What's good
- The new A5 processor is extremely fast at any app you throw at it.
- Elegant and thin design is sure to turn heads.
What's bad
- Could use some more RAM. Can get bogged down if many apps are open at once.
- The cameras are not good quality and border on unusable.
The Apple iPad 2 is the much-anticipated successor of the original iPad and at first glance it looks nearly the same as the first. The hardware has undergone upgrades including a dual-core processor and more RAM, but the software remains unchanged, not that it's a bad thing; iOS is awesome to use and is extremely smooth.
The iPad 2 is available with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi plus 3G connectivity. The 3G version is priced approximately $130 higher than the Wi-Fi only model but allows you to take advantage of 3G cellular data networks. This makes the most sense for commuters or those who need internet access not just at home or at Starbucks, but nearly anywhere they go.
The design of the iPad 2 is excellent and just screams class. It is the thinnest tablet on the market and weighs less than a paperback book. Speaking of changes, it starts with the hardware. The old A4 CPU has been replaced with the new dual-core A5 and the difference is obvious the first time you pick up the device. It is faster at loading apps and handles multitasking better than the original iPad. It could use some more RAM though. 512 MB seems pretty slow these days as most competing tablets feature 1GB.
The iPad 2 also features the best battery life among tablets. You can expect to get around ten hours of battery life between charges which makes the iPad 2 the best choice for someone on the go for most of the day. As with the first iPad, the touchscreen is the best in the business. It is responsive, accurate, and features amazing multi-touch features which make the iPad 2 one of the most entertaining tablets to use.
When it comes to drawbacks there are not too many to speak of. The most glaring weakness is the camera. In simple terms, it is not very good at all. Video chat is noisy and blurry while stills are not sharp at all. However, this does not really hamper the overall usability of the device as most people are not going to use the iPad 2 as their primary camera.
Note: The Apple iPad 2 Wi-Fi is the same product as the 3G-enabled version except for the fact that your access to the internet is limited to areas with Wi-Fi. If you can live without the wider coverage offered by 3G and limit tasks that require internet connectivity to hotspots, this is the one to get.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- GSMArena Team, GSMArenaThe updated iPad 2 doubles the processing power and gets FaceTime and HD video. The speed boost is tangible but developers are yet to use its full potential. The real benefit of the newly-added cameras is FaceTime. HD video recording is not essential on a tablet really. You know, most of the iPad ow...
- Robert Mohns, MacInTouchSteve Jobs calls the iPad a “post-PC” product (along with the iPhones and iPods). Traditional PC-like apps, such as Pages, Numbers and Keynote, helped its acceptance, but the fact is, the iPad is not a PC. It's intensely personal. You touch it, hold it, carry it, stroke it; no “personal computer” ha...
- Mat Smith, RecombuThe original iPad was the best tablet available a year ago. Now, the iPad 2 is the best tablet available, though it really hasn't diverted from the original formula.We’re still waiting for a proper Android-powered rival to appear, a year on. Whether that’s because the first iPad was so far ahead of...
- Dan Sung, Pocket-lintThere are some differences worth noting. Yes, the iPad's battery will last you a bit longer, it’s a better looking piece of kit, it has 3G, a camera and it’s more flexible in terms of what you can do with it. The real story, and where you need to think long and hard, is about what you want to do wit...
- John V., PhoneArenaBeing the newest kid on the block definitely has its advantages, and it really shows with the HTC Jetstream as it excels in shooting photos & videos, packs support for AT&T’s 4G LTE network, and incorporates HTC Scribe Technology. Moreover, the HTC Sense for tablet experience offers a lot of usefuln...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Apple iPad 2 Manual (PDF)
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