iPad 2 Review Roundup: Thinner, Faster, 512MB RAM, You’ll Want One

Reviews for iPad 2 are starting to appear, and as expected, they’re overwhelmingly positive and generally conclude that it’s the best tablet on the market. Aside from lavishing praise on the new model, several of the reviewers also confirm one of the iPad 2 specs that every geek was wondering about; iPad 2 has 512MB of RAM.

From a technical standpoint, Engadget probably has the best review, complete with tests on battery life, browser performance, samples from the camera, and a solid software overview. Here’s what they ultimately conclude:

It might frustrate the competition to hear this, but it needs to be said: the iPad 2 isn’t just the best tablet on the market, it feels like the only tablet on the market. As much as we’d like to say that something like the Xoom has threatened Apple’s presence in this space, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to do that.

And Daring Fireball:

The fact is, Apple got it right with the iPad 1 in almost every way, and the iPad 2 reflects that. If you didn’t like the original iPad, you’re not going to like the iPad 2. If you liked the original iPad, you’re going to like the iPad 2 even better.

And Wall Street Journal:

iPad 2 moves the goal posts [of tablets], by being slimmer and lighter, boosting speed and power, and holding its price advantages, available apps and battery life. As of now, I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers.

And New York Times:

…that much improvement in thinness, weight and speed transforms the experience.

And MacWorld:

The iPad 2 raises the bar Apple set a year ago—and it’s time for the rest of the industry to scramble again to catch up.

In other words, you’ll want an iPad 2, and current tablet comparisons don’t matter much because there isn’t any competition yet.

iPad 2 will be available on March 11. If you want to get one on release day here’s where you can buy one, but you should expect lines.