Apple iPad 2 Review

Update: You can also read our Apple iPad 3 review!

Introduction:

Amazingly, the tablet market has evolved tremendously over the course of the last year thanks to the revolutionary onset of the Apple iPad. Prior to its release, tablets were merely thought of as secondary devices, or even expensive luxuries that rendered them almost completely incapable of reaching mass appeal. However, the iPad surely has taken things to an entirely new direction as consumers gobbled it up thanks mostly to its intuitive operation, portability, and more importantly, its manageable low cost of ownership.

Naturally, it’s only expected to find its successor, the iPad 2, to step things up a notch in various aspects to make it a moderate improvement over its predecessor. And rightfully so, we’re greeted with a product that pushes the envelope in the design and hardware department, while still retaining that gold standard of being ticketed with a minimum $500 cost of ownership. Precisely on cue, its arrival should stem the tide of recent competitive offerings from tampering with its reach, but let’s hope that the tablet experience is up to the task of complementing its fashionable exterior and impressive hardware.

The package contains:

• Apple iPad 2
• USB Cable
• Wall Charger
• Apple Decals

Design:

Let’s get the obvious out of the way, but the first thing to catch our eyes with the iPad 2 is none other than its impressive slim profile. Just when we thought that the original iPad was a piece of work in terms of design, Apple’s engineers truly did a number in cutting out a lot of the fat from its body – leaving it almost unimaginably lean. In fact, it went from the original’s 0.50” thickness, all the way down to a mind boggling 0.34” thick – which is even thinner than the iPhone 4!

Besides its razor thin profile, the overall industrial design of the iPad 2 remains the same, though, we’re presented with tapered edges that comfortably provide a decent amount of grip when holding it with both hands. And of course, its brushed aluminum back cover exudes that utmost premium finish that’s generally accompanied by most of Apple’s products. For something packing a decently sized touchscreen, its weight is also reduced to a mere 1.3 pounds and requires little effort in holding it. Meanwhile, its solid construction tastefully makes the iPad 2 one magnificent looking tablet that doesn’t skimp out with even the smallest of details. However, you may want to exercise some caution in handling the iPad 2 since it would most likely not look too pretty after being dropped from a substantial height.





We’re presented with the same exact 9.7” IPS display that boasts a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Sure there are other tablets on the market right now with slightly higher screen resolutions, but when you gaze straight at it, there’s no arguing the kind of brilliance that it embodies. Relatively speaking, there is no problem in making out even the tiniest of text, but it doesn’t quite have the same sharpness that’s evident with the iPhone 4’s Retina Display. Despite that, we’re actually still mesmerized by its naturally colorful output and blinding luminance that manages to retain itself at all viewing angles. Even more, we still find it quite viewable under the presence of the sun, however, it’s obviously mostly distinguishable when set to the maximum brightness setting. So even though we don’t see an upgrade with its display, it’s still nonetheless admirable in getting the job done.



Customary at this point, the recessed home button is located at its usual position beneath the touchscreen. Fittingly, it still provides that springy response when it’s pushed down – which translates to zero accidental presses. Thankfully, the iPad 2 is given the functionality of video chatting thanks to the 0.3-megapixel VGA front facing camera found above its display.


If you happen to get the 3G version of the iPad 2, you’ll find its microSIM card slot placed at the upper left corner of the device – with a pinhole next to it that’s used to access the slot. Meanwhile, both the silence switch and volume rocker are placed at their identical positions on the right edge of the tablet. Prominent in nature, they’re both easily distinguishable to feel out – with that solid tactile response with the volume rocker.


Also, there is a small black strip located on the top edge with the 3G versions of the iPad 2 which houses the tablet’s built-in 3G modems – whether it be compatible with Verizon’s or AT&T’s 3G network. Moreover, the 3.5mm headset jack, microphone, and the angled dedicated power button round up the items located on the top side of the iPad 2. Conversely, the proprietary 30-pin connection port and the notches for the speaker are all found at the bottom edge.


In the rear, we’re greeted to that instantly recognizable Apple logo that’s placed dead center, with the rear camera placed towards the upper left corner. Sadly, there isn’t much love with the rear camera, but we’ll expand on that a little bit later on.

Interface:

Arriving on scene at the nick of time, Apple’s latest tablet is packing some serious heat that should play nicely against the competition out there. Getting a substantial boost thanks to its dual-core Apple A5 processor, its speed boost might not be too evident when executing some basic functions, like kinetic scrolling or pinch zooming, but it’s absolutely noticeable with more processor intensive apps. Following on the principles set forth by the platform, everything seems to scream at an alarming rate with the iPad 2. Even more, we’re actually impressed with some of the results it manages to produce with certain benchmarking apps out there. Certainly, there are very few instances that can truly test the iPad 2 at this point, but we’re confident that it’ll still be able to withstand just about anything put in front of it in the future.

Although we knew ahead of time what to expect with its release, we’re still saddened by the fact that the iOS experience on the iPad 2 is essentially more of the same. Regretfully, this is our one major complaint beyond anything else foremost because there is barely any recognizable evidence of improvements with iOS on the surface – especially with its lackluster personalization and obtrusive notifications system. Again, we’re greeted with the same old grid-like homescreens that are filled with finger friendly sized icons – albeit, there is plenty of distance between them all. In terms of personalizing the look of iOS, we’re generally left with simple things like changing the wallpaper, rearranging the icons, and creating folders. On another note, iOS as a whole is an absolutely simplistic and straightforward platform that’s very easy to learn for even new users. All in all, the core experience of iOS 4.3 on the iPad 2 is still way too similar to the iPhone experience, and hopefully in due time, we’ll see its homescreen personalization transform to better adapt to its tablet form.

Swiping to the left most homescreen pane, the on-screen keyboard will pop up and bring you to spotlight search. Essentially, you can begin typing and it’ll accumulate all the associated items related to your search. If you’re not particularly certain about what to look for, it’ll automatically aggregate any relevant content – like music, videos, contacts, apps, and bookmarks. But in the worse care scenario when it’s something not stored locally, it’ll provide you the option of either searching the web or Wikipedia for it.

Today, most applications are enabled to take advantage of the multi-tasking elements found with iOS, and that’s why it works seamlessly with the iPad 2 – especially now more than ever thanks to its blazing dual-core processor. Performing a double press on the home button will uncover the running apps in the background. Not only do we adore the ability to switch between apps instantly, we also like how certain ones will continue to run in the background while doing something else. For example, you can play music through Pandora while using a GPS app for turn-by-turn directions – and of course, the two work in tandem flawlessly.

Contacts:

The contacts app is laid out similarly to a physical address book that’s increasingly losing its presence amongst people since they mainly rely on their snazzy smartphones, but nonetheless, it mimics the look and style of a physical one. On the left pane, we find a scrollable listing of all our contacts, while on the right, it’ll display all the associated information for each individual. Strangely, there isn’t an option to sync contacts over the air when we set up our Gmail account on the iPad 2. Instead, you’re required to connect it to iTunes to get them over. And as always, you can have as many contacts in your address book as long as you have sufficient memory – plus, there’s plenty of detailed information to associate with each person. Is it functional? Of course! However, it would be nice to see an option for syncing contacts when you set up email.



Organizer:

Whether it be regarded as good or bad, pretty much all of the organizer apps on the iPad 2 remain the same as what we’ve seen with the original. Then again, some people out there will like the unchanged format, while others will yearn for a makeover.

Launching the calendar, it takes full advantage of the roomy confines of the iPad 2’s display since it’s mostly comprised of two panels when using it in either the list or day views. You have the ability to create different calendars, each with its own color, so you can easily distinguish them. The month view is now showing all your appointments inside each day, and the other views are also full of additional detail.

There is a note pad function available. When a new note is added and saved, a small description is shown on the main screen with the time that the note was added. When adding a new note, the keyboard will appear, and from there, you can begin typing whatever you want. Luckily, you can now sync notes you have stored with your email services so that you’ll never have to worry about losing them.


Some other organizer apps are missing right out of the box, like an alarm clock, calculator, world clock, and timer, but you can always get those from the App Store, if you need them.

Messaging:

Obviously, it’s still always nice to see options when it comes down to inputting text, but of course, we’re only presented with the same keyboard layout on the iPad 2. Not to say that it’s a bad thing, especially when it works almost flawlessly in operation, but we’re hoping to see the process being sped up by giving us quicker access to both numbers and some commonly used punctuations. In portrait, the on-screen keyboard might be too unwieldy for those with smaller fingers because it requires plenty of travel with your thumbs. However, the landscape option offers a spacious familiar layout that enables us to accurately type up long messages without that many problems thanks to its large size buttons.


The e-mail application is rather unchanged and remains the same, but then again, it’s somewhat difficult to fathom it moving away from its current structure. When in landscape mode, the user is presented to a split-screen view, with the inbox on the left, and the content of the selected message on the right. Pretty nice of course, but this has somehow become the layout that’s in use with almost every tablet out there on the market. Setting up email is a breeze seeing that it mainly requires your email address and password for automatic setup. Albeit, it might require some additional pieces of information for some of the less popular clients out there – like server addresses and ports.


Connectivity and Data:

Luckily, customers have plenty of choices to go with the iPad 2 since there are versions that will work specifically with the 3G networks of Verizon and AT&T. However, it’s worth noting that AT&T’s version is a GSM enabled device that will work globally as opposed to the domestic use only of the CDMA Verizon iPad 2. In the event you’re out of any cellular data network, you can always fall back on using the iPad 2’s 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. In our usage, it manages to keep a steady strong connection to an access point that’s placed approximately 30 feet away. Furthermore, it features aGPS which will identify your location, and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR to get other wireless devices to connect with it. In our experience, we’re able to get a lock on to our location with Google Maps after 10 seconds of loading the app.

Truthfully, the web browsing experience with the iPad 2 is still feverishly favorable since it hits high marks in mainly all categories. From its silky smooth kinetic scrolling to responsive pinch zooming, there’s no denying the usability of Safari on the iPad 2; aside from the fact that it omits Flash support to this day. Complex web sites load in an unprecedented manner compared to the competition, but at the same time, it perfectly renders it like what you see on any desktop browser out there. Additionally, we like how most sites will automatically load in full fidelity – as opposed to their mobile friendly versions. Combining its swift response and glorious display, web browsing is like a dream come true with the iPad 2 since it’s by far the preferable choice while getting comfy and sitting down on the living room couch.

Camera:

One complaint that’s shared by some original iPad owners is that Apple left out one key ingredient that would solidify the original’s arsenal – a camera! Well, the Cupertino based company made sure to pack not only one, but two cameras with the iPad 2 since it fittingly follows upon the theme of two. However, don’t start clapping your hands or sending Apple some adulation just yet because the rear camera has a maximum still shot resolution of 960 x 720 pixels – which translates to something almost close to 0.7-megapixels. Obviously, it won't raise eyes for any serious photographers out there.

Horrifically, the camera interface is an exact port of what’s found on the iPhone, and it’s safe to say that designers didn’t bother to think about its layout. By far the biggest frustration we have with it is the location of the on-screen shutter when holding the tablet in landscape. Instead of placing it closer to the sides, the shutter key is located directly in the middle of the bottom edge – which is rather difficult to access if you’re steadying the iPad 2 with each hand grasping onto its sides.

When shooting a photo, the natural inclination for those familiar with using an iPhone is to press an area on the screen to kick in touch focus. Instead, it now simply adjusts the exposure according to the area you’ve pressed. In terms of quality, we’ll be frank and to the point with this one, but it’s just terribly horrendous. Not only are we presented with muddy looking images that lack a good amount of discernable details, but color production isn’t as rich as we’d hope for. Even worse is its performance indoors in low lighting conditions because it’s filled with an abundance of digital noise that reduces it to nothing more than a garbled mess. So don't imagine taking photos with the iPad 2 just for the fun of it. It's clear that the camera on this thing is meant to be used for video chats, augmented reality and other applications which might need it, but not for photography.



Meanwhile, its 720p video capture is just a tad bit more tolerable seeing that is shoots at the peppy rate of 29 frames per second – which naturally makes it look acceptably smooth. As you move and pan around to different areas, the exposure will automatically adjust, however, you can manually do this by simply touching any portion of the display while shooting. Details are for the most part satisfactory, and we’re also glad to see it capturing some rich sounding audio that doesn’t seem distorted in any way.

Apple iPad 2 Sample Video:



Having a VGA front facing camera, it’s more than equipped in handling video chat via FaceTime. Although we’re still restricted to using it over Wi-Fi, our interest in it doesn’t falter for one bit because it proves to be quite usable in execution. Granted that it’s pixelated due to the iPad 2’s large display, its responsive action in registering movements is immaculate over pretty much anything else out there. Moreover, voices are crisp and easily comprehensible which basically makes for one satisfying video chatting experience.

Multimedia:

With the latest build of iOS, there is nothing new found with its music player – sadly. In all honesty, especially when it’s equipped with a dual-core processor, it would’ve been nice to see at least some kind of Cover Flow action in play with the iPad 2 – but instead, we’re presented with the same experience. When playing a song, it’ll of course display the album cover, track information, and on-screen controls, but if you have a desire to change the equalizer setting, you’ll have to work your way back to the Settings Menu. Since it’s speaker is placed more at an angle, the iPad 2 is better at dispersing audio and still provides plenty of powerful tones. Thankfully, its output is tolerable and doesn’t crackle when set to the highest volume setting.


Even though it sports a 4:3 aspect ratio, it’s still a pleasure to watch videos on the iPad 2’s crisp looking display. Also taking into consideration the zippy Apple A5 processor beating profusely within it, high-definition videos have no problem in playing at all. With buttery smooth playback, iridescent looking colors, and rich details, there is no denying that the iPad 2 is one ideal traveling companion for those long trips.


If you decide to purchase the optional $39 digital AV adapter for the iPad 2, you can seamlessly output the iPad 2’s display on your high definition television. One end plugs directly into its 30-pin connection port, while the other end is simply your regular HDMI cable that gets connected to your television. Naturally, it’s very nice to easily share content since it enables you to interact with the iPad 2 while seeing its content being display simultaneously. Definitely a nice thing indeed, but it even has the ability to output 1080p videos stored locally on the iPad 2.

Available in the same exact capacities as before, consumers will have the option of choosing Wi-Fi only models that cost $499, $599, and $699 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64 GB variants. In addition to them are the 3G enabled versions for AT&T and Verizon that add another $130 premium to their totals.

Software:

It is a nice touch by Apple to include the new Photo Booth app. In fact, when you tap on the icon, you’re instantly transported to this interesting looking 9-paneled interface that breaks down each unique photo effect – these include thermal, mirror, x-ray, kaleidoscope, normal, light tunnel, squeeze, twirl, and stretch effects. Obviously, it provides you a preview of what the image will look like, but when you click on one, you’re then positioned to take the shot. Without a doubt, it makes for some funny looking photos at first, but after a while, it’s seen more as a novel thing than anything else.



You know that Google has their attention on something else since the Google Maps experience on the iPad 2 hasn’t received any improvements. Regardless of that, it’s optimized to take advantage of the tablet’s wealthy sized display – while still offering the most basic of features. In addition to getting directions, it features things like satellite view, traffic overlays, and street view. Nonetheless, it would be nice to see some integration with other Google services like Latitude or Buzz – then again, you should probably be looking at an Android tablet at that point.


The YouTube app works very well – despite being a carryover from the original iPad. Making use of every nook and cranny, the app is well thought out with its layout since it strategically positions content in relevant positions. Specifically, videos play in one area, while another displays its description, and yet another will aggregate both comments and related videos. When connected to a 3G network, videos will play in standard quality, however, you’ll get high quality videos when connected via Wi-Fi.


Being a tablet and all, the iPad 2 makes for a great tool when it comes down to reading – and boy do we mean reading. The iBooks app is like any other generic ebook reader out there as it emulates the look and feel of actually reading a book. With text being sufficient in size, it makes for an enjoyable experience – however, we’d recommend turning down the brightness if you plan on reading for an extended period of time.


And finally, the Apple iPad 2 is already being catered to meet the stringent demands of hardcore games out there since it packs things like a compass, accelerometer, and most importantly, a gyroscope. Furthermore, seeing that we have a snazzy dual-core Apple A5 chipset, it should undoubtedly make games run at a blistering rate. In our test, we easily experienced smooth movements and sharp graphics as we traversed the world in Epic Citadel. In contrast to the original’s performance, the iPad 2 clearly has an advantage already since it flawlessly provides a steady frame rate when intricate effects, such as smoke, come into view. Of course, we’re confident that developers will be able to create graphically rich titles that are specifically tailored to run with its dual-core chipset.

Performance:

In our time using AT&T’s 3G version of the iPad 2, it’s able to retain a solid connection to the network in high coverage areas. More importantly, it doesn’t fluctuate adversely or completely lose connection.

Considered a marvelous feat in its own regard, Apple’s engineers have managed to impressively make the latest iPad 33 percent thinner than its predecessor – while still retaining its purported 10 hours of continuous video playback. Strictly using Wi-Fi and manually setting its brightness to the 50 percent mark, we’re able to get at least two solid days of normal usage with the iPad 2. Clearly it’s more than acceptable since even heavy users can go on for even a good day without the worry of charging it.

Conclusion: 

As much as Apple touts its wonderfully new slimmer design, which we openly agree as being eye catching, one of the most alluring things about the iPad 2 is its spot on pricing. At $500 for the entry-level model, you’re presented with a fantastic looking tablet that’s filled with plenty of goodies to make it a worthy successor. Although it might not be a dramatic leap over its original in terms of pure hardware upgrades, it’s fittingly more in line as being an evolutionary step for the line. In addition, there’s no arguing that Apple is going to sell a boatload of iPad 2s, especially when they have a tight grasp on the market right now in this category, but there is one alarming concern that we have.

Of all things, the biggest eyesore with the iPad 2 is its stale and stagnant iOS experience that hasn’t necessarily reached a new level in keeping up with the times. Still slim when it comes to the personalization aspect of iOS, we just feel that it’s time to see the platform overhauled – much like what we see with Android 3.0 Honeycomb to separate it from its smartphone OS sibling. As much as we adore its simple nature, it’s going to require some work in polishing up some key aspects of its interface to truly deliver that surreal next world tablet experience. Looking at the rapid pace that Android is evolving, iOS will quickly need to follow in a similar structure with each new iPad release in order to keep its masterful hold on the market.

Software version of the reviewed unit: iOS 4.3 (8F191)

Apple iPad 2 Video Review: