Gadgets get thinner every year. That's a given. But the iPad Air 2 crosses a threshold where thin makes a difference. I bought my first iPad in the summer of 2012, under the pretense that it would be a really killer digital photo frame at my wedding.

It's an iPad, which means it's a finely crafted tablet with an app store filled to bursting with the latest mobile games and utilities; This one is better than ever before

I don't give a damn about Touch ID until Apple trusts my fingerprint enough not to require a password ever again; and until Apple lets me use it to buy things at brick and mortar stores with Apple Pay

A selection of small but meaningful changes means the best tablet in the world just got even better

Stunningly slim and beautifully made, Screen is better than ever, Vastly more powerful

Very small hit to battery life

The iPad Air 2 is lighter, thinner and faster than its predecessor, but the updates are not enough to make it worth ditching the old model if you already have one.

Nippy performance; anti-reflective screen; slim profile; good battery life; Touch ID sensor

Camera still struggles in poor lighting; not many signifcant changes over the original iPad Air

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.

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.

A hands-on look at Apple's second-generation iPad Air 2 tablet finds it lighter, thinner and faster. Could this be the iPad upgrade you've been waiting for?

Apple's latest iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 incorporate Touch ID and support for Apple Pay within apps, with the same 10 hour battery life of previous models. The full size iPad Air 2 is also now 18 percent slimmer with an improved, antireflective display and gains a faster A8X chip, faster 802.11ac...

Beautiful Retina Display on thin; small device; Touch ID makes it easy to enable Activation Lock; Now supports Apple Pay within apps; Super thin; highly mobile form factor a delight to use and carry; Apple's A8X packs leading CPC and graphics horsepower; Still offers 10-plus hours of battery life on...

iPad mini 2 is $100 cheaper for users who don't want Touch ID and Apple Pay; iPad Air 2 offers major advancements for just $100 more; Features not available in iPad mini form factor

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.

The iPad Air 2 is not worth the upgrade if you already have the Air 1. Aside from the enhanced hardware, better camera and Touch ID, there simply isn't anything compelling. The Absence of NFC relegates Apple Pay to being able to make App Store purchases, without having to type in your password.

Anti-reflection screen coating; Faster processing; More RAM; Wireless Connection is faster; Touch ID

Very Minor Upgrade; No Mute button or rotation lock; Apple SIM does not work in Canada or Australia

Amazon's Fire HDX 8.9" is the best value tablet for media out there, but its ecosystem doesn't match up to other operating systems for general-purpose use.

Easy to use., Light, durable body., High-res screen., Solid audio., Excellent technical support.

Tied tightly to Amazon's services., Limited storage in the initial configuration.