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

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

We were not sure it was possible, but Apple has done it. Apple has taken the best tablet ever made and made it even better.

Faster performance; Improved screen with richer colours and deeper blacks; Greater contrast; Smoother graphics; Superb build; Better cameras

Speaker could be better; Restrictive

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.

All in all, this is one quick tablet, all set for some great game playing if you like that sort of thing. It also makes for a silk-smooth interface and the power to take on production duties from the more serious apps out there. The best iPad upgrade yet? Undoubtedly.

If you're in the market for a tablet that offers the best possible technology combined with a beautiful screen and a superb form factor, the iPad Air 2 is the best product available.

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

The form-factor didn't change since last year's redesign, but even though the iPad Air 2 is slimmer than its predecessor, Apple didn't sacrifice battery life. The company claims up to 10 hours using Wi-Fi, and in three battery rundown tests I averaged 10 hours and 14 minutes of continuously watching...

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 marketing suggests that the iPad Air 2 is the fastest, thinnest, best iPad Air ever. But they would say that. Is the iPad Air 2 worth buying, or upgrading from if you're an existing iPad owner? First up: My early impressions, and a comparison to last year's iPad Air.

A bigger screen? Nope. A lower price? Nah. How about a bit more storage in the base model? You must be joking. So what is the headline feature of the iPad Air 2? It's thinner, because that's exactly the feature everyone had been clamouring for. "You know that iPad Air?