The iPad Air 2, the obvious follow up to the iPad Air, is set to be an iterative update to the current best tableton the market right now.
There's very little on the new iPad to tell you about right now, but that doesn't mean we can't take an educated guess at when the new model is coming and with the help of the rumours which are starting to circulate we can also explore what it may offer.
The launch of iOS 7.1 contained some mentions of two newer models of iPads, according to9to5Mac, noting iPad 4.3 and 4.6 models, which could reference the new iPad Air and iPad Mini 3.
Design
Apple seems to have run out of ideas slightly with the new model, at least on the outside. The design of the new iPad Air is slimmer - 18% thinner at 6.1mm - and polishes things up a little bit in other areas.Its smooth back, light weight and excellent balance are all a touch better than the previous model, and although it's going to be chucked in a case by everyone who panics over their precious new toy, the thinner dimensions are perceptible.
Battery life
The battery of the iPad Air 2 is quoted as 10 hours, which isn't a jump on the original iPad Air. Unlike phones, the battery life isn't really a primary concern on a tablet, so this is less of an issue for prospective buyers. I've used an iPad Air as much as I wished for video during an 11 hour flight and not come close to running it down, so the while the improvements here are welcome, we're already into a world where tablets are more than acceptable.The new A8X chipset is obviously the big improvement here - this leads to not only better battery life again (the previous time being the big jump on offer with the A8, meaning the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus both managed to last a day in the pocket before requiring a power socket) but also improved 2.5x graphical performance.
The camera on the iPad Air 2 - something I still wish wasn't there, as it would discourage users from putting up massive screens in front of my face at sporting events or gigs - is improved again, mirroring the iPhone 6 with its 8MP sensor.
Early verdict
The iPad Air 2 is the very definition of iterative. Like the jump from the iPad 3 to the iPad 4 (also known as the move from the "new iPad" to the "new iPad") nothing much has really changed here beyond it becoming thinner and gaining Touch ID.