Buying Guide: iPad Air 2 release date: where can I get it?

Apple has a new tablet king, the iPad Air 2, and it comes with a number of improvements over last year's iPad Air.

It's got a new A8X chip that's been created by Apple specially for the tablet, granting the iPad Air 2 40% faster CPU performance, with 2.5 times better graphics.

It also comes with Touch ID, letting you unlock the tablet and pay for products using your fingerprint, as well as a new 8MP iSight camera with a f/2.4 aperture plus 1080p video recording and 720p slo-mode video capabilities.

Most impressive of all, these new features have all been fitted into a body that's just 6.1mm thick, making the iPad Air 2 the world's thinnest tablet.

• Read our in depth iPad Air 2 review

The iPad Air 2 is available for you to buy right now and we have all the info on where you can get it, and how much will it set you back.

Apple

If you want to buy an iPad Air 2 without a contract prices start at £399 on Apple's own site for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, with 64GB of internal storage priced at £479 and 128GB costing £559.

If you want the 4G iPad Air 2 then you'll need to put down £499 for the 16GB version, £579 for 64GB and £659 for the 128GB version. You'll also need to get yourself a data SIM deal from the network of your choice, which adds extra cost to this model.

Apple is currently quoting 1-3 business days for delivery, which is free, so that's not bad. You also get to choose from silver, gold and space grey.

EE

EE was quick to announce that it will be offering the iPad Air 2 in both the Wi-Fi and cellular versions, and it's now in stock and available for you to buy.

All three colours and sizes are available for you to choose from, but there's no Wi-Fi only option with the iPad Air 2 only coming with a two year data contract.

That does mean you part with less cash up front - as little as £49.99 in fact (which gets you a 16GB Air 2 and 2GB of data for £35 per month over two years.)

Vodafone

Like EE, Vodafone is also offering all three colours and sizes of the iPad Air 2, and again you can only pick up the Wi-Fi +4G version on contract.

You can pay as little as £9 up front for the 16GB iPad Air 2 which will see you snaffle 8GB of 4G data for 24 months plus six months of Netflix, but you will have to pay out £43 every month.

O2

O2 is also selling the iPad Air 2, and the offering is very much similar to that of EE and Vodafone.

The bubbly network can sort you out with a 16GB iPad Air 2 from as little as £29.99 up front for a £39 per month outlay for two years in return for 5GB of 4G data.

There are other tariffs available and you check them all out on the O2 website.

Three

Over on Three the cheapest iPad Air 2 is the 16GB model for just £49 per month and a whopping 15GB of data.

That will set you back £38.16 a month for two years, but you can reduce your monthly outlay if you splash more cash at the start. And of course you can always look to the more expensive 64GB and 128GB models if you want to really show off.

Currys/PC World

Currys and PC World also have stock of the iPad Air 2, and you can order online and pick it up in store in an hour.

Prices mirror those on Apple's site, there's no cut price deals here.

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