iPad Air A7 2014

This iPad Air model (A1476) was sold exclusively in mainland China for use on the China Mobile network. Unlike the global cellular iPad Air (A1475), the A1476 supports TD-SCDMA (1900 (F), 2000 (A)) and TD-LTE (bands 38, 39), but it does not support the 1700/2100 MHz frequency of DC-HSDPA, CDMA EV-DO Rev. A, or other LTE bands.

Regardless of network specifics, the original iPad Air models feature the same 9.7" Retina display as the earlier iPad 3rd and 4th Gen but are "20 percent thinner and 28% lighter," with a much narrower bezel that makes them feel smaller.

All iPad Air devices, including this China-only A1476 model, are housed in thin white and silver or black and "Space Gray" cases. They feature a 9.7" 2048x1536 (264 ppi) LED-backlit IPS touch-sensitive display, a dual-core 1.4 GHz Apple A7 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and were available with 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB of flash storage (with the 64 GB and 128 GB options discontinued on October 16, 2014).

Other key features include dual cameras: a rear 5-megapixel "iSight" camera for stills and 1080p video, and a front 1.2-megapixel "FaceTime HD" camera for stills and 720p video. It also supports dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with MIMO, Bluetooth 4.0, dual microphones, and speakers. A Lightning port provides power and connectivity.

Battery life is rated at 10 hours of "surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music," or nine hours on cellular data.

The iPad Air (A1476) for the China Mobile network was praised for bringing the new, dramatically thinner and lighter design to Chinese consumers. The device felt much more manageable and portable than previous iPads, a significant ergonomic improvement. The A7 processor provided a substantial boost in speed and responsiveness, making it a powerful device for apps and games. This specific model's key feature was its tailored cellular support for China Mobile's TD-LTE network, offering high-speed connectivity to a massive user base. While it shared the same excellent Retina display and battery life as the global models, its value was defined by the combination of a sleek new form factor, powerful performance, and optimized connectivity for one of China's largest carriers.