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Apple iPad 2 review

8.9/10 AVG.
RATING
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Apple iPad 2
Apple iPad 2
Apple iPad 2
Apple iPad 2
Apple iPad 2
...


8.9/10
Informr score
The Apple iPad 2 currently has an Informr score of 8.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 38 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

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.


iOS
Operating system
Operating system
iOS
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
9.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.7"
-
Camera
Camera
-
25 WHr
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSMArena
GSMArena

The 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...

- GSMArena Team, GSMArena
MacInTouch
MacInTouch

Steve 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...

- Robert Mohns, MacInTouch
Recombu
Recombu

The 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...

- Mat Smith, Recombu
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

There 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...

- Dan Sung, Pocket-lint
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

Being 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...

- John V., PhoneArena


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Quick view

Screen Size
9.7"

The Apple iPad 2's screen size is 9.7 inches with 1024 x 768 pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Dual Core Apple A5 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the iOS 4.3 (Update Available: 9) operating system (OS).

Camera
You can take photos with the phone's onboard camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Storage
16/32/64 GB

Internal memory is 16/32/ 64 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
25WHr

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 25 WHr battery. Apple's performance ratings are 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

iPad 2 Specs

Overview
Release Date March 11, 2011
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System iOS 4.3 (Update Available: 9)

Compare iOS Smartphones

Processor Dual Core Apple A5 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32/64 GB
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB No
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles No
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Zoom
5x digital
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Geotagging
Video Recording Formats
H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Geotagging
Video Recording Parameters
VGA (640 x 480 pixels), 30 fps
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels
Pixel density 132 pixels
Size 9.7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive Touchscreen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 25 WHr
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 5 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 30 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 24.1 x 18.6 x 0.9 cm (9.5 x 7.3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 601 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Mute Key: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AIFF, Audible, MP3, Protected AAC, WAV
Video Playback Formats: H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Custom Ringtones: No
Viewable document types: XLS, RTF, PPT, PPTX, JPG, TIFF, GIF, DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT, HTML
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Apple iPad 2 Reviews
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