iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2014
iPad Air 2
At just 6.1 mm it was astonishingly thin, with a unique tri-core A8X and a beautifully laminated display — a high-water mark for the line.
iPad Air 2: key facts
When was the iPad Air 2 released?
The iPad Air 2 was released in October 22, 2014. Apple discontinued it in March 2017.
How much did the iPad Air 2 cost?
The iPad Air 2 launched at $499 in 2014 — about $675 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iPad Air 2’s specs?
The iPad Air 2 used a Apple A8X running at 1.50 GHz, with 2 GB of memory and 16 GB of storage. It ran iOS 8.1.
Why does the iPad Air 2 matter?
First tri-core Apple chip, first 2 GB iPad, Touch ID, and a fully laminated anti-reflective screen.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A8X · 1.50 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 3 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Display | 9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 (laminated) |
| GPU | PowerVR GXA6850 |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 437 g |
| Dimensions | 240×169.5×6.1 mm |
| Operating system | iOS 8.1 |
| Released | October 22, 2014 |
| Discontinued | March 2017 |
| Launch price | $499 |
How the iPad Air 2 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.50 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.1× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 4,100 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $499 in 2014 — about $675 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
The triple-core A8X was exclusive to this iPad; no other device used it.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad Air 2 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25