Air or mini? Which tablet should you choose? Which iPad is better? Ipad air 2 which one to choose.

The latest Cupertino tablet, immediately labeled as “just an iPad”, has already received both positive and negative reviews. The new product lost to both Pro versions, while trying to compensate for the lack of characteristics with a budget price tag. But we were interested in another point: the iPad simply automatically eliminated the iPad Air 2 from sale, which some might consider a more advanced device. Therefore, it’s worth checking whether to grieve for the deceased “the thinnest tablet in the world” or wait for the device to finally appear in the Russian Apple Online Store.

Screen

The displays on the latest iPad and the iPad Air 2 differ in several ways. The second “air” version, as you know, had an anti-reflective coating, which was not provided with the new product. This was not present on the iPad Air and older models, so you can compare the sensations if you own a substantial fleet of antiques. Without an anti-reflective coating, there is free space between the direct screen and the glass, but Apple says that the iPad screen is still brighter and more sensitive than the iPad Air 2. Cupertino residents even tacitly equate the “state employee” with the Pro version of 9.7″ , however, the specifications reflect otherwise. Moreover, another fact leaves its mark - the lack of lamination is another step back. Only repairmen will benefit here, since displays without lamination and anti-glare coating are easier to repair.

Specifications

The hardware in the new iPad is certainly ahead of the iPad Air 2, which has 2014 hardware on board. The new product is equipped with an A9 (M9) processor with a frequency of 1.85 GHz (like the iPhone SE), and the retired tablet sported an A8X stone with a frequency of 1.5 GHz. By random access memory The tie remains - both have 2 GB installed. And there is no point in talking about more here, because the iPad is undoubtedly ahead of its supposed predecessor.

Battery

Determining the winner in the iPad and iPad Air 2 battery competitions is problematic. The former is supposed to run on a 32.4Wh battery, while the latter is powered by a 27.62Wh battery. On the one hand, a brighter display and a more powerful processor may offset the increased battery size, but on the other hand, there is a dual-core A9 instead of a triple-core A8X, so there are some adjustments to be made here too.

The following conclusion suggests itself - tune in to the good old 10 hours of battery life.

Design

Users were upset that the iPad had simply become heavier and thicker than the iPad Air 2. The new product was about 20% thicker - an unexpected surprise from a more modern product. Fortunately, we managed to avoid a fatal mistake - accessories from the iPad Air 2 are suitable for the latest tablet.

Oh yes, models with LTE have an old antenna installed, which is noticeable as a black rectangle. Get ready for sidelong glances on the subway :)

Price

The store price of the iPad is simply its main trump card. To purchase an iPad Air 2, you needed at least , and the new product in the simplest configuration with 32 GB costs 24,990 rubles. All iPad prices are as follows:

• iPad 32 GB with Wi-Fi – RUB 24,990.
• iPad 128 GB with Wi-Fi – RUB 31,990.
• iPad 32 GB with Wi-Fi + Cellular – RUB 31,990.
• iPad 128 GB with Wi-Fi + Cellular – RUB 41,990.

A more than average tablet for that kind of money - why not!

Conclusion

Objectively good tablet, and from Apple itself and for less than 30,000 rubles - a very attractive offer. Those who previously looked askance at Android solutions in the nearest price segment will now have to think hard. Cook and the team definitely need to capture a certain market share.

“But what about the revolution?” - you ask. Obviously deaf. Like the iPhone SE, the iPad is simply a step back. There might have been no complaints against any other company, but everyone was accustomed to expecting a miracle from Apple, and now, alas, the miracle did not happen.

Finally, we will give consumer advice: if you need basic tablet functions, such as web surfing, toys, watching videos, instant messengers and reading books, then the iPad is worth paying attention to; advanced users who are accustomed to the Apple Pencil, Smart Connector and anti-glare screen, who want to squeeze all the juice out of the hardware of the device, including 4K, and truly own the thinnest tablet in the world, it is better to hope for Pro updates, or stick to the current versions at 9.7 ″ or 12.9″.

Please advise, I want to buy myself a tablet and I can’t decide which is better: Apple Ipad 2 16Gb or Apple Ipad mini 16Gb, I’ll give a comparison:
Apple iPad 2 16Gb:
Tablet PC Apple iPad 2– a model that evokes exceptionally vivid impressions. A handsome man with a 10-inch screen and incredibly powerful hardware in a light and thin body. The tablet is equipped with two cameras: the rear one is capable of shooting video in HD quality (720p), while the front one has a resolution of 640x480 pixels.

• Thin and light body. The tablet is made of rough aluminum and has an oleophobic coating on the screen protection. It is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, but at the same time with the same screen diagonal - 10 inches.

• Productivity and energy efficiency. Excellent performance is provided by the dual-core Apple A5 processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. Games launch almost instantly, and switching between applications is even faster. The economical processor and iOS system do not waste energy - iPad 2 can work up to 10 hours without recharging!

• Wide functionality. Apple iPad 2 is a device for literally all occasions. This is a library or film library for passengers bored in a traffic jam in the back seat of a car. This is a portal to global network for those who communicate on social media for a long time. This is a quality player for music lovers. This is a pass to a fascinating world computer games. It is a tool for work, etc.

  Apple iPad mini 16Gb:

  Apple iPad mini– a lot of possibilities in a compact package. Thanks to the case thickness of about 7.2 millimeters, you can carry it with you everywhere, it will fit in your pocket or handbag. At the same time, the device is equipped with a magnificent display, a powerful processor, high-quality cameras and a set of the most modern interfaces.

  • Excellent image. The 7.9-inch display on the Apple iPad mini is every bit as good as the larger iPad. On it you can comfortably view websites, photos, video content with excellent detail and work with hundreds of thousands of applications created for iPad. The display of the model is LED-backlit and provides an excellent picture.
  • Productive processor. iPad mini is powered by the powerful, energy-efficient A5 processor, making everything from switching between apps to editing photos and watching movies smooth and precise.
  • Durable battery. The device can work for up to ten hours without recharging the battery, limiting its owner to virtually nothing.
  • Wide range of shooting possibilities. The 5-megapixel iSight camera allows you to not only capture the moment in all its glory, but also extend it with HD video recording at 1080p resolution. Now even a very funny incident will be recorded - automatic stabilization will prevent the picture from shaking. Forward to new adventures - the whole range of functions is at your fingertips: one-touch focusing, built-in face detection and even a light sensor.
  • Lots of applications. The owner of an Apple iPad mini has more than 275,000 programs at his disposal in the company store - and there are more of them every day. Specially designed realistic applications will completely change the way you think about everyday activities. Now you can completely forget about your organizer or monthly planner, your favorite recipe book or heavy textbooks - all on one device.
  • Functional Lightning connector. The Apple iPad mini is equipped with a smaller, more durable and functional Lightning connector, which replaces the 30-pin connector. It is double-sided, so there will be no problems connecting.
  Please advise, I'm waiting for answers!!!

iPad mini- an amazing device. When in 2012, rumors began to creep across the Internet that a smaller version of the familiar and beloved ten-inch iPad was being prepared in the depths of Apple headquarters, fans of the Cupertino technology rudely expressed their opinion, arguing the negative with fragmentation, imitation of the Android camp, impracticality, meaninglessness, etc. more... Few of them could have thought that literally a year later people would begin to abandon the classic iPad in favor of the iPad mini.

Having a good aspect ratio, the iPad is better suited for web surfing than widescreen tablets. The smaller version of the iPad turned out to be even more convenient for everyday use, all thanks to its excellent weight and size characteristics. The first iPad mini had only two significant drawbacks - its low resolution and the relatively weak A5 processor at the time of release. iPad mini 2 was deprived of these disadvantages and now this, in my subjective opinion, best tablet On the market.

We still have the same practical device, the design of which has not changed. The only visual difference between the iPad Mini Retina and the first-generation iPad Mini is color. The silver-white model remained unchanged, but the black one became gray; the color was officially named Space Gray, which in Russian localization sounds like “milky gray.”

What's inside the second generation iPad Mini? Let's talk about everything in order...

What's new in iPad mini 2 (Retina)

1. First and foremost is the Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536.
This is exactly the same screen resolution as a ten-inch iPad, as a result of which the number of dots per inch of the iPad mini is exactly the same as the iPhone - 326 pieces! For a tablet, this is an impressive figure, the image is simply stunning. The display has become brighter, more contrasty, and the colors are even more saturated; the viewing angles are beyond praise, however, as always. It’s endlessly pleasant to look at both the elements of the iOS interface and programs, as well as games; there’s no need to talk about fonts at all. The text is a pleasure to read.

326 pixels per inch. Pixels cannot be seen with the eye

2. Powerful filling.
The new iPad mini is significantly more powerful than the first model. The outdated dual-core A5 processor (the same one in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S) was replaced by a 64-bit A7 with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Judging by synthetic tests, the performance increase is over 400%, and graphics processing speed has increased to 800%! The iPad mini Retina is almost the same in power as the iPad Air, the only difference in the filling is the lowered frequency of the A7 processor by 100 MHz. The tablet also has an M7 coprocessor, its task is to process data about the position of the device in space - gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS.

3. Other changes:

• the new iPad mini 2 received a quad-core g6430 graphics processor;
• the amount of RAM was increased from 512 Mb DDR2 to 1024 Mb DDR3;
• The tablet has become 0.3 millimeters thicker;
• the weight of the Wi-Fi version is increased from 308 g to 331 g, the weight of the Cellular version is increased from 312 g to 341 g;
• The battery capacity has been increased.

Specifications iPad Mini 2 (Retina)

Display	IPS 7.9 inches (4:3), oleophobic coating Resolution 2048 × 1536 px (326 ppi)
CPU	Apple A7 64-bit (2 cores, 28nm) + M7 Frequency 1.3 GHz
GPU	PowerVR G6430 (4-core)
Memory	1 GB DRAM DDR3
Storage capacity	16/32/64/128 Gb
Camera	iSight 5 Mpx Full HD video recording 1080p/30fps, stabilization
Front-camera	1.2 Mpx HD video recording 720p/30fps
Sensors, modules	GPS, Glonass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer Micro-SIM, Digital Compass, 1 Microphone, Hotspot, Wireless Printing, AirPlay Mirroring	Battery (hours of operation)
		Music Video Internet 3G* Internet LTE* Internet Wi-Fi Expectation	up to 140 to 10 until 9 until 9 to 10 up to 744	6471 mAh
iOS version Sales	iOS 7.0 11/12/2013 - Present	Dimensions (mm)
		Length Width Thickness	200 134.7 7.5	331 (341*) grams
Communication standards	GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSUPA/HSDPA (3G)*, CDMA, LTE (4G)*, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0
* - Cellular model

But what about the iPad Mini 2 in use?

In the case of the iPad Mini, the situation is diametrically opposite. The tablet is lightweight and extremely practical for portable use; it fits into the inner pocket of most jackets, jackets and down jackets, even in a case; taking it with you on the road is a pleasure; you can hold it with one hand for a long time, and playing is a special pleasure. Considering the powerful hardware, I can recommend choosing the iPad Mini Retina for games rather than the iPad Air; it’s really very convenient to play, primarily due to its small dimensions.

As for battery life, everything is great here, however, as always with Apple. iPad Mini Retina can survive heavy use with modern games (for example) for up to 7 hours. Of course, this indicator depends on the individual brightness settings and the included modules, but I managed to squeeze out 10 hours in everyday use, which was mainly web surfing, light games, and email. There are screenshots online that someone managed to torture their iPad Mini 2 for 13 hours without recharging at low brightness. Agree, impressive numbers.

So, does the iPad Mini Retina have any downsides?

1. Apple has equipped its latest line of iOS devices with one gigabyte of RAM. Not only has there been more memory, it has also become faster, but by today's standards this is still not that much. In the Android camp, 2Gb of RAM is already the norm; if the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air were equipped with the same amount, not many would want to change the gadget in a year, but at the end of the year Apple will happily announce that the next iPad will now have twice the RAM more and many of us will run to the store with a smile on our faces. Although, on the other hand, the existing filling is enough for modern games for another couple of years and this is more than enough not to think about the hardware inside the device.

2. Retina display. “How can this be, because this is its most important advantage!” - you say. Absolutely true, but this display is a little worse than the one on the iPad Air. The iPad Mini 2 display is inferior in contrast, brightness and color quality, but gains in picture clarity and this is visible to the naked eye. However, this small drawback should not be a reason to doubt the purchase; in practice, you will notice the difference only when directly comparing the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air, but you can notice the higher clarity and pixel density of the Mini 2 without comparison.

3. The iPad Mini Retina is equipped with a 10-watt power supply, when a 12-watt power supply has been on sale for almost a year and a half. Thanks to this, charging the tablet takes a really long time.

4. When playing “heavy” toys for a long time, the Mini 2 case heats up significantly; the large iPad Air is less susceptible to this problem, thanks to the large aluminum case. Essentially, this is a radiator for a tablet, so it turns out that a smaller radiator takes less heat from the processor. Moreover, at some point games may begin to slow down, this happens because the processor frequency, upon reaching a certain temperature, begins to decrease in order to prevent overheating.

5. Perhaps the last drawback, which can be called temporary. It concerns modern games, on the iPad Mini Retina you can see some stuttering in them, I won’t say that they are very noticeable, but they are there. This is due to the fact that not all developers have yet updated their applications for 64-bit processor architecture, hence the corresponding problems.

It is also worth noting that some users have encountered the problem of a low-quality display, which allegedly distorts the color rendition the next second after a long display of a black image. I haven’t encountered this problem, but even if you are “unlucky”, you shouldn’t get hung up on it, it’s a trifle.

The first generation iPad Mini is still on sale, is it worth saving or is it better to buy an iPad Mini Retina?

But what to choose, iPad Mini 2 (Retina) or iPad Air?

• price – each iPad Air model is exactly 4000 more expensive than a similar iPad Mini 2;
• size – iPad Air is significantly larger than Mini 2;
• weight – iPad Air is approximately 140 grams heavier than iPad Mini 2.

iPad performance (single-core performance)

iPad performance (multi-core performance)
Source http://www.primatelabs.com/geekbench/

It’s simple, if you want a mobile, convenient, productive tablet, then don’t hesitate to take the iPad Mini 2 (Retina), if you want a larger screen, then the iPad Air. For everyday use, the iPad Mini 2 will be more convenient, more enjoyable to play, and higher image clarity. The iPad Air loses a little in portability and image clarity, but the screen is brighter and has better color reproduction, but still, it is more suitable for home use. The Mini is easier to carry, even if the Air were the same weight as the iPad Mini, it would still be large and bulky, while the Mini is compact and as practical as possible.

If we go to Wikipedia and look up the meaning of the word “Convenience”, we will see a detailed definition:

“Convenience is suitability for use, the presence of conditions, opportunities for easy, pleasant, unburdensome use of something or the satisfaction of any needs or requirements.”

And for the iPad Mini 2 these words are more applicable than for the iPad Air. Air is the same, only bigger, hence its disadvantages, if this is a plus for you, take the iPad Air.

Let's compare the main characteristics of these devices to award one of them a virtual palm.

Reputation

No one will argue that Apple, although considered too popular, has a very serious reputation. As for Motorola, this company is associated more with telephone devices than with computers. Of course, it cannot be said that the first iPad model was flawless, however, Apple was the first to decide to introduce tablet computers to a wide market. And this attempt was crowned with success. Moreover, the second iPad model turned out to be much more advanced than its predecessor. Apple has been working on its reputation in the PC niche for many years, so Motorola is unlikely to be able to compete with them on this indicator. We can safely say that the Apple iPad 2 wins on this point.

Price.

In the case of the iPad 2, Apple broke the trend according to which the cost of its products exceeded the price of other computers in the same family. At the same time, the iPad 2, whose price on the Western market starts at $500, turned out to be cheaper than its competitor Motorola Xoom, the average cost of which varies between $750-800. Such a wrong move on Motorola's part will play into Apple's hands. It is worth noting that iPad could well set such a price for its products, since it would be supported by the reputation, experience and good image of the company. For Motorola, the release of such a tablet is the first step into unknown territory, and starting it this way did not make much sense.

Specifications

Platform. Talking about which operating system is better: the iPad 2 or the Motorola Xoom is as inappropriate as trying to compare Windows and Linux - both the first and the second will have fans. So, iPad 2 is based on the iOS 4.3 platform, Mototrola is based on the Android 3.0 platform. To be honest, both operating systems are not very friendly towards applications and programs, however, if you try to choose the lesser of two “evils”, then the iPad 2 will win, since most of the programs are optimized specifically for this device. For example, just recently the iPad released a client that allows you to work with Windows programs. As for the ease of use of the OS and visual characteristics, this is a matter of taste.

CPU. Both tablet computers are based on a dual-core processor, so we will not be able to determine the winner based on this characteristic.

Camcorder. Both tablets have two cameras. However, if the characteristics of the front cameras of the iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom are on the same level, then the rear video camera of the iPad 2 is inferior to the similar Motorola camera. It is worth noting that the first iPad model did not have cameras at all, so this modernization can be considered a serious step for Apple.

Battery. Apple's battery capacity is 25 Wh, Motorola's is slightly inferior to its competitor: its battery capacity is 24.5 Wh.

Resolution and brightness In terms of this parameter, the Motorola Xoom wins, with a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Apple's tablet computer is slightly inferior to Motorola's tablet, as its resolution is 1024 X 768 pixels, although it is almost impossible to see the difference with the naked eye. Speaking about the characteristics of tablet computers, it is worth mentioning the brightness of the screen. By this indicator, Apple is superior to its competitor.

Performance Apple's iPad 2 tablet turned out to be higher than this figure for its main competitor. The speed of loading pages, the speed of operations, and much more turned out to be higher. As shown by tests carried out independent experts, the performance of the iPad is almost twice that of the Motorola tablet computer. Therefore, if you value this indicator, your choice should fall on an Apple tablet.

Wireless devices Both tablets have the same: WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. At the same time, do not forget about computer performance: it will also affect the operation of wireless communications.

Purchase terms

At the moment, you will not be able to buy either the first or the second tablet computer in a Russian store. There are two main options: order the device via the Internet (however, this will cost you a lot of money), or wait until the new product hits the shelves of Russian stores. However, in this case, Apple fans living in small cities will be left out of the game, since the company's branded stores are located only in a few metropolitan areas of the country. By the way, ordering an Apple tablet online can also turn out to be a failure, since the incredible popularity of this device has contributed to the formation of a shortage of it: warehouses are empty, delivery is delayed. Well, since it is easier to buy a Motorola tablet computer, we can conclude that the iPad is still more popular than its competitors.

Design

As you know, “taste and color...”, however, sometimes design affects not only appearance device, but also on its ease of use, as was the case with the Motorola Xoom. Visually, this tablet computer is practically no different from the iPad 2, however, those who have already become its happy owners noted a drawback - a narrow display. The Apple tablet has a classic design and raises virtually no complaints in this regard. The thickness of the Motorola tablet also let us down, which is almost twice the thickness of the iPad 2: for the Motorola Xoom it is 13 mm, for the Apple tablet computer it is only 8.8 mm. As for the weight of the product, the iPad won in this indicator too, weighing only 600 g; for Motorola this figure is 730 g.

Results

Both tablet computers showed fairly good results in all respects. It's also worth noting high quality devices from Motorola, a company that is new to the tablet computer segment. However, we won’t lie and say what we expected from Motorola in the competition with Apple. Motorola Xoom was the company's debut, and we can safely give it a solid "B+". But the well-deserved victory was won by the unshakable Apple company, whose experience, reputation and product quality remain consistently high. An important factor that affected the victory of the iPad 2 was its price, which remained at the same level as the first iPad. Motorola took a bold, but not justified step towards increasing the cost of its products.

So, the classic won a well-deserved victory in the competition between two tablet computers, i.e. iPad Apple. However, Motorola Xoom also has enough fans who will appreciate the advantages of the new product, which has not yet become boring to everyone - alternative options also have the right to exist.

This is perhaps the most popular question asked on our forum since its opening. This question is also often heard in one form or another in the comments on the site. Everyone’s situation is different: someone can’t decide between iPad 2 and iPad 3, someone is trying to find out whether they need 3G, and someone is deciding whether it’s a lot or a little - 16 gigabytes...

Let's try to answer all these questions from our position, that is, from the position of people who use iPad constantly and in whose communication environment there are many acquaintances and friends with the most different models iPad.

Choose between iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Air, iPad Air 2

Now, in one way or another, you can find all the iPads on official sale, except for its first model.

iPad 1

It's not worth buying, even used. The only exception is if you are really limited in finances and they offer it to you very cheaply (well, or for killing a tablet with small children). Causes:

• iPad 1 is no longer supported by Apple from a software point of view. And this is a very bad sign. The maximum possible operating system is iOS 5.1.1. You won't be able to update to iOS 6, much less.
• iPad 1 noticeably slows down. It's not noticeable when the first iPad is the only tablet you've ever used. But if you use for a long time even the iPad 2, then after that there remains a persistent feeling of slowness of the first one. The reason, it seems to me, is in the small RAM.
• A huge number of applications for one reason or another will not run on the first generation iPad. It's a shame that this could be some brilliant quest like Machinarium.

iPad 2

I think the second iPad will be recognized as a very successful product from Apple. It is clear that the second iPad will not have the same longevity as the PS2, but the fact that it has been on official (!) sale for more than 3 years speaks volumes.

Now I advise buying an iPad 2 only in extreme cases. For example, as a gift to relatives as a first tablet or to children, or if you are very limited in finances. Let's look at the pros and cons.

Pros:

• The shortcomings of the first version of iPad were taken into account and corrected. There is a camera (poor quality), more memory, better processor, the tablet is a little lighter. Consequently, almost nothing slows down. Well, the camera allows you to communicate via Skype. The camera is terrible for photos, but taking photos on an iPad is already not a good idea.
• Low price (even in Russia). Usually the deciding factor.
• Many applications work as they should. There is no factor: “Somehow the program doesn’t look right! Where is the Retina support? Yes, the screen is worse than in the next generations of iPad, but...
• Supports the latest operating system, and is rumored to support .

Vs iPad 2:

• Pixels are visible on the screen. And if this was somehow not noticed before the release of the iPad 3, then once you see the Retina screen, you understand that the iPad 2 has an outdated screen. And you can’t get this thought out of your head.
• You need to understand that this model is no longer destined to live on the market: if you buy it secondhand, you are unlikely to sell it later. They have already released iPad Mini and iPad 4, iPad Mini 2 and . Guess which model Apple programmers will stop supporting first? It is clear that the iPad 2 is not a competitor to the modern iPad Air.
• Many iPad 2 users constantly complain in our comments that their tablet is slow on the latest iOS 7 and iOS 8. This is also an unpleasant bell.

iPad 3 (aka The New iPad or New iPad)

A model that died quickly (less than a year) on official sale... Apple discontinued the iPad 3 from production. New model(if you see it on sale somewhere) I don’t recommend buying it. After the release of the iPad 4, the iPad 3 suddenly turned into a stale commodity... Sellers need to unload it, and buyers now have a better tablet to choose from. These are the realities of the market.

However, if you are offered a used model much cheaper, then why not? The model is relatively modern: the Retina screen is gorgeous, the camera is not bad, the processor is powerful. It's just warming up. But as many months of practice have shown, heating is not fatal, and in winter it’s generally great to warm your hands.

The iPad 3 is also supported by the fact that its characteristics are very similar to the iPad 4 and Apple's iOS support for the iPad 3 will not be discontinued anytime soon.

iPad 4 (aka iPad with Retina Display)

The penultimate tablet model at the moment with a 9.7-inch screen. Naturally, I would recommend buying the iPad 4 only against the background of the models described above. The competition when choosing can only come from both versions of the iPad Mini (due to size) and the iPad Air, but more about them below. I recommend buying it with only one caveat - you will get it much cheaper than the iPad Air. For example, we had offers on the forum when an iPad 4 LTE 64 gigabytes was sold for 14 thousand rubles.

I consider the iPad 4 to be a “work on the mistakes” of the iPad 3. Please note that the iPad 4 has a completely new thin charger – Lightning. iPad 4 as of mid-2015 has unconditional support for iOS 8 and allows you to play all modern games that the App Store is so rich in. I don't remember any complaints about the performance of the iPad 4.

It is quite obvious that when buying, first of all, if finances allow, you need to look towards the latest models. At the beginning of 2014 it was the iPad Air, and in 2015 the iPad Air 2 is relevant. They are so good that I don’t even have anything to say in defense of the iPad 4.

The iPad Air line has more powerful hardware. There was even an opinion that there are currently no applications that can use the capabilities of the iPad Air to their fullest. There is hope that such applications will appear. But most importantly, the iPad Air has become a third lighter than its predecessor with the same screen size.

iPad Air 2 is the most powerful tablet in Apple's lineup in mid-2015. If you are choosing a tablet for several years to come, then iPad Air 2 at the moment the best option from those offered on the market.

It will easily run the most powerful games from the App Store. I'm not talking about programs. And in the future, over the next 3 years, it is unlikely that anything will appear that the iPad Air 2 cannot handle. Even a year after its release, it has a huge reserve of power!

Since the iPad Air 2 is the latest model, it is priced accordingly.

iPad Mini (first 7.9-inch tablet)

I didn’t take it because my heart felt that some kind would be released in 2013 iPad Mini with Retina Display, and the first version of the iPad Mini will turn out to be nothing more than a launch product (Apple is testing on us to see if the market needs such a product)... However, the tablet itself is successful. As successful as the iPad 2, but at the same time it is a Mini. speaks for him low price(300 dollars).

As it turned out, my prediction above was 100% correct and iPad Mini 2 and 3 are already being sold in full force on the market.

The first Minik can still be bought from retailers for around 10 thousand. In principle, this is a good inexpensive purchase for children as a first tablet. But don’t expect miracles from it - the filling, like the iPad 2, makes itself felt. There may be slowdowns in certain games and applications. And the overall system performance is not up to par.

iPad Mini with Retina Display (or iPad 2)

This is a fantastic tablet! Apple made a tablet in 2013 that... technical specifications not inferior to the then flagship iPad Air, but at the same time it has a smaller screen size and, accordingly, smaller dimensions.

If you wanted the best seven-inch tablet in the world, then I recommend taking this model. And it's not so much about the retina screen, but about the powerful filling.

But here Apple let us down. iPad Mini 3 differs from its predecessor only in Touch ID. That is, in terms of performance, the iPad Mini 3 is inferior to the iPad Air 2. Therefore, if there is a question of power, then the iPad Air 2 gives a head start to its younger brother. Whether such a gap will remain in the iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 4 – we’ll see.

If you choose between the iPad Mini 3 and iPad Mini 2, then this is a case where you should start with finances. The question is: are you willing to pay an extra $100 for Touch ID? This is exactly the difference in price between the models.

Choose between iPad Wi-Fi and iPad Celluar (3G, 4G, LTE)

I described in some detail the difference between iPad Wi-Fi and iPad 3G (hereinafter, for convenience and brevity, the model with a cellular module will be called iPad LTE) in a separate article. Here I will briefly write out only the important (critical) points for us when choosing, in order to draw a conclusion:

• Price – the model with Wi-Fi is simply cheaper.
• The presence of a cellular module in the LTE model, which means it has the ability to access the Internet using cellular networks (a SIM card is required).
• Availability of a GPS module in the iPad LTE model.

Any of these points could potentially have a decisive impact on your purchase. I’ll tell you for myself - I bought the iPad 2 3G model solely because of GPS, and subsequently I used it successfully many times and never regretted it. But a little later I bought an iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad model with GPS became irrelevant to me.

• If you plan to use your iPad at home 99 percent of the time, then what's the point of an iPad LTE model?
• If you like to surf in the subway on the way to work, then it is naturally logical to take a model with a cellular module.
• If you are an active traveler, then best GPS It’s hard to think of anything better than iPad...
• If you live in a remote village, where 3G is still a dirty word, and you don’t need GPS, then save money and buy an iPad Wi-Fi... Etc., etc.

Usually the choice here depends entirely on the situation. For example, we have one iPad with 3G and an iPhone, neither Olya nor I saw the point of buying a second iPad with a cellular module, so we took a regular model with Wi-Fi...

Choose between iPad with 16/32/64/128 gigabytes

And this is where people are usually overcome with the greatest torment. I have heard something like this question several times: “ Should I buy an iPad with Wi-Fi 64 GB or an iPad with 3G 16 GB? They cost about the same..." Friends, I won’t lie and beat around the bush: in such a situation I would choose an iPad with Wi-Fi 64 gigabytes. That is, I would give preference to the amount of memory. But I am me, and situations are different...

16 gigabytes

In my opinion iPad 3G 16 GB– the most relatively unsuccessful configuration that can be purchased. 16 gigabytes is all in words - you need to understand that in fact a little more than 13 gigabytes are available to the user. Immediately throw away 1 gigabyte for the GPS program (most people still need it) ... So it turns out that 12 gigabytes for all sorts of applications, and you will want applications - there is no doubt about it.

On average, a high-quality application in the App Store weighs more than 100 megabytes. But don’t try to divide the total gigabytes by this hundred - this is all arbitrary. If the iPad is going to be used in any way for games, then you need to take into account that games often “weigh” 500 megabytes or more. Wanted to play NFS (throw away 1.8 gigabytes) or fight in Carcassonne (goodbye 453 megabytes).

Do you think programs weigh little? No matter how it is... LangBook dictionary - 440 megabytes... Pages - 354 megabytes... iPhoto - 256 megabytes. And it just seems like I’ll install 5 games and a dozen of the most necessary programs and calm down. To most of my friends, 16 gigabytes seems catastrophically small and they are forced to periodically clean their applications. Moreover, if more than one person uses the device, and everyone has different tastes...

The situation got even worse with the release of the iPad with a Retina screen. Apps that support retina usually weigh much more than the version that did not support it before. At the same time, even owners of iPad 1, 2 and Mini suffer: applications weigh the same for everyone. It’s rare that a smart developer thinks of loading graphics for Retina screens separately.

32 gigabytes

In principle, a more or less optimal model...

There is twice as much space, which means you still have the opportunity to add the same amount as a bonus to the “essentials”. In practice, 32 gigabytes was enough for me personally for a long time and I didn’t complain.

I understand that there are simply not so many applications and games that I constantly need, although, for example, I don’t delete them on principle and collect board games on the iPad, and also store many children’s applications for my friends’ children. I have a lot of books in iBooks and it’s only 700 megabytes. Several albums of music “just in case.” And in general, for this very “just in case” I have a lot of programs that can be demolished without much damage. I prefer to watch movies on my laptop, but I always keep a couple on my iPad.

So it turns out that for me, 32 gigabytes is good... Basically, if you want to save money and don’t want to clutter your tablet with games that are long gone, or programs in case they “suddenly come in handy,” then 32 gigabytes is your choice.

64 gigabytes

Most iPad users will be overwhelmed by this volume.

For some of my friends, even 64 gigabytes is not enough... Usually these are people who like to store music on their tablet, take movies on the road, or simply those who do not dare to delete a gigabyte game just “because they haven’t completed a couple of levels” or “what if someone one of his friends will play.” If what is written above is about you, then 64 gigabytes is your choice.

What could be the disadvantages of the 64 gigabyte model?

1) Psychological moment. You will secretly think that there is a maximum model, which is not much more expensive but provides twice the amount of memory.

2) If you don’t have a laptop or computer or you use them very rarely, then 64 gigabytes may not be enough for you. Still, if the iPad is your main digital friend, then it’s worth taking 128 gigabytes.

128 gigabytes

After purchasing 128 gigabytes, you will forget for a long time what “no free space” means. We must still try to fill this space with something necessary. If finances allow, take 128 gigabytes.

128 gigabytes – choice

• fans of downloading games in batches from the App Store and then storing everything even after completing it
• those who like to put a bunch of movies and TV series on their iPad
• those who like to turn the iPad into a full-fledged replacement for a work computer

Disadvantages must be sought from the opposite. If you have an iPad just to read a book in your spare time, play Angry Birds or hang out on VKontakte, then there is no point in 128 gigabytes, as it will look like a waste of money.

Readers: What iPad do you have? Is he satisfied? What shortcomings in the context of this article do you see in it or, on the contrary, are you happy with your choice?