The original iPad Air is a fantastic tablet. Perfect for the home, upon its launch in 2013 it shared the stage with the more portable iPad mini with Retina display, offering equal power in different sized packages.

Screen improvements (anti-glare limits reflections); even more power; thinner design; TouchID integrated; best iPad camera yet

No curved glass from the iPhone 6 range; camera could be better still; lock/rotation switch absent; original iPad Air remains strong

Whathifi to Apple: Send us your products we will give them 5 stars... Very limited video/audio format support ...Everything still itunes dependant...LTE model doesn't support voice calls

Summary: The iPad Air 2's performance enhancements will appeal to those who run graphically demanding apps, although Apple's quest for thinness comes at the cost of reduced battery capacity. Last year's iPad Air remains a good option, but the Air 2 will be the power user's choice.

Thin; light and elegant design; Excellent build quality; Excellent performance; Low-reflectivity Retina HD display; Touch ID support; Improved iSight and FaceTime HD cameras

Lower-capacity battery than the 2013 iPad Air; No MicroSD storage expansion

Besides the Touch ID fingerprint feature, the screen assembly and uprated processor are the headline features. New cameras are a bonus too. Overall the Apple iPad Air 2 is the best tablet you can buy, even though it's been discontinued by Apple.

Update: Later this year the iPad Air 2 will see an update to the latest iOS 11 software. Apple has now stopped selling the iPad Air 2 and has instead replaced it with a new product, simply entitled the iPad. We've compared the new Apple slate with the iPad Air 2 here .

Thinner, lighter and a lot more powerful, the iPad Air 2 is the best 'big' tablet

Had to replace an older model, found this and instantly liked its smaller size and much lighter weight, makes reading the emails easier than a phone but no as bulky as the laptop, really enjoy this model the iPad air 2 and connection for WiFi and holds a sim when the WiFi is no available on the...

Excellent. Bought the GPRS version. So good for things like Tomtom, iSailor, Navionics and OS maps. Use it all the time for tasks associated with ship passage planning, compass errors, ETAs, tide times, movies, films, music, you name it does it. Bought the 128GB version as I store a lot of data.

When the iPad first arrived on the scene it took the world by storm and basically brought the idea of tablets into the mainstream. Now, Apple is facing tough competition from other manufacturers and has seen their sales flatten out in the past couple years.

Reduced weight and thickness; Incredibly fast performance; Beautiful display with vibrant colors and deep blacks

Potential issues with bending; 16GB base model not worth the price; No real improvement in battery life

Apple started with the size of the iPad. The Air 2 retains its 9.7in, 2048x1536 resolution screen, although it rests in a body that is 6mm thin. Turns out Apple has shaved the Air 2 down by 19 per cent.

Great performance; Thin at 6mm; Improved cameras; Finger scanner

Expensive; Apple locks its ecosystem