Introducing the iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 was released on October 22, 2014 as an upgraded version of the original iPad Air. It had several new features and improvements over the previous model, including:
- A new A8X chip, which provided faster performance.
- 2GB of RAM, making it the first iOS device with that much memory.
- A new anti-reflective coating on the display to reduce glare.
- A fully laminated display with reduced internal reflection.
- An improved iSight camera with faster autofocus.
- Faster Wi-Fi and LTE wireless connections.
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button.
The iPad Air 2 was praised for its slimmer and lighter design at just 6.1mm thick and weighing less than a pound. It had the same screen size as the original iPad Air at 9.7 inches, but packed in more power and better cameras in the same size body. Overall, the iPad Air 2 improved on its predecessor in almost every way when it launched.
iOS 8
iOS 8 was released on September 17, 2014 and introduced many new features and capabilities to iPads. According to Apple’s iOS 8 update page, it brought improvements to notifications, messaging, photos, family sharing, iCloud, connectivity, health apps, and more.
Some key new features of iOS 8 for iPad Air 2 users included predictive typing via QuickType keyboard, support for third party keyboards, interactive notifications, iCloud Drive for file storage, and Continuity for connecting with Macs and iPhones. The Photos app gained editing tools and iCloud Photo Library. Messages added features like audio messages, self-destructing messages, location sharing, and more.
Overall, iOS 8 expanded the capabilities of the iPad Air 2 through enhanced productivity and communication tools. Its release date so close to the iPad Air 2 launch allowed users to take advantage of the latest iOS features like extensions and widgets right away.
iOS 9
iOS 9 was released on September 16, 2015 for supported iPad models including the iPad Air 2 [1]. It introduced several new multitasking features that took advantage of the iPad Air 2’s hardware improvements over previous models.
Key new capabilities included:
- Split View – Allows two apps to be viewed side-by-side
- Slide Over – Lets a second app overlay on the side of the screen
- Picture-in-Picture – Play video in a small window while using another app
These features allowed more advanced multitasking compared to previous iOS versions. However, they were only available on the iPad Air 2 and newer iPad models due to hardware requirements like increased RAM and processor performance [2].
iOS 9 also introduced new capabilities like the proactive Siri assistant, Spotlight search improvements, Apple News, and transit directions in Maps.
iOS 10
iOS 10 was released by Apple on September 13, 2016. It introduced several major new features and improvements over the previous version, iOS 9.
One of the biggest additions in iOS 10 was the new Home app, which provided a centralized control hub for all HomeKit accessories. Users could now easily control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, and security systems from one app.
iOS 10 also included a redesigned Lock screen experience with 3D Touch-enabled notifications. This allowed users to respond to messages, emails, and other notifications directly from the Lock screen without unlocking the device.
The Photos app received major improvements like object and facial recognition to automatically categorize pictures. There was also a new Memories feature that created curated collections of photos and videos with customizable soundtracks.
Other notable changes in iOS 10 included a redesigned Apple Music app, updates to Maps with extensions for third-party apps, and new messaging effects like bubble and full-screen animations for iMessage.
According to Apple’s iOS 10 updates page, the iPad Air 2 fully supports iOS 10 and all of its new features.
iOS 11
iOS 11 was a major release for the iPad and brought several new features and capabilities when it launched on September 19, 2017.[1] Some of the key features introduced in iOS 11 for iPad include:
- The Files app, which provides access to files stored on iPad, in iCloud Drive, and other services like Dropbox.
- Drag and drop support within apps and between apps, making it easier to move text, images and files.
- Multitasking improvements, including a new app switcher and ability to have multiple apps open side-by-side.
- Apple Pencil improvements like inline drawing and Instant Markup.
- New Dock for quick access to frequently used apps.
- Built-in screenshot markup tools.
- Redesigned App Store and improved searches.
iOS 11 brought major leaps forward for the iPad experience and was supported on all iPad Air and iPad Pro models at the time. The update showcased Apple’s focus on making the iPad more capable as a productivity device.[1]
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/06/ios-11-brings-new-features-to-iphone-and-ipad-this-fall/
iOS 12
iOS 12 was released on September 17, 2018 as a free software update for compatible iPads like the iPad Air 21. It focused more on performance improvements rather than major new features. Some of the key improvements in iOS 12 included:2
- Faster app launch times
- Improved responsiveness with up to twice as fast keyboard display
- Up to 50% faster camera loading
- New augmented reality experiences in ARKit 2
- Siri Shortcuts for automating tasks
- Screen Time for monitoring device usage
- Grouped notifications to reduce interruption
- Memoji customizable virtual avatars
The focus on optimization over new features delivered a smooth and speedy experience for iPad Air 2 users upgrading to iOS 12. Reviews noted the impressive performance improvements, making older devices feel faster and more responsive.
iOS 13
iOS 13 was released on September 19, 2019 as a free software update for iPad Air 2. This major iOS update introduced many new features and improvements.
Some of the key new capabilities and features of iOS 13 included:1
- Dark Mode – An eye-friendly dark color scheme option
- Updated Photos app with new editing tools
- Sign In with Apple for improved privacy
- New Reminders app
- Updated Maps app with Look Around feature
iOS 13 also brought performance enhancements, making apps launch faster. The update provided new gestures for editing text, as well as the ability to use a mouse or trackpad with iPad Air 2.
Additional capabilities included Announce Messages, support for AirPods Pro, HomeKit Secure Video, expanded language support, and more emoji.1
iOS 14
iOS 14 was released on September 16, 2020 and introduced a major update to the iPad operating system with new features and capabilities specifically designed for iPad. According to an Apple Newsroom article, “iPadOS 14 introduces new features designed specifically for iPad” (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/ipados-14-introduces-new-features-designed-specifically-for-ipad/).
Some of the key new features in iPadOS 14 include redesigned compact designs for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions, and Search to help users stay focused on the task at hand. New sidebars in apps like Photos, Files, Notes, and Calendar provide quick access to other parts of the app. iPadOS 14 also brings new Apple Pencil features like Scribble for handwriting conversion and new gestures, plus enhanced design tools in Pages.
Additional capabilities include improved app organization with App Library, new privacy features in Safari, Maps enhancements, and improvements to Messages. According to Apple, iPadOS 14 is compatible with iPad Air 2 and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211807).
iOS 15
iOS 15 was released on September 20, 2021 as a free software update for the iPad Air 2 and other compatible iPad models. This major update to the iPad operating system introduced several new features and capabilities.
Some of the key new features in iOS 15 include:
- Live Text – Uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in photos and allows you to take action on it like copy and paste.
- Focus mode – Helps minimize distractions by filtering notifications and apps based on what you need to focus on.
- SharePlay – Allows you to have shared experiences while connecting with friends and family over FaceTime.
- Updated maps – With more detailed maps for cities, new ways to navigate, immersive views, and augmented reality directions.
- Wallet app – Now stores ID cards and keys, making them easily accessible.
iOS 15 also includes improved privacy protections, updates to FaceTime, Messages, Safari, and other apps, as well as new accessibility features. It provides the iPad Air 2 with the latest iOS capabilities, helping maximize the usefulness and lifespan of the tablet.
Overall, iOS 15 delivers meaningful upgrades to the iPad user experience and keeps the iPad Air 2 supported with Apple’s latest software and features. It underscores Apple’s commitment to supporting its devices with new iOS capabilities for years after initial release.
Summary
The iPad Air 2 originally launched in 2014 with iOS 8 and has since been able to be updated through several major iOS versions. While the iPad Air 2 maxed out its OS support at iOS 15, it had an impressive 7 year run of being able to update to the latest iOS versions. This allowed it to take advantage of new features and security updates over time.
In summary, the iPad Air 2 supported iOS 8 through iOS 15. Some key iOS versions it was compatible with included:
- iOS 8 – Original launch OS
- iOS 9 – Introduced multitasking features like Slide Over and Split View
- iOS 10 – Redesigned lock screen, widgets, messages
- iOS 11 – Dock, drag and drop, Files app
- iOS 12 – Group FaceTime, Siri shortcuts, Screen Time
- iOS 13 – Dark mode, swipe typing, Sign in with Apple
While the iPad Air 2 cannot update past iOS 15, it had an impressive 7 years of support from Apple with iOS updates. For owners looking to keep using their iPad Air 2, it will continue receiving important security updates from Apple even though it cannot update to iOS 16 and beyond.
