The Apple iPad 2 is a sleek and stylish product slighty slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. It supports the same display and resolution with a brushed aluminium unibody design. The buttons and keys on the body have seen minor adjustments, probably based on feedback. The Apple iPad 2 sports a dual core 1 GHz processor and the latest A5 graphic solution that is at least 3 times more powerful.
The iPad feels sturdier and has perforations in the body that act as a loudspeaker vent which is very good. The iPad 2 has a new cover that fits magnetically to the side of the iPad and has embedded magnets in the cover itself. The cover has rigid folds and can be easily used to prop up the iPad.. The iPad 2 has a sharper display than its predecessor and has a smaller gap between the LCD and the outer glass though the IPS panel used is the same one as used in previous models.
The Apple iPad 2 supports dual cameras, a front facing camera for video calling, and a rear camera that supports HD video recording. However the resolution of the rear camera is very less for still images as well and the image quality is quite basic with lots of grain and loss of details. However the HD Video feature is good for 3G Users.
We tested the HDMI out accessory but the video quality was very disappointing and the resulting pictures were a bit snowy, and the faces and expressions were not very detailed. The keypad on the iPad 2 is very sensitive and user friendly, but feels big to be used like a PDA, and too compact to be used as a notebook keypad.
The iPad 2 offers excellent performance with no slow down even if you use all the apps and games available. Infinity Blade had an occasional jerk but apart from that the iPad is excellent. The Apple iPad 2 has a built in accelerometer and a 3-direction gyro sensor. This is very good if you are an avid gamer. The music playback on the device is a little less warm than its predecessor. It has an excellent loudspeaker about 15 per cent more than its predecessor. The battery life of the product is very good and we got an extra 30 minutes even while playing plants and zombies.
The Apple iPad 2 is an excellent product. The hardware has some minor changes. We felt that this product was about 70 per cent marketing strategy and just 30 per cent about serving consumers. Priced at Rs 29,500 for the 16 GB model, and Rs 46,900 for the 64 GB model with 3G support, the iPad 2 is just a little costlier than its predecessor. However, it is still very expensive compared with other devices available in the market. It offers excellent performance and will make an impressive addition to your gadget collection.
PROS
Smooth interface
Speedy performance
Healthy app ecosystem
CONS
Pricey
Unsatisfactory HD upscaling