iPad and iPad 2: What’s the Difference?

27 Jul 2011 | iPad Features | Andrew Pierce on Google+

What has changed between a few years ago and now? Yes, the Apple iTablet came to us. And now, people actually can choose from two generation of Apple tablet- iPad and iPad2. While it seems like these devices look basically the same, there are few cool additions to the iPad 2.

But what’s the difference? What have changed? Will take a closer look at the specs on both machines.

Updated Processor

Apple’s iPad2 is now equipped with a dual-core 1GHz A5 chip instead of the old 1GHz single-core A4 chip. iTablet users will probably more likely have stronger processor for their lovely tablets. Now they have more speed with A5 processor (“CPU x2, Graphics x9″).

Changed Dimensions

Once you take the iPad 2 into your hands, you’ll feel it’s thinner and lighter. The old one was 13.4mm thick, but now it’s 8.8mm. As for the weight, it also changed. WiFi model was 680g, but now 601g while the WiFi + 3G is down from 730g to 613g for the AT&T model and 607g for the Verizon model. As a result, iPad2 is thinner 33% and lighter 1.3 pounds.

Updated Radios

WiFi and Bluetooth in both generations remain the same (802.11 a/b/g/n and 2.1 + EDR respectively). But, the cell radio in the updated ipad has been updated. The original iPad featured EDGE plus triband HSPA while the second gen of tablet 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.

A lot of people still out in regards to how much storage the iPad 2 has, if battery life changed and if the price is different? Here are the answers:

Options for storage didn’t change, they’re just the same – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

The iPad 2’s battery life is as same as first tablet has- up to 10 hours.

And pricing surprisingly didn’t change either. iPad 2 starts at the same price as first gen iPad -$499 for the 16GB WiFi-only model.

iPad 2 does have a few completely new features:

Front and rear cameras
3G versions for AT&T and Verizon
Color option
“Smart covers” to act as a replacement to cases

So now, after reading this article, you will probably know if you need to upgrade your first gen iPad with iPad2, or which one you are actually need to buy if you don’t own one.