CNET ran the SunSpider JavaScript test on both an iPad 2 and an original iPad running last week’s gold master build of iOS 4.3. Though the new iPad has a dual core processor, it only ran the JavaScript tests 1.5 times faster than the first iPad on average, leading Ars to speculate that the A5 is not based around Cortex A9 cores but rather two of the A8 cores found in original iPad’s A4. Furthermore, CNET found that the original iPad running the 4.3 build generally ran faster than one running 4.2, suggesting that users of iPads both old and new could see a significant speed increase when 4.3 rolls out.
Of course, as developers start writing graphic-intensive apps tailored for the iPad 2′s beefed up guts, the disparity between the two will become more prominent. But if you’re an original iPad owner mainly spending your tablet time browsing the web, there might not be much reason to covet the new guy. [CNET UK via Ars]
Peter
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:16 AMThe Register called it as the iPad 1.5, and the way Apple churn new versions out year after year, it certainly doesn’t seem worth it until Apple make the first gen model obsolete like the iphone 3g. I’m sure it’s a lovely tablet, mind.
Damo
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 11:02 AMIt’s 1.5 times faster according to the results. That’s a 50% improvement. Some might say that’s actually pretty good?!
Josh
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 11:06 PMThey claim 9 you fanboy
olearymo
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 11:08 AMNotice Apple never actually said ‘twice as fast’, just ‘fast, times two’.
When they REALLY mean it they always bring out the big glossy ’2X’ thing.
LJ
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 11:27 AM50% faster seems like it deserves a better comment than ‘doesn’t give it that much of an edge’. How about just reporting the facts and letting my brain do the commentary.
Anon
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1:04 PMTO LJ:
you dont read a blog to get facts, you read it for opinion. If you want pure facts then get the ipad manual.
Chris
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 4:21 PMZing!
Brian
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1:17 PMDoes safari still insist on crashing constantly on the iPad2. After trying a friends ipad and having safari crap itself half a dozen times in half an hour I gave up. I really hope they’ve given the new one a hell of a lot more ram.
Ads
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 10:41 PMHad my iPad since launch. Use it on a daily basis. Can’t remember the last time it crashed…..if ever.
Toner Cartridge
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 5:25 PMI guess 50% faster is better than nothing but as Peter commented above Apples constant updates make it a hard decision for consumers that want a proper new version. Where is the incentive for customer satisfaction when in 9 months a new version will be released with another incremental increase in speed.