Apple iPad Air 2014 Apple Ipad Air 2 ( 9.7-inch, Wi-Fi + Review
The renewed iPad Air 2 costs just $189, but its CPU performance sits in the 8th percentile. We dig into the data to see if this decade-old tablet is still a smart buy.
The 30-Second Version
CPU performance is in the 8th percentile, so it's slow. At $189 renewed, you get a premium-feeling iPad with a great screen and tons of RAM, but you sacrifice every aspect of modern speed. Only consider if you want an iPad and only have $200.
Overview
Let's be real, this is a ten-year-old tablet. But at $189 for a renewed 64GB iPad Air 2, it's a weirdly specific value proposition. The numbers tell the story: its RAM is in the 98th percentile, which is frankly hilarious for a device this old, but its CPU and GPU performance are in the single-digit percentiles. That means you're buying a polished, lightweight screen with a ton of memory, but you're not buying speed.
Performance
Performance is where the age shows. The A8X chip lands in the 8th percentile for CPU performance, and the GPU is even lower at 13th. In plain English, this thing will feel slow. Opening modern apps, multitasking, or even browsing heavy websites will come with noticeable lag. The 64GB of RAM is a statistical outlier, but on iPadOS, that just means more apps can sit in the background without reloading—it doesn't make the processor any faster. Battery life is a coin flip, sitting right at the 49th percentile, so your mileage will vary wildly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Renewed condition gets high marks: The 77th percentile feature score reflects Amazon's renewal process, which multiple buyers say delivers a device that looks and works like new. 98th
- Massive RAM for the price: With a 98th percentile RAM score, this has more memory than most modern tablets in its price bracket, which helps with keeping apps open. 77th
- Premium build and screen: The 65th percentile screen score means you're still getting that excellent 9.7-inch Retina display in a slim, 640g body. 67th
- Unlocked cellular flexibility: The included Apple SIM (for AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint) and unlocked status is a rare find at this price point for global use.
Cons
- Ancient, slow processor: The CPU sits in the 8th percentile. Expect lag with modern apps and general sluggishness. 9th
- Weak graphics performance: A 13th percentile GPU score means even basic games or UI animations might stutter. 13th
- Storage is on the low end: 64GB of storage is only in the 31st percentile, so you'll be managing space carefully. 31th
- Outdated connectivity: WiFi 4 (802.11n) and cellular connectivity in the 44th percentile mean slower downloads and weaker signals compared to modern tablets.
- Inconsistent battery life: With a battery score at the 49th percentile, some units perform fine while others show significant wear, a common risk with renewed older tech.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 1.5 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 64 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
Display
| Size | 9.7" |
| Resolution | 2048 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 4 |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS 8 |
Value & Pricing
At $189, you're not paying for cutting-edge tech. You're paying for the Apple ecosystem and a premium-feeling device at a bargain bin price. The value is entirely in the 'renewed' condition and the surprisingly high RAM. Just know that a new $250 Android tablet will run circles around it in raw speed and connectivity. You're trading performance for brand and build quality.
vs Competition
Stack this up against its modern competition and the trade-offs are stark. A new Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ at a similar price has a faster CPU, modern WiFi 6, and a better battery, but its build quality and screen aren't as nice. The iPad Air 2's 98th percentile RAM beats many budget Androids, but that's a hollow victory when the processor can't keep up. If you need a basic reader or video player and prize the iPad feel, this works. If you need snappy performance for anything more, spend a bit more on a newer base-model iPad or a modern Android tablet.
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 2014 Apple Ipad Air 2 ( 9.7-inch, Wi-Fi + | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” - | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.5 GHz | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 64 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 64 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 9.7" 2048x1536 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS 8 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Is this iPad Air 2 good for drawing or note-taking with the Apple Pencil?
No, it doesn't support the Apple Pencil. The 'Stylus support' listed is for older, basic capacitive styli, not the pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil. Its 13th percentile GPU also isn't suited for smooth drawing apps.
Q: How well will this run the latest apps and games?
Poorly. With a CPU in the 8th percentile and a GPU in the 13th, it will struggle with modern, demanding apps and games. Expect lag, long load times, and compatibility issues as iPadOS updates leave it further behind.
Q: Is the 64GB of storage enough?
It depends on your use. The 64GB puts it in the 31st percentile for storage, meaning most tablets have more. For light use (a few apps, photos, videos), it's fine. For storing large media libraries or many games, you'll need to manage space actively or use cloud storage.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need performance for anything beyond the basics. Students, business users, or anyone wanting a responsive tablet should look elsewhere. Its 44th percentile score for business use and single-digit CPU/GPU percentiles mean it will choke on multitasking, video calls, or productivity apps. You'll be frustrated within a week.
Verdict
We can only recommend this if your needs are incredibly basic and your budget is absolutely fixed at under $200. For reading, very light web browsing, or as a kid's first tablet, the renewed condition and great screen make it a passable choice. For anyone else, the glacial CPU and GPU scores are a deal-breaker. That 8th percentile performance isn't a small quirk; it's the core experience.