There we go then: As predicted, Apple has come forth and unleashed the iPad’s second coming at a typically overblown event in San Francisco. The iPad 2 is here, making the original almost obsolete with its greatness. Or does it? Here’s what T3 thinks of the updated Apple tablet...

The T3 Team's reactions...

Matt Hill
Deputy Editor, T3
"Thinner, lighter, faster and with added camera action – while the leaps the iPad 2 makes have lost a lot of their impact due to them being second-guessed for so long, you can’t deny that it looks great and you want one more than your current iPad (although not in white, no matter how many cheers the dual-colour choice raised). Some of the more fanciful rumours (Thunderbolt support) and less fanciful ones (Retina display) were proven to be wide of the mark, and Apple has done its usual job of not changing anything too drastically, just tweaking what’s served it well within an inch of its life. It’s not as light as I hoped, but they have reinstated the screen-lock to the side switch. That’s progress."

Rob Temple
Features Editor, T3
"Faster CPU and much faster graphics, cameras facing front and back; thinner, lighter; multiple colours, slick new OS and all for the same price? Apple has done it again. Suddenly the original iPad doesn't seem so special - I didn't think I'd say that this time last year. I can't wait to get my hands on one."

Kieran Alger
Editor, T3.com
"We knew Apple wouldn't take the avalanche of tablets from other brands lying down and they've reacted pretty much as we expected. The iPad 2 is certainly better looking than version one and the inclusion of a dual core processor and front and rear facing cameras are the big wins and the HDMI is also a bonus. Overall first impressions are that we're now getting the iPad that we wanted a year ago."


Mark Mayne
Deputy Editor, T3.com
"The iPad 2 is the incremental step forward that we expected, with a sleeker, thinner design and a dual-core A5 chip that, frankly, was going to be a necessity to cope with the competition. It'll be interesting to see how FaceTime integration and the host of OS tweaks play with consumers."


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What do you think? As always we want to know your honest opinion, which you can whittle down to 140 characters on the T3 Twitter feed. The best ones will be read out in this week's T3 podcast.