Updated: now read One month with the iPad 2.
Just under one year ago, Apple shocked the computing world with a 9.7-inch touchscreen tablet that few truly expected.
Some called the original Apple iPad a large-format iPhone. Others berated the name and made jokes that were not remotely funny.
You can check out TechRadar's iPad 2 review video below:
The early reviews were marginal at best – we handed the device a solid four stars. Technical folks decried the lack of Adobe Flash and the missing cameras.
- Follow our tablets channel: @TR_Tablets
Now, 60,000 apps later (according to Apple, who counts every conceivable option) and just a few weeks after the first real Android 3.0 tablet contender hit the streets (Motorola Xoom), the iPad 2 has sauntered onto the playing field.
Some expected pure gold: a tablet that runs as fast as a laptop and weighs less than a newspaper
Yet, the reality with the iPad 2 is that Apple has taken an iterative approach. In many ways, the iPad 2 is a crowd pleaser because it does not rock the boat.
At 241mm tall, 186mm wide, and 8.6mm thick, the iPad 2 is just a hair smaller than the original iPad and it's thinner than the iPhone 4. It has a curved edge that makes it look a bit more 'space age' and, surprisingly, easier to grasp because you can curve your fingers more easily around the bezel.
The most dramatic change is the weight. At 680 grams, the iPad 2 is 80g lighter than the first iPad. That is about the same weight as a juicy red apple (curious, eh?). Yet, in using the device, it feels strangely lighter than it really is.
Apple has made a second-gen iPad that feels lighter and more nimble, and its newfound mobility means it has lost the annoying heft of the original model.
Meanwhile, the Motorola Xoom, at 730 grams, now feels like the tank that it is. (More about that later, because we do prefer the speedy processor on the Xoom that handles 3D maps and games.)
One other observation about the design: compared to the iPhone 4, the iPad 2 feels a bit more like a plastic plate (the back is actually metal) as though it really needs a protective case. Part of the reason for this 'cheap plastic' impression is that the device is one-third thinner than the original and 15 per cent lighter.
Overall, the design is a stunner – it's brilliant. The aesthetics are much improved, although not everything about the iPad 2 is so equally impressive.
iPad 2 UK pricing starts at £399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, and jumps up to £659 for the 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G edition.
Other models are priced as follows: 32GB Wi-Fi only at £479, 64GB Wi-Fi only at £559, 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G at £499 and 32GB Wi-Fi + 3G at £579.
Your comments (32) Click to add a new comment
jameslake
7 hours ago
32. I love this product, I honestly couldn't live without it. But if like me you were a bit shocked with the price heres a tip on how to get this item for basically a £5 and a little bit of work
All you need to do is go to www.thefreescene.co.uk and sign up for the gala bingo or any offer you like.
Its all been proven by BBC, CNN and Channel 5's Gadget Show. This is how I got mine
I hope this helps someone!
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praggy76
September 27th
31. I based my iPad 2 purchasing decision on this review and would have to say it's pretty accurate. Personnally I don't think the below par rear camera is an issue as this isn't the gadget most people will use to take snaps. Overall the iPad 2 is an excellent product that is easy to use with fantastic media options. Top stuff indeed.
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amywoods99
August 4th
30. anyone got any good/bad experiences of gaming with the ipad2? i love my iphone as its so easy and i have pages of apps and games (makes train to work actually bearable)... but getting a bit fed up of the battery running out when im playing games and i then need to call people. also thinking it would be nice to have the bigger screen especially where you need to touch very specific areas on the game screen...so yeah...just wondering if its worth spending the cash?
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mattrhysdavies
April 28th
29. Hmmmm, any idea when the iPad 3 is out?
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jeffsampson1
April 2nd
28. Although I've been checking iPad2Tracker.com everyday, it's still nearly impossible to find an iPad 2. I'm hoping that since they've entered into that contract with AUO, Apple will be able to get these things out much more quickly.
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nicolasmerritt
March 29th
27. @backstroker
We say it as we see it. End of.
Nick, Publisher, TechRadar.com
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inf2007
March 29th
26. Here are a few great educational iPad apps for kids. Both have excellent videos and narration.
The Deep Blue Kingdom -
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-deep-blue-kingdom/id425904157?mt=8&ls=1#
An Amazing Day At The Zoo -
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/an-amazing-day-at-the-zoo/id420420133?mt=8
More information at http://LearningInfinity.com
Read more: http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/10-best-ipad-apps-for-kids-937546#ixzz1Hv5XUmx5
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fromchina
March 28th
25. 2009-Poland “As part of a marketing campaign ahead of the iPhone’s launch in Poland, the country’s largest mobile operator Orange is paying dozens of actors to stand in queues.”...
..."“‘We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone,’ a spokesman said,”...
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backstroker
March 28th
24. 5 days later and still waiting (see my comment #15 from Thursday). Careful, guys, or some cynic will start suggesting dodgy practices.
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kasser
March 28th
23. Think this video really sums things up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmWnAE-SFeM
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fromchina
March 28th
22. The iPad may be the web's darling and the genesis of a new product category but its shortcomings and some ugly bugs are rearing their heads within days of the product's release.
For all its geek gadget appeal and innovation, a look at the spec sheet and Apple's support forums reveal a less than perfect device.
1. No USB
Lacking USB input, the iPad becomes a locked down device where the only peripherals you can use are ones that link through Apple's proprietary dock connector. And in case you didn't pay Apple enough for your iPad, they get a cut of every accessory as that port is licensed.
Without that USB port, you can't easily hookup a keyboard, mouse, digital camera, USB modem or any other useful add-on.
2. No presenter notes
The Mac faithful have been waiting for years for a decent portable presentation solution and they were all betting on the iPad.
Sadly, the iPad has failed to deliver. Keynote for the iPad lacks a bunch of its desktop versions' features including the ability to playback video on slides and some visual effects. And there's no way to display presenter notes on the iPad while it's connected to a projector.
3. Can't connect to wireless projectors
For a device that's being sold on its connectivity credentials, the iPad is unable to connect to the latest projectors in any way other than with Apple's optional cable.
4. Dealing with Office files
At the iPad's initial announcement, Apple made a big deal of the availability of their iWork productivity suite. Now users are fuming that they can't open Microsoft Office files and are finding all sorts of basic features missing.
Users have found that they can't create spreadsheets in Numbers and then export them for sharing with colleagues as Microsoft Excel files. Pages can import and export Word's formats but lacks support for headers and footers, footnotes and other essentials.
Keynote is causing grief with reports of poor font support, broken animations and video playback. Worse still, some edits on the iPad, when synced back to a desktop Mac, result in the loss of critical elements such as speaker's notes.
5. Flaky WiFi
One of the most active threads on Apple's iPad forums deals with weak WiFi connections with users reporting fluctuating signal strength on their iPad even where their notebooks are reporting full signal strength.
In some cases, connections are getting completely dropped and users need to re-enter WPA credentials to reconnect.
Some users have found that even when they have a reliable connection that performance is poor.
One user posted results from the speedtest.net app both on his iPhone 3GS and the new iPad. The iPad download speed was rated at 1.83 megabits/sec whereas the iPhone 3GS download speed of 14.77 megabits/sec was more than eight times faster.
6. No SD slot
Many people were hoping to use the iPad as a way to backup photos while travelling. For that, they''ll need to stump up for Apple's iPad Camera Connection Kit. The lack of an SD slot means that you need this pair of connectors that convert the dock connector to either an SD slot or USB
9. No file system access
Most handheld and portable devices appear as an external storage device when connected to a computer. That makes them handy for grabbing files from a colleague's computer. However, to copy files to the iPad's Document Manager, you'll need to use iTunes or get the files emailed to you. You can't even browse network file shares.
Micro-SIM
On one hand the use of the Micro-SIM might seem like another example of Apple being an early adopter a new standard. Or, perhaps, it's a way for Apple to keep their carrier partners happy by blocking customers from using the SIM cards from their 3G modems or mobile phones.
Either way, there's no way you'll be able to get a 3G capable iPad without at least buying a new SIM card from your carrier.
-. No printing
A portable computer that can be used on a local network, but can't talk to printers - what was Apple thinking? Everyone knows that there's no such thing as a paperless office and that being able to print documents is useful. It's not that it can't be done, as third parties have sprung up with printing solutions. But to not have it natively built into the iPad is damn annoying.
-Itunes. That's THE number one reason not to buy. Beautiful hardware, great apps by others, imovies or learning music great too but the joy of those is outweighed by the horror of itunes and more importantly the dreadful updates that make things go wrong and then you aren't allowed to roll back + being forced to use Safari - frustratingly, hair-tearing-outly BAD!
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ripsnorter
March 26th
21. @nitrofick
Wrong about you having English as your mother tongue? Certainly not about your inability to understand Gary Marshall's original article, the one you link to and patently misconstrue. It is a satirical attack on how much of the media reacts to Apple's new / updated products and not a review, as you claim.
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brianwwj
March 26th
20. I agree with this review. Guys, please dont fancy Apple product blindly.
We have to admit that there is some hassle without adobe flash player although it could drain battery for example.
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nitrofan
March 25th
19. @ripsnorer
You are of course wrong!
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opaque
March 25th
18. I can't believe widgets are seen as such an important element!
Agree about the camera, that is bad but everything else has reasons behind it. Retina screen would cost more and maybe use more power, same with flash (however good it would be to have).
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techymoon
March 24th
17. or would you prefer Apple-Brain, all fruit and no pips (seeds for growth):-)
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techymoon
March 24th
16. obviously this reviewer is a tosser|!
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backstroker
March 24th
15. How long will it be before the first thing see when I enter this site is not a headline telling me that the iPad2 is the greatest thing ever (not reflected in the article referred to, by the way).
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ripsnorter
March 24th
14. @nitrofan - Gary Marshall's article, to which you refer, is an amusing opinion piece which uses hyperbole to satirise the way the media generally react to Apple's new products. In no way is it a review of the iPad2 whatsoever. Please improve your English if you are not a native speaker of grow a sense of humour if you are.
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