iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
Summary: A lot of people are asking me for a rundown of the differences between the original iPad and the new iPad 2 unveiled yesterday. Here's a quick rundown of what's changed, and what hasn't changed.
An updated version of this post is available here.
A lot of people are asking me for a rundown of the differences between the original iPad and the new iPad 2 unveiled yesterday. Here's a quick rundown of what's changed, and what hasn't changed.
Dimensions - CHANGED (slightly)
While the overall footprint of the iPad 2 is the same as that of the iPad, the thickness has gone down from 13.4mm to 8.8mm. The weight is also down for all models (WiFi model down from 680g to 601g while the WiFi + 3G is down from 730g to 613g for the AT&T model and 607g for the Verizon model.
Screen - UNCHANGED
No change here - The iPad 2 makes use of the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS 1024 x 768 screen as the original iPad. At this point one unknown relating to the screen is what graphics processor Apple has used. The original iPad used a PowerVR SGX 535 chip. We'll have to wait for the teardowns to find this out.
Processor - UPDATED
Out with the old 1GHz single-core A4 chip, and in with a dual-core 1GHz A5 chip. The original A4 featured 256MB of RAM while the iPhone 4 has 512MB. Again, we're going to have to wait for the teardowns to appear to know if this has changed.
Storage - UNCHNAGED
The options for storage remain the same - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.
Radios - UPDATED
While WiFi and Bluetooth ramain the same (802.11 a/b/g/n and 2.1 + EDR respectively) the cell radio in the updated ipad has been updated. The original iPad featured EDGE plus triband HSPA while the iPad 2 features EDGE plus quadband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) for the AT&T versions and CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) for the Verizon model.
Price - UNCHANGED
The price remains unchanged for all models - iPad 2 starts at $499 for the 16GB WiFi-only model.
New features
There are a few features completely new to the iPad 2. Here's a rundown:
- Front-facing VGA camera
- Rear-facing 720p camera
- Gyroscope
- New case (optional) that is attached by magnets (how DO they work? ;) and features a microfibre surface.
- HDMI output dongle (optional).
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Talkback
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
This tablet still fails to amaze me.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
If I owned an Ipad 1, I wouldn't necessarily jump and get the 2. I am still trying to decide if I want to try out the wifi only xoom (whenever it comes out) or an wifi only iPad..or maybe both to try them out and compare.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
shayneneal at gmail dot com
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
Why does it still fail to amaze you?
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
It's still a big iPod touch. It's mostly still a 1st gen iPad.
There's nothing amazing about it.
It is a 1st gen iPad with a camera and a processor that's roughly equivalent to what all the other tablets have now.
And that camera isn't going to be any better than the camera you already have on your phone.
That's not only "not amazing", but "not even compelling enough to upgrade from iPad 1".
And if you didn't buy an iPad 1, you aren't going to find reason with this one to buy an iPad 2 - unless you REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to webcam with a tablet.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
Lack of Lithium, my meds ran out.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
If you really want to be amazed, do the same thing I did and purchase an Android tablet. It's only when you use the competition for a while that the iPad fully amazes. It's not just a little bit better... it's significantly better!
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
I'm a iPad fan but have to agree. It is a nice refresh but nothing really earth shaking which I have come to expect from Apple. I expected to at least see the Thunderbolt port on the iPad2.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
iPod, touch-screen iPod, iPhone - those were earth shaking. The iPad is a giant iPod touch, nothing ground breaking. I have a Galaxy Tab, which I LOVE, and it's just a giant (perfectly sized) Samsung Epic.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
If that's the case then who would buy the Xoom? I mean if dual core, more ram, faster graphics, the addition of front and rear camers, a case that is 1/3 thinner and a device that is a quarter pound lighter is not interesting enough to upgrade, who consider a Xoom?
I love the later comment that the processor is just equal to existing tablets. First, you don't know that but assuming it is true the tech press had a gagetgassam over the dual core in the Xoom that shipped.....2 weeks earlier!
The iPad 2 is state of the art hardware in a package the rest of the industry can't come close to touching. Get over the disappointment that it didn't double in resolution. I'm betting that a future revision will get there but only once some manufacture can guarantee 30 million units at similar prices to what the current displays cost last year.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
It's a thought.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
Hearing Impaired - CC
I'm hearing impaired myself and I just got the ipad2... i've been looking around to figure out how I can use CC for movies or tv shows I watch on my iPad2. I have the HBO Go apps and theres no CC, so since Im new to the iPad, i'm trying to find help to get CC working on apps that don't have CC included. It seems like you use CC on your ipad very often. Hope you can be a great help...
hearing impaired - CC
and if you can, email me at jdrberg@gmail.com
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
Still no USB port, which makes the iPad little more than a shiny expensive toy.
Still stuck with Apple's lousy web browser.
Still stuck with Apple's lousy iTunes software.
No thanks.
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
As opposed to?
USB Support is overrated, Haven?t needed it for my iPod in all the years I?ve owned an iPod.
You don?t like Apple?s web browser? Don?t buy an Apple product. Maybe you?ll like the New Windows CE Embedded product that may come out later this year? Or maybe one of these nifty Android powered tablets. To each their own.
For some strange reason iTunes sucks on Windows. I doubt that Apple would put out an inferior product on another OS. If people aren?t happy with iTunes, they may not buy more of Apple?s products. Who would stand to gain the most from perceived problems with an Apple software product?
RE: iPad vs. iPad 2 - What's changed?
"I doubt that Apple would put out an inferior product on another OS."
Your doubt is wrong. iTunes is universally deplored on the PC. Why? "Well, it works better on a Mac ;) "
Go read Ed Bott's iTunes entries to see why.