The Apple iPad Air 2 Review
by Joshua Ho on November 7, 2014 9:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Tablets
- Apple
- Mobile
- iOS
- ipad Air 2
GNSS
While it's tough to tell what GPS solution is in the iPad Air 2, it's likely that the cellular version leverages the Qualcomm modem. Once again, it isn't quite possible to test cold starts on iOS devices as airplane mode disables location entirely. Given these restrictions, it's still possible to test general performance. In the case of the iPad Air 2, I measured around 15 seconds to first lock, and it seems that in general the GNSS solution is more than capable.
Misc.
Unfortunately, it seems that for now it isn't quite possible to do a controlled test of wifi performance on iOS as all available options are nonfunctional for the forseeable future. While I don't have the equipment to test speaker loudness or quality in general, subjectively it seems that the speakers are quite loud and can make the entire tablet resonate. I've also noticed at times that the orientation sensor doesn't seem to be active at times as I've had cases where the tablet won't rotate the view until I change the orientation again or check the control center and toggle the rotation lock.
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hughlle - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
iOS may not be perfect..Damned right. The nexus 9 could offer half the performance of this and i'd still pick that due to no other reason than iOS.
Desusenam - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
Indeed, exactly the reason I just bought a Nexus 9. That and not needing to install iTunes.However, I'm still annoyed I can't yet buy the cover for the Nexus 9. When I bought the iPad 2, it came with the cover I bought at the same time. I can see why some people like the Apple experience...
dmunsie - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
You do know that you don't need iTunes to setup and use an iOS device anymore, right? Been that way since iOS 5 (2011).Desusenam - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
Cheers, I had no idea, I must be someone companies really like, they get a bad experience, go somewhere else and never look back...darwinosx - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
Most Android users have no idea.ITunes hasn't been required in years.
Tikcus9666 - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
until you install an update that bricks the device, then you need a pc or mac with itunes to fix it....iOS 8.0.1 update anyone
svan1971 - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
um other than just itunes and a pc to fix a bricked apple device, how about listing the items required to fix an android device thats been bricked?StevoLincolnite - Friday, November 7, 2014 - link
On WIndows Phone, I just press two buttons and it un-bricks itself.sprockkets - Saturday, November 8, 2014 - link
"On WIndows Phone, I just press two buttons and it un-bricks itself."Then your phone wasn't bricked.
Nokia has tools just like everyone else that runs on a pc to fix a phone. Except Google's can be fixed with macs and Linux.
akdj - Thursday, November 27, 2014 - link
And with iOS, you can fix on a Mac, Windows PC OR Linux!& you're coreect. A pair of buttons doesn't (un)brick a phone of any make, model, manufacturer or OS