Ready for the next gen iPad? | Review

In just a less than a year with almost 15 million devices sold, Apple unveiled the second-gen of the iPad phenomenon. And this time the design is outstandingly brilliant and the aesthetics gets an improvement. iPad 2 seriously raised the bar through its sleek, sexy, lighter, nimble and mobile hardware.

The Next-Gen iPad 2

The first thing you'll definitely notice about the iPad 2 is that it's unbelievably thin (33% thicker). At its thickest point, the tablet is just 0.34-inch. The plastic plate makes it 15% lighter than it’s been ever before even if the back is carved of metal, demanding a protective case (Smart Cover). The device is slightly shorter than the previous model (at 9.5-inches tall), but also slightly less wide (just 7.3-inches versus the iPad's 7.47-inches). It looks and feels amazingly sleek - quite a feat considering what's packed inside the slate.

Talking about the soul features, while the iOS 4.3 holds its position, Apple has replaced last year's A4 CPU with a new, 1GHz dual core chip called as the A5. Memory has been increased from 256 MB to 512 MB DDR2. The screen is identical to the previous model, a 1024 x 768, stronger 9.7-inch IPS display with LED backlighting and a fingerprint and scratch-resistant oleophobic coating. The iPad has a 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that lasts 10 hours, like the original iPad. The battery is 2.5 mm thick, 59% smaller than the original and has three cells instead of two. It is charged via USB or included 10-watt, 2-amp power adapter.

This time iPad's mono speaker got relocated to the back of the device. The sound is clear; thanks to its Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo surround sound. Other specifications include 5x digital zoom VGA Dual cameras for video chat, HD video recording and stills, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3G cellular HSDPA, 2G cellular EDGE, Geolocation, Assisted GPS, Apple databases, Improved AirPlay features and HDMI output (via optional adapter). And it should be noted that under the App Store over 65000 Apps are ready and waiting to get your hands on.

Apple offers both white and black versions of the iPad 2 in every price and configuration. The base model starts at Rs. 24,500 giving you 16GB of storage and a Wi-Fi. If you want more storage for all your applications, photos, music, and videos, you can jump up to the 32GB (Rs. 29,500) or 64GB (Rs. 34,500) models. 3G versions are also available in all the models for an extra Rs. 6000-7000.