The world's thinnest 6.1mm iPad: first review after Apple's new iPad launch

Since August this year, various press conferences have been held non-stop at home and abroad. However, the most popular one is the Apple press conference. Just over a month after the last new product launch, another press conference has arrived as scheduled. Apple held a new product launch conference at 10 a.m. local time on October 16 (1 a.m. Beijing time on October 17) at the Town Hall of the Cupertino, California headquarters. The press conference officially released the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 tablets. The iPad Air 2 is only the world's thinnest at 6.1mm and is equipped with an A8X processor, while the iPad mini 3 has not changed much. Both support Touch ID fingerprint recognition.

From my personal perspective, after watching Apple's press conferences in recent years, including the iPhone and iPad, I feel that Apple has rarely brought us surprises. Due to Apple's special status, its attention is far greater than other brands, so that in recent years, a lot of product information and spy photos will be leaked before the press conference begins. Although these have satisfied our curiosity to a certain extent, the impact on the mystery of the Apple press conference can be said to be greatly reduced.

The world's thinnest 6.1mm iPad: first review after Apple's new iPad launch

I don't know how many Apple fans stayed up late to watch the live broadcast like me. Compared with the previous press conference full of unknowns, now we are more likely to seek certain results through the press conference with uncertain answers. And throughout the press conference, many aspects did confirm the previous rumors. In the mobile product end with homogeneous appearance, even Apple may have encountered a bottleneck, and more changes and upgrades come from the product's internal rather than the product's appearance.

iPad Air 2 has the world's thinnest screen at 6.1mm

I wonder how many netizens, like me, watched this press conference with the following questions? In fact, these were all rumors before the press conference, but they were verified one by one after the press conference:

1. Equipped with Touch ID fingerprint recognition function;

2. It does not use a higher resolution screen;

3. The "Gold" color scheme arrived as expected;

4. The appearance has changed, and the thickness is thinner, the world's thinnest at 6.1mm; the mute button was removed from iPad Air 2, but it is retained in mini 3;

5. The processor has been fully upgraded. iPad Air 2 is equipped with A8X;

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro did not appear.

Now the conference has solved the above mysteries one by one. Although the surprises are not enough, it still does not prevent us from savoring these two latest flagship products. Next, the author will use the information collected at this conference to introduce the detailed information of the two new iPad products in concise words.

Small survey: What is the most worthwhile new product at Apple’s press conference?

Voting area: What is the most worthwhile new product to buy at the Apple conference? (Click on the preview to see the effect)

Beautiful and slim: iPad Air 2 upgrade comparison

If I were to say what impressed me the most during the last Apple conference, it would be the naming of the iPad Air, which may be one of the biggest highlights of the entire conference. As the name suggests, the origin of the name Air is closely related to Apple's MacBook Air notebook. In this generation, the name has not changed much but is continued with numbers. More content is completely implied in the hardware upgrade inside the product. The new A8X processor has made outstanding improvements in both processing performance and graphics performance.

■Industrial design is thinner and lighter

Apple's products named "Air" have the same direction, that is, to develop in the direction of lightweight. The two parameters of lightweight - thickness and weight have become changes that must be reflected in the appearance of each generation of products. When it comes to iPad Air 2, Apple has reduced the thickness to an unprecedented 6.1mm, and the weight is 437g (WLAN version), once again breaking its own record in lightweight.

The new iPad Air 2 is only 6.1mm thin (Photo from theverge)

iPad Air 2 is only as big as the diameter of a pencil (Image from theverge)

The iPad Air 2 has removed the mute button (Image from Apple)

In terms of appearance design, the iPad Air 2 continues the style of the iPad Air with a solid color front panel and a metal back cover. At this stage, Apple has obviously run out of ideas for appearance. The overall appearance of the body has not changed much, and it still looks very simple and generous. In terms of color, we can learn from Apple's official website that the iPad Air 2 has finally added a "tycoon gold" color scheme. I wonder if this color scheme can promote the sales of the new generation of products. Although the button interface was not mentioned at the press conference, we can also see from the official website that the previous "mute button" has been cancelled.

■Major improvement of hardware configuration kernel

Although there are not many changes in the appearance design except thickness and weight, the hardware upgrade of iPad Air 2 is sincere and has a small breakthrough. The processor directly skipped the A8 of iPhone 6 and upgraded to A8X. On the one hand, it has better performance guarantee, and on the other hand, it may also match the rigid requirements of A8X processor. Although there is no mention of 2GB memory, we believe that we will get the answer after disassembly.

iPad Air 2 uses the latest Apple A8X processor (Image from theverge)

The new A8X processor architecture is newer than the A8 on iPhone 6 and is a revolutionary chip. It is a second-generation 64-bit chip with 3 billion transistors. The CPU is 40% faster than the previous generation, and the GPU is 2.5 times faster. Compared with the first-generation iPad, the image processing speed is 180 times faster, and compared with the single CPU processing, it is 20% faster. Compared with the A7, the A8X brings 4 times the rendering speed.

iPad Air vs iPad Air 2 Hardware Parameters Comparison

■Other changes: Gold color + Touch arrived as expected

The iPad Air 2, which was highly anticipated in the previous generation, also debuted at the conference. Cook was holding a product in this color during the entire introduction process. I believe that the launch of this color also greatly satisfied the needs and psychology of many wealthy people. It seems that the colors of Apple's iPhone and iPad products will be mainly silver, gold and space gray in the future.

Cook appeared holding a gold iPad Air 2 (Photo from theverge)

Finally, Touch ID is also available on iPad Air 2. The working principle of Touch ID is exactly the same as that on iPhone, and of course it also perfectly supports Apple Pay. In terms of camera, the pixel of the rear camera of iPad Air 2 has been increased to 8 million, with improved face detection, support for Selfie continuous shooting, single-point HDR photos, and HDR video recording, as well as support for continuous shooting and Slo-mo mode.

Although the screen has not changed much, the A8X has strong performance

Although the iPad still leads in screen resolution and pixel density, the gap between it and other flagship tablets in the Android camp is getting smaller and smaller. In terms of hardware configuration, it seems that everyone is more concerned about the A8X that has never been seen. Previously, it was revealed that the iPad Air 2 will be equipped with A8X.

The more disappointing news is that according to Japanese media reports, the iPad mini 3 will not have 2GB of RAM and Touch ID fingerprint recognition, and its processor will be A7 dual-core. Compared with the iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 3 seems to lack sincerity this time, and it is believed that it will only make some changes in appearance, craftsmanship and color.

You can't have your cake and eat it too. It's really hard to get the best performance and display of the two iPads. The consumer decision is simpler. If you are interested in buying a new iPad, it's time to make a decision.

■ Should I buy iPad mini 3 or iPad Air 2? iPad Air 2 is better

Apple didn't give Apple fans a hard time this time. The price of the two models is quite different. Compared with the previous generation, the iPad mini 3 has not changed much. Its only selling point is its portability. The iPad Air 2 has been upgraded to a greater extent and is recommended. If you are looking for high performance and high resolution, the iPad Air 2 is undoubtedly recommended. This can also meet the requirements of many game fans for smooth playing of large games.

Everyone expects iPad mini 3 to have hardware improvements. Most of the old users of iPad mini are mainly interested in portability, and hardware performance is not the most important thing. However, the system has been upgraded to iOS 8.1. In order to adapt to higher versions in the future, there are still a large number of potential users who will buy iPad mini 3. However, the principle is that Apple should not use simple color gimmicks to attract Apple fans. A small hardware upgrade will make more people buy it.

■ Hardware performance comparison. Is A8X worth buying?

Hardware performance seems to be an important factor for many iPad replacement users. The iPad Air 2 did not disappoint everyone this time. The A8X is the strongest in Apple's product line, more powerful than the A8 in the iPhone 6. The fast and smooth performance of the iPad Air 2 starts with the A8X chip. With a 64-bit desktop-class architecture and an astonishing 3 billion transistors, the speed and graphics processing capabilities of the A8X chip are comparable to those of many personal computers.

Compared with the A7 chip in the previous generation iPad Air, the new A8X chip has a 40% faster CPU performance. Whether launching an app or playing a game, everything runs smoother and more responsive. All your actions, whether swiping, pinching, zooming, scrolling, or rotating, are as fast and smooth as flowing water.

The A8X processor chip has reached the highest hardware specifications

The performance of the A8X processor is one thing, and the other is the memory. Although the iPad Air 2 memory was not mentioned at the press conference, it is speculated that it should be upgraded to 2GB, which is much more generous than the 1GB iPhone 6 Plus. However, even with 1GB memory, Apple is still confident in the memory management of iOS 8. On the other hand, Apple needs to balance performance and battery life. Competitors like Samsung have made sacrifices in terms of battery life despite having 3 or 4GB of memory.

How much do iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 cost in different regions?

The products are there, and it’s time to “sell your kidney to get the money”. Judging from the prices published on the official Apple website in four regions, if the tax rate does not change much, it is still the most appropriate to buy in Hong Kong.

iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2 price comparison

The domestically available iPad Air 2 is available in three colors: silver, gold, and space gray. It only provides WiFi version, priced at RMB 3,588 for 16GB, RMB 4,288 for 64GB, and RMB 4,988 for 128GB. The price of iPad mini 3 is the same as the previous generation. The US version is available in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB. The WiFi version starts at US$399 (approximately RMB 2,443), and the WiFi+4G version is priced at US$529 (approximately RMB 3,239), US$629 (approximately RMB 3,851), and US$729 (approximately RMB 4,464).

After converting to RMB, the Hong Kong version is the cheapest, followed by the US version, followed by the Japanese version and the Chinese version. However, due to the consumption tax issue involving the Japanese and US versions, they are not as good as the Hong Kong version. The best recommendation is to buy the Hong Kong version, mainly because it supports 4G network, followed by the Chinese version and the Japanese version, and finally the US version. It is more reliable to have friends go abroad to buy on your behalf. If you don’t have friends, you don’t consider Japan and the United States because of the high cost of going abroad. Hong Kong and the Chinese version are easier and can be bought quickly.

Basically the same: iPad mini 3 is almost unchanged

Some people have doubted Apple's launch of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, and once thought that it would threaten the small-sized iPad mini. However, when Apple introduced the iPad mini 3 at the press conference with only a few simple words, I also had doubts about it. Apple did not even make any changes to the processor of the iPad mini. I wonder if Apple will completely abandon this product line in order to increase the shipment of the iPhone 6 Plus.

■Industrial design is just an addition of color

I believe that all the netizens who watched the entire conference noticed that Cook's introduction to the iPad mini was only a few minutes long. Through the big screen display at the conference, we can only see the addition of the "rich gold" color and the addition of the Touch ID function. These changes do not show Apple's sincerity for this series.

iPad mini 3 adds "rich gold" color to the original color (picture from Apple)

The iPad mini 3 has not changed except for the color scheme (Image from Apple)

What is most unexpected is that the usual processor upgrade has not been implemented on this generation of iPad mini 3, which is only equipped with the same A7 processor as iPad mini 2. Other contents including screen resolution, body thickness and size have not changed at all, but the design of mute button has been retained.

■The hardware configuration is exactly the same as the previous generation

The author saw in the comment column on the right side of the live broadcast page that many netizens think that iPad mini 3 is more worth looking forward to than iPad Air 2, because they think that this size of product is more portable and the price is more appropriate. However, this time Apple's approach has disappointed its fans, and the increase in color and the re-shipment of Touch ID may not make up for it too much.

Cook only briefly introduced the iPad mini 3 at the press conference (Photo from theverge)

iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 3 Parameters Comparison

Compared with the internal hardware upgrade of iPad Air 2, the changes of iPad mini 3 are lacking or even have no highlights. It will also be equipped with iOS 8.1 operating system, a major system update, and the combination of Touch ID and Apple Pay are probably the few highlights of this product, and all of these are also available on iPad Air 2.

■Price advantage can still attract some users

Compared with iPad Air 2, although iPad mini 3 does not have many hardware upgrades, its price is still its obvious advantage. However, I think that if fingerprints and color matching are not taken into consideration, it is obviously more worthwhile to buy the previous generation product.

The launch price remains the same as the previous generation (picture from Apple)

It is worth noting that Apple seems to be trying to keep the same style as iPhone 6. The iPad mini 3 still cancels the 32GB version and jumps directly from 16GB to 64GB. In my opinion, tablets are different from mobile phones, and small capacity should be cancelled. If 32GB is retained and 16GB is cancelled, the price of 32GB is adjusted to 16GB, which will definitely be more popular.

iPad mini 3 may face an embarrassing situation

First, let's analyze the situation and real needs of users who intend to buy iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Unlike iPhone 6, which has a calling function, the mainstream population basically uses mobile phones most frequently, which makes iPad a non-essential product. Many users do not use iPads very often. In order to prevent iPads from gathering dust and being idle, many people give them to children and the elderly. This phenomenon is very common.

iPad Air 2 is even more stunning and comes in three colors (Image from Apple)

Most users are like me, who are looking to upgrade their iPads. They still have iPad 2 and iPad mini, so they are more likely to buy new ones, especially when they see the thinner 6.1mm body of iPad Air 2. The main reason for changing is performance. After the old iPad is forced to upgrade to iOS 8, both A5 and A6 processors will encounter operating pressure to varying degrees, and the lag of iPad 2 will be more obvious.

Now let's talk about the most important screen. The focus is no longer on whether it is equipped with "super retina". When making a choice, the screen size is more considered. The increase in the screen size of Apple iPhone 6 Plus will also cause a lot of interference to consumers who buy iPad. Many users prefer to use a mobile terminal device to realize various types of applications. The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and the 7.9-inch iPad mini Retina are closer in size, which leads to users who like large screens and want to take into account portability. More inclined to buy iPhone 6 Plus. If you are calculating, it is better to buy an iPhone Plus than an iPhone plus an iPad mini. It is more convenient to hold and has a high utilization rate.

From the above analysis, it is obvious that the iPad mini 3 is the one that is most affected. The segmentation of Apple's own product line has led to the compression of living space, the smaller the differentiation between products, and the unclear positioning of each product in the product line. Some industry insiders even pessimistically believe that the iPad mini 3 will follow the old path of the previous iPod Touch, and all this seems to be the result of the iPhone product line. The iPad mini may really have no way out.

Big screen not seen: What is the significance of 12.9-inch products

In recent years, it seems that every Apple conference and every product have appeared in the early stage of many rumors. Of course, there are also some "aborted" products. For example, this time, the once rumored large-size 12.9-inch iPad Pro did not appear at the conference. There may be many reasons, but is a large-size iPad really necessary? It is worth thinking about it after the conference.

■ iPad Pro renderings leaked

Earlier reports mentioned that Apple was originally scheduled to mass produce iPad Pro in December, but because the demand for iPhone 6 Plus exceeded their expectations, in order to allow Foxconn to rush to complete the orders, the mass production plan of Pro was postponed. However, judging from the press conference, there is still no sign of launching a large-size iPad this year.

Apple is unlikely to launch a 12.9-inch iPad Pro this year (Image from Mac Rumors)

■Is the 12.9-inch design meant to compete with Surface?

Considering that the Surface Pro 3 has a larger screen size than the iPad Air 2, it would be interesting if Apple released a 12.9-inch iPad to compete with it. But thinking back, the two completely different operating platforms do not seem to be able to confront each other just by changing the screen size. Even the users who choose them will target different application scenarios.

7.9-inch, 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch screen size comparison

■3K resolution has not appeared

Considering the upgrade aspects of Apple products: thickness, processor, screen resolution, etc., there was news that Apple would make a greater improvement in the resolution of this generation of iPad products, and the resolution would even be as high as 3072×2304. However, what we saw at the press conference was the iMac product with a 5K-level screen resolution of 5210x2880, not the iPad Pro.

iMac with Retina (Image from theverge)

Whether ultra-high resolution is necessary on a device that is only about 10 inches, this idea may vary from person to person. In this era of hardware piling up, perhaps looking beautiful means comfortable to use. However, Apple has not blindly adopted this approach, which may be the reason why its memory has been able to maintain 1GB for a long time.

Page 7: Where is it more suitable? Which version is recommended?

Which version is more suitable?

■Where to buy? Hong Kong is still the first choice

In terms of channels, the main purchasing places are China, Hong Kong, the United States and Japan.

Although the domestic version is slightly more expensive, it is the first choice for those who don’t have the energy to save time. You don’t need to ask someone to help you and wait for time, and you can also save the cost of going to Hong Kong. It is also a good choice to choose the domestic version, and the warranty policy is more relaxed.

The Hong Kong version is the most recommended as always, whether it is for its price advantage or for having a 4G version that the national version does not have, so the Hong Kong version's 4G version will be popular.

The American version is of course the cheapest, but its reference value is greatly reduced after considering consumption tax and shipping costs. If a friend goes there and brings it back, that’s another matter.

The Japanese version is also recommended. The price excluding tax is relatively low. You need to add 8% shopping tax when purchasing, but it is still cost-effective. In addition, the recent decline in the yen exchange rate is conducive to users who buy it while traveling .

■Which version is the most worth buying? Recommended 64GB 4G version

From the press conference, we can see that iPad Air 2 has 3 versions and 2 standards (WiFi/4G). Except for the Chinese version, it only has WiFi, which may be due to the 4G license issue, so we need to wait for a while. In addition, the main difference is still the storage capacity. iPad Air 2 has 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB versions, and the 32GB version has been cancelled. So which of these versions is more suitable for everyone? The 64GB 4G version is more recommended.

iPad Air 2 64GB is more cost-effective but there is no 4G version in China (Image from Apple)

If you have enough budget, of course you can choose the 4G version with larger capacity, but it will be more expensive. The 16GB version is cheaper but not recommended, but it has the largest shipment volume and satisfies users who pursue cost-effectiveness. However, iPad Air 2 is mainly used for games and audio and video, and 16GB is too small. The editor even thinks that Apple should cancel the 16GB version.

From this point of view, I personally think that if you have enough budget, I strongly recommend you to choose the 64GB 4G version. iPad Air 2 is different from iPhone 6. After all, the big screen is mainly used for watching movies. Downloading high-definition movies, taking pictures and videos requires more storage space. Of course, if you don’t have a big budget, you can choose 16GB. It is also more economical to change the space frequently. After all, it costs 700 yuan more to jump from 16GB to 64GB.

Available for online ordering from October 17, 2014 (Image courtesy of Apple)

Buying Guide: Less Difficult Than iPhone 6

Apple Online Store: Starting from October 17, you can make a reservation on the official Apple Store China website (store.apple.com). After the reservation is successful, Apple Online Store will start shipping the iPad to your door in one week.

In conclusion:

The entire press conference was very tense. Although the layout of the press conference site was very delicate and there was not much pomp and circumstance, the release of the new iPad Air 2 still made my colleagues who watched the live broadcast with me see the strength of Apple. Every time Apple verifies the authenticity of rumors, it always brings some surprises and breakthroughs, which are big or small and show its sincerity.

iPad product line update on Apple's official website (Image from Apple)

In the next generation of iPad products, we can have more expectations besides curiosity about the larger iPad. For example, when will Apple launch a true same-screen multi-tasking operation mode? Samsung can be said to have set an example, but Apple has not made any move yet. The bottleneck of hardware is obviously the current situation of the entire industry. The improvement of system applications may be the magic weapon to take the top spot in the industry in the future. The official website of the WLAN version of the national bank price has been updated, but the specific price of WLAN + Cellular has not been announced yet.

The iPad Air 2 is the most popular product at this conference. The processor chip has been upgraded to the more powerful A8X, which is more powerful than the A8 used in the iPhone 6. The thickness of the body has been further reduced to 6.1mm, and the camera function has been greatly improved. The iPad mini 3 is just a foil, and the upgrade can be said to be negligible. If you still pursue portability, you can consider the iPad mini 3, but the price-performance ratio is not high. The iPad Air 2 has a comprehensive hardware upgrade and is more playable. Although the price is a bit expensive, it is still highly recommended. If you are not in a hurry, you can wait for the 4G version of the Chinese version, which will be even more perfect.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.