There's no longer a question as to which tablet is Apple's flagship. While the new iPad mini 3 gets a Touch ID sensor and now comes in gold, the iPad Air 2 ($499 for 16GB, $828 as tested with 128GB and LTE) offers those goodies and a whole lot more.

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

The iPad Air 2 is Apple's most powerful tablet yet, and is incredibly thin and light. It's a solid upgrade over last year's Air, and should definitely be one of your top tablet considerations.

Beautiful; thin aluminum design; Incredibly powerful A8X chip; Touch ID included; Upgraded camera; Touch ID now comes included; Long battery life; Good performance

Battery life could be better; Some will miss the mute switch; Only a couple of upgrades; Commands a $100 premium over last year's model

Most are in agreement that Apple's iPad Air 2 is one of the finest tablets ever produced, if not the best out there, period. Certainly, it's not difficult to make that case -- after all, the latest 9.7-inch iPad is thinner than its predecessor at just 6.1mm thick, wicked fast with its custom A8X...

Slimmer than a shaved pencil; lighter than a pound; Sleek design and now comes in gold; Fast A8X SoC; 2GB of RAM; and new storage tiers; Upgraded cameras are finally worth talking about; Lots of little upgrades; such as the Touch ID sensor and barometer; Yet again; pricing remains the same; 1-year...

While battery life is as advertised; it's less than the previous iPad Air; Isn't built for productivity; C'mon Apple; start including Beats earphones

The iPad Air 2 posted huge performance gains while slimming down and keeping the same battery life. iPad Air owners don't need to upgrade so soon, but for everyone else it'll feel like a worthy purchase.

Incredibly fast A8X processor makes everything feel more immediate; Same great battery life; Easier to see in bright sunlight; Comes in gold; and has Touch ID

16GB isn't enough storage for the entry level model; Otherwise it's the same as last year's

Apple's iPad Air 2 sees key new additions in lots of important areas, so do not be fooled by its familiar exterior

Excellent Display; Masses of power; Gorgeous design, Lightweight; Vast ecosystem; Improved Imaging; More memory

No NFC; Battery is smaller than previous generation (not that you'll notice

A new year means a new iPad, and here we are with another model ready for consumers to take home. Is the latest iteration Apple's best, and does it have what it takes to survive the onslaught of tablet competitors heading its way?

Lovely clear screen; Display has much faster touch support; making typing just that much easier and more accurate when you're a fast typist; Still one of the prettiest tablet designs out there; Touch ID fingerprint unlocking included

No flash on the rear camera; Mute and lock switch has disappeared; Still no expandable storage; No NFC

The iPad Air 2 takes the title (from Apple's original Air) of Best Tablet You Can Buy. The updates aren't enough to force an upgrade from a 2013 Air, but it'll feel like a tablet from another planet if you're still using an original iPad or iPad 2, or an early Android.

Somehow; even thinner than ever; Very snappy performance; thanks to A8X chip upgrade; Fingerprint login; Better cameras

The familiar iPad-family gripes (no MicroSD card slot; reliance on iTunes; Rear camera lacks a flash; Physical mute/orientation-lock switch has been eliminated

It's a very good device. It's fast moving all the apps, and it has got a very good display. Also, the price is very important, but nowadays it is not expensive, so if you want an iPad, you should buy it!