Released a year after its groundbreaking predecessor, the iPad 2 is a little lighter, a lot thinner and considerably faster than the original. It also now has cameras. However, the screen and operating system remain the same, so the overall user experience is not that much different – though if...

Still the easiest to use tablet; Super-light and super-thin

Poor quality cameras

As cocky as it may seem, when Steve Jobs boasts that most of the new 2011 tablets are no match for the original Apple iPad, he has a point. Currently, only the Motorola Xoom (Verizon Wireless) ($599-$799, 3.5 stars) shows enough promise to compete with Apple's tablet.

Thinner than the original; New A5 chip offers faster graphics processing, general performance; Dual cameras for video chat, HD video recording, and stills; Improved design incorporates internal magnets for Smart Cover accessory; 3G versions available on AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Image quality with rear-facing camera is not great; Front-facing camera is not HD; Still no Flash video support; No earbuds included

The Apple iPad 2 is finally here. It's a device that has been a year in the making. We've pretty much been picturing what the iPad 2 would and would not include ever since Steve Jobs donned his famous turtleneck to announce the prequel back on 27 January 2010 and we bet plenty of you have too.

An awesome tablet which improves on an already successful platform

No display resolution bump; trouble with backlight bleeding

The Apple iPad 2 Wi-Fi is the same product as the 3G-enabled version except for the fact that your access to the internet is limited to areas with Wi-Fi. If you can live without the wider coverage offered by 3G and limit tasks that require internet connectivity to hotspots, this is the one to get.

At an MRP ranging from Rs. 29,500 for the 16 GB model, to 46,900 for the 64 GB model with 3G support, the iPad 2 is only slightly costlier than its predecessor, but more expensive than any other tablet on the market.

Smooth interface; Speedy performance; Healthy app ecosystem

Pricey; Unsatisfactory HD upscaling

APPLE'S SECOND GENERATION TABLET has arrived in the UK in the form of the Ipad 2 , and we've got our hands on one at The INQUIRER to see how it shapes up compared to the first model and other tablets available.

Thin and light; reliable operating system; same battery life as previous Ipad but better performance

Still no support for Flash; no USB or HDMI; Poor cameras

Another top tablet from Apple, but this one feels so much lighter and smaller without losing the screen size

Slim; Fast; Multitude of apps

Not different enough to warrant an upgrade; Screen scratches easily

Update : Check out our new iPad 3 review The Apple iPad 2 might be getting a little longer in the tooth, but it's still a viable option in the tablet market. Can iOS 5.1 - soon to be iOS 6 - give it a decent refresh?

Everybody wishes the iPad 2 had a higher-resolution display like the iPhone 4, but Apple didn't even have to go there yet. All Apple did was put the iPad on a treadmill. The tablet shed some weight and gained some speed to become the iPad 2 , and it's incredible what a difference that makes.

Skinnier profile shows mercy to your joints; Big performance boost makes apps, games and web browsing more zippy; Same 0 starting price and 10-hour battery life

Mediocre cameras make still photos look slimy; Thinner body makes physical buttons on the side a little harder to press

Seamless hardware and interface design, plus an unparalleled ecosystem of apps, keep the iPad 2 a step ahead of the emerging tablet pack. You'll want to be aware of some important factors, though, before picking a data carrier.

Fast performance; Super-thin design; Support for FaceTime; Superb media-sharing; browsing improvements in new iOS; Choice in data carriers

Poor camera quality; Still lacking Flash support; USB port; HDMI; SD-card adapters cost extra; Won't run on 4G network