was able to test out those claims right away, thanks to taking the device from San Francisco out to London. The iPad Air worked perfectly on both AT&T and on EE LTE, making this a world traveler’s best friend and constant companion. Thanks to FaceTime Audio and third-party apps like Skype, this could easily operate as someone’s international travel phone, letting people escape costly roaming charges.

The iPad Air’s battery offers up to 10 hours of continuous usage, according to Apple’s official published specs, and I’ve found that it easily matches up with the high bar set for power by previous generations. On average, I found myself getting around 10 hours of actual use on Wi-Fi, and slightly less on LTE networks. Standby time seems to have improved considerably with this generation, also, as the iPad Air seemed to positively sip battery life while unplugged but with the screen asleep.

Part of the iPad’s magic is the fact that you can put it down and forget about it for days, then pick it up and still have nearly a full charge. That’s still the case, and it’s made all the more impressive based on the physical changes Apple has made to the case design, which theoretically should leave less room inside for actual batteries.

In our review of the fourth-gen iPad, we mentioned that its performance went past Ludicrous speed and directly to Plaid. Cute as the comparison was, it contained one major flaw: Plaid was the fastest speed (that we know of) on the Spaceballs scale, and the Air is even faster, so we're now in a mysterious Beyond Plaid (flannel?) territory. Apple claims that the dual-core A7 chip used here delivers twice the performance and rendering speed and also cuts file-opening times by half. As we said, this is the same processor that powers the iPhone 5s, but the Air offers both cores at a slightly higher clock speed (1.4GHz, instead of the iPhone's 1.3GHz) and comes with 1GB of RAM.

We go into great detail on Apple's A7 chip in our review of the iPhone 5s, but to recap: the A7 promises to be faster, more power efficient and -- let's not forget -- compatible with 64-bit applications. That last feature has been big news for developers: Including the two new iPads, there are now three iOS devices with 64-bit support. A handful of games and apps have already made the switch, but wider proliferation of this new chip should give devs even greater incentive to update their programs, and as soon as possible.

Aside from a couple animation glitches (freeze frames) related to iOS 7, the Air runs smoothly. Apps load a little quicker than they did before, but again, the areas where you'll notice the biggest improvement involve more-intense, processor-heavy activities. Games like Infinity Blade III and apps such as Vjay, iMovie and GarageBand don't skip a beat -- or a frame, in some cases. Interestingly enough, we also noticed that the backside doesn't heat up as much as on previous models, even after we taxed the processor for an extended period of time. In terms of cold, hard numbers, we've listed a few benchmark scores in the table below.

	iPad Air	iPhone 5s	iPad 4
SunSpider (ms)	388	418	865
GXFBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Offscreen (fps)	25	23	19
Basemark X (onscreen / offscreen)	13.3 / 15.5	27.7 / 16.7	N/A
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited	14,631	13,729	10,613
Geekbench 3.0 (multi-thread)	2,682	2,562	1,763
Linpack	950	795	N/A
SunSpider: lower scores are better. Linpack scores taken on average. iPhones tested on iOS 7.0.

With the exception of one outlier, the Air provided some good metrics to go along with our positive real-world experiences. In particular, we've never seen better SunSpider results on a mobile device. Every other benchmark, meanwhile, seems to indicate what we'd already suspected: This is a solid improvement over anything Apple has pushed out yet.

When it comes to battery life, Apple's sweet spot appears to be 10 hours; this is the exact amount of runtime the company has claimed for each of the full-sized iPads. Indeed, nothing's changed this time around -- except, of course, the size of the battery itself, which has shrunk to 32WHr (down from 42 in the fourth-gen iPad). So did this have an adverse effect on battery life? No. Surprisingly, it did even better. In our standard video rundown test, the Air stayed alive for a whopping 13 hours and 45 minutes. Under heavy use, the device kept us going for a little more than a day and a half (admittedly with a few hours of sleep during this time).

In terms of specific use cases, when we plugged directions into Maps, connected our unit to a Bluetooth device and took a 120-minute rush-hour joyride through Bay Area traffic, the battery sunk about 40 percent in that two-hour time period. However, much of that was affected by the screen staying on for most of the punishing experience, so we would've fared better by shutting off the display. We also used the Air as a mobile hotspot for six hours and still had over 70 percent battery remaining. All in all, we were almost always satisfied with the Air's power consumption.

Tablet	Battery Life
iPad Air (LTE)	13:45
Microsoft Surface 2	14:22
Apple iPad mini	12:43 (WiFi)
Apple iPad (late 2012)	11:08 (WiFi)
Apple iPad 2	10:26
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime	10:17
Apple iPad (2012)	9:52 (HSPA) / 9:37 (LTE)
Nexus 7 (2012)	9:49
Microsoft Surface RT	9:36
Apple iPad	9:33
ASUS Transformer Prime Infinity TF700	9:25
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1	8:56
Sony Xperia Tablet Z	8:40
Hisense Sero 7 Pro	8:28
Toshiba Excite Write	8:13
Lenovo IdeaTab S2110	8:07
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	7:38
HP Slate 7	7:36
Nexus 10	7:26
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0	7:18
Nexus 7 (2013)	7:15
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook	7:01
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1	6:55
HP SlateBook x2	6:34 (tablet only) / 8:49 (keyboard dock)

While we're on the subject of navigation, the GPS signal remained strong throughout our entire drive, and it kept up with us for the full experience. The speakers also sounded about the same as the last iPad, although on the Air they're placed at the very bottom of the device, which means it's possible to muffle the sound with your hands. Even so, this likely won't be an issue for many people; most of the time we actually had to go out of our way to block the speakers to the point where the sound got lower.

As we mentioned earlier, the Air is unlocked and has LTE bands that cover most operators around the world. Our unit came with a Verizon SIM and service, and in our neck of the woods we were able to achieve downlink speeds of 23.3 Mbps and uplink speeds of 11 Mbps with three bars (balls?) of reception.

Camera

Tablet cameras are always good in a pinch, but they're often not given the royal treatment when compared to the latest and greatest smartphones. Apple opted not to make any major changes to its rear iSight camera, so the 5-megapixel BSI f/2.4 shooter with AF found in the previous two iPads is still there. We've been generally pleased with the overall image quality, and indeed, our thoughts haven't changed here. While attempting to fire off a series of shots, we found that we could take 12 photos in a five-second period. Also, as before, you won't get a flash of any kind and nighttime shots are rather fuzzy and noisy. We'd also like to see more modes on the Air's camera, such as panorama, burst mode and slow motion; as it stands, settings are virtually non-existent unless you count HDR, square mode and post-image editing.

iPad Air sample images

The FaceTime camera is still 1.2 megapixels, with a BSI sensor that can shoot 720p video. The spec fiends inside us would've loved to see Apple bump this up to a higher resolution, especially given the importance placed upon the company's signature video chat service, but the amount of data consumption alone is probably enough for the company to shy away from making the jump here.

As for videos, we're once again looking at the same specs as on previous iPads: the FaceTime HD module on the front of the device can record 720p footage, while the rear camera is capable of 1080p. Thanks to the dual-mic system, my voice came in loud and clear when taking videos with the front-facing camera, and the overall quality was mostly smooth, but occasionally shaky. Flipping the iPad around, the rear camera was able to take above-average videos with no problem handling fluid motion, but the mics weren't able to filter out the traffic or even a slight breeze.

Cases

Apple has two cases for the iPad Air, and they follow in the footsteps of those that came before. There’s the Smart Cover, and the Smart Case, both of which feature a magnetic closure with a multi-panelled front. The Case, as its name implies, also has a back component, but the Cover just protects the screen.

The Smart Case comes in leather variants, while the Cover is only offered in polycarbonate materials now, though both are offered in multiple color schemes. In almost every single instance where an Apple device is involved, I’m a fan of not using a case at all; the bumps and scratches that inevitably ensue help give the great design character, in my opinion. But if you’re going to get a case, I’d opt for the Smart Cover, as it adds virtually no bulk and protects the part of the iPad that is most important to protect – the glass.

The Smart Case makes the iPad Air feel quite a bit more bulky, in my opinion, and is fairly difficult to get off once its on. On the other hand, it’s definitely more protective than the Smart Case, and it’s still relatively svelte. Apple has also nailed its leather case designs in terms of putting out a product that feels very high quality, and that’s what they’ve done here, too.

Bottom Line

The iPad Air is a huge improvement over the iPad 4th-gen, or the iPad 2, pictured in the gallery. Its form factor is the best currently available for a 10-inch tablet, and it provides a great blend of portability and usability that leans towards the media device end of the spectrum.

When Apple introduced the iPad mini, I feel in love and felt that I’d never be swayed back to the other side. The iPad Air makes the argument anew that there’s still room for big tablets in people’s lives, and it might just help usher in an era of computing where households own more than one kind of iPad, and PCs are harder and harder to find.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS AND THE COMPETITION

The iPad Air has a wide variety of configuration options, which means there are plenty of possible permutations to choose from. Your color choices include "space gray" and silver, and you can select WiFi-only or WiFi + Cellular (that combines GSM/EDGE, UMTS/DC-HSPA+, EVDO and 14-band LTE). Storage options range from 16GB to 128GB, with each tier separated by a $100 price gap. The WiFi-only models start at $499 and max out at $799, while the cellular version starts at $629 and goes up to $929. Of course, this is the retail cost; models sold through individual carriers and other stores may sell for slightly different prices. Fortunately, US users won't be restricted to a small handful of carriers, since a large number of regional networks have pledged support for the iPad Air in addition to the big four national operators.

It's also worth noting that these aren't your only iOS options: The 16GB iPad 2 is still available for $399 (WiFi-only) and $529 (WiFi + Cellular). The original 16GB iPad mini can be yours for $299 (WiFi) and $429 (WiFi + Cellular), and later in November, the iPad mini with Retina display will be available starting at $399 (WiFi) and $529 (WiFi + Cellular). There, too, the price will go up by $100 for every storage option.

On the Android side, you have a plethora of options in the 10-inch category, so we'll offer up just a few notable examples. The Nexus 10 makes for a solid iPad alternative, as it offers a higher pixel count for less money ($399 with 16GB of storage). Unfortunately, however, it doesn't have any cellular connectivity, which might be a bummer for some. Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 editionfeatures the same resolution as the Nexus 10 and starts at $550. Toshiba also has the Excite Pro, which offers that same resolution for $500 (and that's with 32GB of storage). Finally, the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 begins at $499.

Lastly, let's briefly examine the Windows competition. The Surface 2 starts at $449 with 32GB of built-in storage and battery life that blows away even the iPad Air. Additionally, Nokia recently announced its Lumia 2520 Windows RT flagship with LTE and Full HD display. That will be available for $499 sometime before the end of the year.

WRAP-UP

If you thought you had a tough choice last year, the iPad Air faces even tougher competition in 2013 -- and it's likely to get yet more fierce over the coming year. Though the Air will continue to be a solid option thanks to its size, weight, performance and battery life, the Nexus 10 offers a great experience at a lower price (although its lack of cellular connectivity is a potential con). And if you want the absolute best components, you might be just as happy with other flagship tablets.Surprise: the iPad Air is the best iPad we've reviewed. In addition, though, it's also the most comfortable 10-inch tablet we've ever tested. Not every manufacturer can produce a thin and light device without also making it feel cheap or flimsy, but Apple nailed it. Factor in a sizable boost in performance and battery life, and the Air is even more compelling. The last two iPads served up relatively few improvements, but the Air provides people with more of a reason to upgrade or even buy a tablet for the first time.

Additionally, the Air may lose a few potential buyers to the iPad mini with Retina display, which will essentially be the Air in a smaller size. The features, specs and performance should be roughly the same, so if you've been holding out for a more petite iOS tablet with a great screen, you'll want to hang tight a bit longer. We don't envy the decision you have to make, but it's hard to go wrong with the Air if you're in need of as much screen space as possible.

Via Techcrunch & Engadget

TERIMA KASIH ATAS KUNJUNGAN SAUDARA

Judul: iPad Air Review
Ditulis oleh Unknown
Rating Blog 5 dari 5

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