To understand truly what a breakthrough the new iPad is, you have to survey the crowded tablet landscape. Few tablets come close to the fit and finish, the simplicity of design and the complexity that’s built within.

With its 1-pound weight and slimmed-down design, the iPad Air marks the biggest leap forward for Apple's trend-making slate since the Retina display. It's rightly the standard by which all other tablets will, and should, be judged.

Slim; lightweight design; Super-sharp; bright screen; Long; all-day battery life; Demonstrably improved performance

Battery takes a while to recharge; Speaker placement isn't ideal

You may think that the humble iPad needs no real introduction, with even technophobes well aware of Apple's iconic and game-changing tablet. However, Apple complicated matters a little with the introduction of the iPad mini last year, while refusing to give its full-sized 9.7-inch versions sensible...

Light and slender build; Zippy A7 processor; Sleek new iOS 7; Great battery life

Not cheap; Good ol' iTunes; Still no memory card slot

For a company that obsesses over making devices thinner and lighter, it must have been torture for Apple to spend nearly three years making a series of iPads that were better than their predecessors, but not smaller. Now it has.

Ten hours of battery life; twice as fast as fourth-generation iPad; light and thin

Still too big for long-term one-handed use; no Touch ID

For a company that obsesses over making devices thinner and lighter, it must have been torture for Apple to spend nearly three years making a series of iPads that were better than their predecessors, but not smaller. Now it has.

Ten hours of battery life; twice as fast as fourth-generation iPad; light and thin

Still too big for long-term one-handed use; no Touch ID

Apple first introduced the "Air" branding scheme in conjunction with its ultra-slim and portable MacBook line back in 2008. The term was meant to connote a laptop that wasn't just lighter, but also uber thin, and able to achieve epic battery life.

Incredibly lightweight with a super-slim, redesigned form factor; A7 chip, in addition to helping provide an impressive 10-plus hours of battery life, offers superb overall performance whether you're surfing the web or streaming media.

No TouchID, just a regular old home button; Despite upgrading to stereo speakers - audio separation remains poor; 5-megapixel rear-facing shooter could use an update

Apple tends to slowly evolve their product lines, instead of making sweeping and drastic changes. I have noticed a trend where users skip a generation because it seems the processor is a bit faster, hardware a bit better, but seldom a WOW factor that compels you to drop everything and buy it.

Smaller Bezel; Does not get as Hot as prior models; Noticeable difference in hues; colors and tones being more defined; Lighter and More Portable; Stereo Speakers; Amazing Battery Life

Still Expensive; Video Quality is on par with 3rd generation iPad; Still no way to bulk delete emails; Camera received no major upgrade

Apple's iPad Air is the most comfortable to use 10in tablet on the market. While the cameras remain average, the iPad Air also boasts some improvement in speed and battery life, and remains a market leader when it comes to the 9.7in Retina display.

Great design and display; free iWork apps; improved performance and battery life

Cameras are still poor; not many 64-bit optimised apps

If you want a better iPad, the Air is for you. If you want a better iPad with a smaller screen, wait for the iPad mini with Retina Display that will be released later this month.

The best gets better

Amazingly thin and light, Terrific battery life, Excellent performance, Class-leading app selection, Amazingly thin and light, Terrific battery life, Excellent performance, Class-leading app selection

iOS 7 still glitchy in places, Gets expensive fast, Safari icon remains an abomination, iOS 7 still glitchy in places, Gets expensive fast, Safari icon remains an abomination