Apple announced its new iPad 2 on March 2nd and I figured I would do a comparison with the original iPad to let you decide if this is what you have been waiting for, or, if you already own the original, if it is worth upgrading.
The Improvements
The iPad 2 is both thinner and lighter than the original, weighing in at just 1.3 pounds and measuring .34” thick. The device now sports dual-core processors, a 2X faster CPU and 9X faster graphics. The tablet also has App mirroring (so you can play Plants vs. Zombies on the big screen), and also adds both front- and rear-facing cameras, and applications such as iMovie and PhotoBooth that take advantage of them. The iPad 2 will also offer iOS 4.3 which offers improved support for AirPlay, iTunes home sharing, and the ability to customize how the lock switch works on the side of the device.
A new native Garage Band application is also an outstanding addition to the iPad 2 from a musician’s standpoint. Instruments can be plugged into the side of the tablet, allowing musicians to record and mix up to 8 tracks of audio on their device.
The fact that Apple will be selling the new iPad for the same price as the original makes the iPad 2 a clear winner.
How the Battle Plays Out
Want to see how the battle between the two tablets looks spec by spec? I’ve created this awesome chart to let you see how the iPad 2 looks next to its older brother.
iPad vs iPad 2 Comparison Chart
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Display |
9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology |
9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology |
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Processor |
1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip |
1GHz dual-core Apple A5 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip |
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RAM |
256 RAM |
TBA |
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Capacity |
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive |
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive |
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Wireless and Cellular |
Wi-Fi model Wi-Fi + 3G model UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) |
Wi-Fi model Wi-Fi + 3G model: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Wi-Fi + 3G for Verizon model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) |
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Battery and Power |
Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery |
Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using 3G data network |
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Sensors |
Accelerometer |
Three-axis gyro |
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Cameras |
None |
Back camera: Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still camera with 5x digital zoom Front camera: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera |
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Other Features |
3.5-mm stereo headphone jack Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable |
3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (cables sold separately) |
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Price |
WiFi only: 16 GB – $ 399 32 GB – $ 499 64 GB – $ 599
WiFi + 3G: 16 GB – $ 529 32 GB – $ 629 64 GB – $ 729 |
WiFi only: 16 GB – $ 499 32 GB – $ 599 64 GB – $ 699
WiFi + 3G: 16 GB – $ 629 32 GB – $ 729 64 GB – $ 829 |
Conclusion
I feel like the features you get for $ 100 dollars more are indeed worth getting the iPad 2 over the original iPad if you don’t already own the original iPad. If you do own the original iPad, unless you can sell it for what Apple is selling it for now I do not see the need in paying $ 500+ for these new upgraded specs.
That said, I still cannot find myself in the market for any tablet devise just yet. One of the main reasons I would buy a tablet is to watch movies and listen to music. I have transferred all of my dvd’s and cd’s to digital versions and require at least a 500 GB hard drive or support for an external usb hard drive. Since none of the popular tablets out on the market have this large of a hard drive or external usb hard drive support I find myself still playing the waiting game.
These are very nice devices with applications that give it a vast amount of functionality. I highly recommend both of them.