Is the iPad Air 2 still worth it?
Hello, everyone! This is my very first post on MacForums and to post this was one of the reasons why I signed up. Recently, I have noticed that my iPad 2, all the way back from 2011, running 7.0.2 (I don't want to upgrade to 8.3 because it seems to slow with every update), has been struggling with frame rates in Asphalt8 and has been having trouble keeping up with my daily tasks. So I've been thinking to upgrade for several months now, but I am hesitant as the iPad Air 2 is almost eight months old. Thus, I decided to post this for advice on purchasing it.
Mainly, I will be purchasing a new iPad for the performance upgrades it will bring to the table. I will primarily be using the processing power for school work (productivity/word processing), digital artwork, watching movies, and, frequently, playing games. I don't play many graphics-intense games on my current iPad, but if I purchase a new one I will be looking to play some of the latest and greatest titles like Vain & Glory.
The Air 2 looks to be a great tablet, but I have many thoughts against buying it as well. First and foremost, it is quite old. Its successor is due in four months. The iPad that will be released in October 2015 will come with iOS 9 (which I view as a massive upgrade in terms of productivity) out of the box and will hopefully feature the A9X chip. Second, I am not sure if the Air 2 is that much of an upgrade over my current iPad 2. I mean, it has almost four times the RAM and four times as many pixels, but is it a worthy upgrade? Is the 2048 x 1536 Retina display that much better? Next, software updates. iOS 9 is about to come out, and if I wait four months I can get an iPad that is much faster and also features a better OS out of the box. I have found that over the years, with software updates, my iPad has gotten MUCH slower than it was when I first purchased it back in the good ol' days. Will the Air 2 as well? Every device is going to get slower over time, but will it last me long enough for me to enjoy it? And will Apple support software for it for long? Lastly, but definitely not leastly, there are many alternatives. I have been looking at Android rivals like the Nexus 9 and the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet. I know that iOS is more tablet-optimized and that jumping platforms can be a hassle, but I think it might be fun to explore a new software for once. Being the tech-savvy I am, I relish new platforms and gadgets. And I love the idea of home-screen widgets and the "back" button and not having to have all of my apps on the screen. Then again, the OS definitely isn't as stable as iOS and not as many apps take advantage of that bigger screen. I have also been looking into laptops as an alternative, primarily 2-in-1s/convertibles and ultrabooks as I really appreciate the portability. A laptop is so much more productive than a tablet, yet a tablet is definitely more fun and more portable. I already have a few computers at home that I use for school work and such (being a teenager), but to have a new, more powerful laptop would be quite nice.
To the verdict. I am in the middle of an intersection of fences. I can buy the iPad Air 2. I can wait until October. I can go with an Android alternative. I can purchase a laptop instead. They all seem to be decent options, but I know there is only one best decision. Recommendations and/or advice, please? I would prefer responses from people who either own an iPad Air 2, are tech-savvies or have been a long-time Apple customer.
Hello, everyone! This is my very first post on MacForums and to post this was one of the reasons why I signed up. Recently, I have noticed that my iPad 2, all the way back from 2011, running 7.0.2 (I don't want to upgrade to 8.3 because it seems to slow with every update), has been struggling with frame rates in Asphalt8 and has been having trouble keeping up with my daily tasks. So I've been thinking to upgrade for several months now, but I am hesitant as the iPad Air 2 is almost eight months old. Thus, I decided to post this for advice on purchasing it.
Mainly, I will be purchasing a new iPad for the performance upgrades it will bring to the table. I will primarily be using the processing power for school work (productivity/word processing), digital artwork, watching movies, and, frequently, playing games. I don't play many graphics-intense games on my current iPad, but if I purchase a new one I will be looking to play some of the latest and greatest titles like Vain & Glory.
The Air 2 looks to be a great tablet, but I have many thoughts against buying it as well. First and foremost, it is quite old. Its successor is due in four months. The iPad that will be released in October 2015 will come with iOS 9 (which I view as a massive upgrade in terms of productivity) out of the box and will hopefully feature the A9X chip. Second, I am not sure if the Air 2 is that much of an upgrade over my current iPad 2. I mean, it has almost four times the RAM and four times as many pixels, but is it a worthy upgrade? Is the 2048 x 1536 Retina display that much better? Next, software updates. iOS 9 is about to come out, and if I wait four months I can get an iPad that is much faster and also features a better OS out of the box. I have found that over the years, with software updates, my iPad has gotten MUCH slower than it was when I first purchased it back in the good ol' days. Will the Air 2 as well? Every device is going to get slower over time, but will it last me long enough for me to enjoy it? And will Apple support software for it for long? Lastly, but definitely not leastly, there are many alternatives. I have been looking at Android rivals like the Nexus 9 and the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet. I know that iOS is more tablet-optimized and that jumping platforms can be a hassle, but I think it might be fun to explore a new software for once. Being the tech-savvy I am, I relish new platforms and gadgets. And I love the idea of home-screen widgets and the "back" button and not having to have all of my apps on the screen. Then again, the OS definitely isn't as stable as iOS and not as many apps take advantage of that bigger screen. I have also been looking into laptops as an alternative, primarily 2-in-1s/convertibles and ultrabooks as I really appreciate the portability. A laptop is so much more productive than a tablet, yet a tablet is definitely more fun and more portable. I already have a few computers at home that I use for school work and such (being a teenager), but to have a new, more powerful laptop would be quite nice.
To the verdict. I am in the middle of an intersection of fences. I can buy the iPad Air 2. I can wait until October. I can go with an Android alternative. I can purchase a laptop instead. They all seem to be decent options, but I know there is only one best decision. Recommendations and/or advice, please? I would prefer responses from people who either own an iPad Air 2, are tech-savvies or have been a long-time Apple customer.