Apple iPads have generally been shining examples of high-end tablet performance, and on the strength of its numbers, the Apple iPad Air 2 is still a worthy member of the iPad family. While the Air 2 shows its age compared to the best tablets, it has much to offer home users thanks to its solid battery life, compact dimensions and strong performance ceiling.

Despite the lack of major upgrades, the Apple iPad Air 2 holds a spot as one of the best tablets on the market. During Laptop's testing, in which a tablet loops through webpages at a constant brightness, the Air 2 lasted for nine hours and 20 minutes before powering down.

While this mark is in line with Apple's advertised Wi-Fi browsing battery life of up to 10 hours, the iPad Air's battery is a step behind other multimedia tablets that tout battery lifespans of more than 10 hours.

While these scores are slightly outclassed by more current tablets, the Apple iPad Air 2 showed it still has excellent specifications during our hands-on testing. The tablet smoothly switched between tasks like web browsing and games.

In "Epic Zen Garden," a high-end iOS gaming tech demo, we could navigate through the in-game world without any technical hiccups or performance slowdown. The Air 2 is also a strong performer in Laptop Mag's battery test, although the tablet isn't without its limitations.

Even with the tablet computer's 9.7-inch screen, it sports a weight of only 0.96 pounds. While it's not the lightest in comparison to other 9-inch tablets, the Apple iPad Air 2 has a thickness of only 0.24 inches.

In hands-on testing, we found the Air 2 to be sturdily constructed and easy to handle thanks to its rounded edges.

Apple relies on the same 2048 x 1536 Retina display that past iPads were built around, but the Air 2's display remains an exceptional performer for a variety of tasks. In our testing, onscreen text cleanly displayed, and high-resolution photos had vibrant color reproduction.

The Apple iPad Air 2 display was also a reliable performer in Laptop's benchmarking testing. The Air 2's display had a brightness rating of 368 nits, which was comparable to other premium tablets. Nits are a measurement used to evaluate the screen's brightness level.

The Apple iPad Air 2 solid aluminum body is durable and excellently built. While the iPad Air 2 processor is still fast enough for most home users, it no longer provides best-in-class performance.

With its premium components and great build quality, the iPad Air 2 is capable of handling work and play without a misstep. At first glance, the Apple iPad Air 2 is closer to a refresh than a dramatic upgrade of its predecessor. The tablet computer has the same slim design and aluminum backing used on the first iPad Air.

10 Tablets with the Longest Battery Life Apple iPad Air 2 The industry standard for tablets is also one of the longest lasting, with 9 hours and 20 minutes of endurance. The Apple iPad Air 2 also boasts a gorgeous display in a super-thin design.

The A8X chip ensures zippy performance. A sharper camera will capture all your precious moments. And, while the competition is catching up, Apple still maintains the best tablet-friendly app selection on the market.

Best Apple iPad Air 2 Cases Apple Smart Cover Who better than Apple to make a cover for the iPad? The company's lightweight Smart Cover has a hinge that magnetically connects to the tablet.

Since it's just a front cover (no back), you won't have to worry about adding extra bulk to your slate. Available in seven colors (black, white, pink, yellow, green, blue and (Product)RED).

Best Apple iPad Air 2 Cases X-Doria SmartJacket Sure, the new iPad might as well be lighter than air, but sometimes you just want to prop your tablet up for easy viewing. The X-Doria SmartJacket can be folded so you can lean your iPad at different levels of elevation.

The magnets built into the cover let you put the tablet to sleep or wake the device. The slim jacket also offers protection from bumps and scratches, while its 3D-patterned back adds a distinctive look to your slate.

iLuv Layup Best Apple iPad Air 2 Cases As much as you may love your iPad Air 2, you may not want to constantly grip it in your hands. iLuv offers two more options with its dual-layer Layup case.

A detachable hand strap lets you keep a hold on the iPad in any one of four positions. When it's time to sit back and watch a movie, pull out the built-in kickstand. Available in black.