The iPad was always a slim tablet, but it started gaining a bit of weight in 2012. The addition of the Retina Display meant that Apple could not reduce or maintain the same weight as the iPad 2.

Pitching the iPad Air against its competitors is quite easy – it was the best looking, premium, and app-happy tablet on the market last year. The cosmetic design changes are an unequivocal improvement, and the weight reduction proved a genuine benefit for everyday use.

Size and weight reduction; Faster 64-bit processor; Better battery life

No slo-mo video recording; No 8MP rear camera upgrade; Price

We've got to hand it to Apple. The Air is the best iPad yet: not only is it super speedy, it looks gorgeous and it's extremely light to hold. Apple's championing the Air with the tagline 'the power of lightness', and we have to agree.

The first thing you'll notice about Apple's latest tablet is that it's extremely thin; It measures a svelte 7.5mm fat and weighs just a single pound (469g); It's not as thin as the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, but it's lighter, and you won't even notice the millimetre difference.

Apple's put a lot of effort into iOS 7 for its latest range of iPhones, but it seems like an afterthought on the iPad; If you're used to using iOS, you'll be right at home, but there are a few niggles on the larger-screen version that make it feel unfinished.

The iPad Air is still one of our favourite tablets. It takes everything that the old iPad 4 did and does it better, in a smaller case. However, it's the smaller size that really starts to confuse matters.

In many respects a triumph, the iPad Air also introduces compromises to hit the low-weight/thin-case targets. Sound quality through the new stereo speaker has deteriorated, and although a matter of taste we found the iPad mini-style case loses the premium feel of preceding generations of iPad.

At first glance, the Apple iPad Air 2 is closer to a refresh than a dramatic upgrade compared to its predecessor. From the outside, the tablet computer features the same slim design and aluminum backing used on the first iPad Air.

The Apple iPad Air 2's upgraded A8X chip provides high-end tablet performance

The Air 2 still relies on the same Retina display used in past iPads

It wasn't intuitively obvious how to set it up but with my son's help via Skype I was up and running and having fun. He showed me all kind of neat things to do. I'm sure the user guide would have gotten me there but the hour spent with my son "teaching" me was priceless.

My girls haven't stopped using is since they each got one. HHGregg was very educated in the product that I needed to purchase to kee my girls in tact with the ever changing technical world. The extended warranty program was a smart purchase.

Adequate Storage; Compact Design; Easy To Use; Fast; Good Compatibility; Great Software Bundle; Long Battery Life

NONE

The best tablet just got A LOT better. The iPad Air is utterly fantastic and is easily the best device of its kind on market right now. Nothing else compares. If you want a tablet get this thing right now! You will not regret it.

Amazing lightweight design; great display; brilliant battery; iLife is a big USP – especially iMovie; iPhoto and Garage Band; insane processing power; more dedicated tablets apps than any other tablet platform; global LTE support

Without a case the back panel scuffs up pretty easily and lower storage variants (16GB) are essentially worthless – iLife, Retina-enabled apps, and big games will fill it up in no time at all; If you're getting an iPad, always go big –– 32GB and up, basically

Update, 12th April 2016: Apple has discontinued the iPad Air 1, replacing it with the