14 DAY TRIAL // 2014 will not only witness the introduction of a new iPhone, but also the launch of a second generation of iPad Air tablets featuring a faster, more power-efficient chip, more megapixels for the rear-facing camera, and other enhancements.
Starting this month, Apple’s Asian suppliers will begin producing the display and all associated screen components for the iPad Air 2. In July, parts like camera sensors and the A8 applications processor will go into production, according to Korean media.
Sources privy to the iPad Air 2 specifications say the display will be unchanged: Retina-grade, 2048 x 1536 resolution, 264 PPI (pixels per inch). LG Display, Sharp, and Samsung are the suppliers.
The camera sensor will see a boost to 8 megapixels (from the existing 5 megapixels), which will result in better photos and videos taken with the tablet computer. The front-facing camera is also expected to receive an upgrade, but details on this matter are scarce.
Finally, the A8 chip will reportedly focus on power efficiency and graphics performance. With Apple already boasting 10 hours of wireless performance with its existing tablets, iPad Air 2 could offer even more battery life thanks to the battery-friendly SoC (system on a chip).
The Korean report makes no mentioning of other details, such as the design of the tablet or whether Apple plans to include the Touch ID fingerprint sensor with this new generation of iPads. However, we have every indication that Apple is not changing the design yet, and rumor has it that Touch ID will be present in all iDevices starting with 2014.
It isn’t clear when Apple plans to debut the iPad Air 2, but it’s very likely that the unveiling will be made at an event in fall, perhaps at the same event that Tim Cook & Co. will use to announce the iPhone 6.
Analysts working for major investment banks who track Apple’s every move hoping to give investors good forecasts to bet on are expecting great things from the Cupertino giant this year.
According to these people, iPad Air 2 will actually be a speck of dust compared to bigger announcements like iWatch and iTV. However, there’s an equal amount of skeptics who say we shouldn’t raise our hopes for Apple revolutionizing the TV industry just yet, while the iWatch could be delayed until next year.