Design and Build

The iPad 2 of 2011, which was available in a 9.7-inch model, has a thinner aluminum body with rounded edges. The dimensions are as follows: 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34 inches (241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm), while the weight is 1.33 pounds (601g Wi-Fi, 613g 3G). The device is released in Silver color (black or white bezel feature), it comes with a Home button but no Touch ID and a 30-pin connector. There is no Apple Pencil or keyboard support. No IP rating. This gadget has got the acknowledgement from users for its design, which is not only just light but also thin, although the port is what they consider as outdated.

• Aluminum chassis with rounded edges
• Home button, no Touch ID
• 30-pin connector
• No Apple Pencil or keyboard support
• No water/dust resistance

iPad 2 Display

The iPad 2 features a 9.7-inch IPS LCD display (1024 x 768, 132 PPI) with a 60Hz refresh rate and no True Tone or wide color. Brightness is ~300 nits. The non-laminated display lacks stylus support. The iPad 2 makes use of a 9.7-inch IPS LCD display (1024 x 768, 132 PPI) with a 60Hz refresh rate and is not equipped with any True Tone or wide color. The brightness is around 300 nits. The non-laminated screen does not possess stylus support.

• 9.7-inch: IPS LCD, 60Hz
• Resolution: 1024 x 768, 132 PPI
• Brightness: ~300 nits
• No True Tone or wide color
• Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating

Performance and Software

Utilizing the core processing capabilities of the Apple A5 chip (2-core CPU, PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU), the iPad 2 is equipped with 512MB RAM and storage options of 16GB ($499), 32GB, or 64GB (up to $699). It is powered by iOS 4 (upgradable to iOS 9.3.5) and students can hire architects for basic multitasking, while at the same time, no modern features are allowed. The A5 was somewhat faster than the A4 but doesn’t bring a high result today. People value it being predictable, but they still have to mention grave app and software limitations.

• Apple A5 chip, 2-core CPU, PowerVR GPU
• 512MB RAM
• Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
• iOS 4 (up to iOS 9.3.5)
• No modern feature support

The A5 is outdated, and iOS 9.3.5 limits functionality.

Camera System

The iPad 2 has a built-in rear camera of 0.7MP (f/2.4, 720p 30fps) and a front camera of VGA (0.3MP, 480p 30fps). It does not have the feature of HDR or other advanced camera features. The cameras are minimum for video calls and scanning. However, the video quality is still not satisfactory to the users, as the resolution is too low and also due to the device's large size.

• Rear: 0.7MP (f/2.4)
• Front: 0.3MP (VGA)
• Video: 720p 30fps (rear), 480p 30fps (front)
• No advanced features

Battery and Charging

The iPad 2 has a 6930mAh battery, lasting ~10 hours for video playback and 8–9 hours in real-world use. It supports 10W charging via 30-pin connector (full charge in ~4 hours), with a 10W charger included. No wireless charging. Battery life matches the iPad 1. Users report solid endurance for light use.

• Battery: 6930mAh
• Video playback: ~10h
• Real-world: 8–9h
• 10W wired charging
• 10W 30-pin charger included

Connectivity

The iPad 2 supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 2.1, and optional 3G on cellular models ($629+). It includes micro-SIM and GPS (A-GPS on 3G). The 30-pin connector limits data transfer. Connectivity is dated but stable for its era. Users note slow 3G speeds.

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 3G (cellular models)
• Micro-SIM
• GPS: A-GPS (3G)
• 30-pin connector

Pricing and Availability

Launched at $499 (16GB Wi-Fi), the iPad 2 began sales on March 11, 2011, via Apple and retailers. 3G models add $130. Storage reaches 64GB ($699). Discontinued in March 2014, it’s available used for $50–$200. The iPad 3 adds a Retina display, but the iPad 2 is a budget option for basic tasks.