Overview

I upgraded to iPad 2 shortly after it was released in March 2011.

The second generation iPad had a faster processor and more RAM than its predecessor but had similar display capabilities and physical size. The most noticeable difference was in the thinner and lighter case, without the pronounced curvature of the first generation model and the presence of the built-in front and rear facing cameras.

The increased RAM in the second generation model enabled iPad 2 to support iOS releases from 4.3 all the way up to 9.3.6 in September 2016; a much longer support cycle than was available to the first generation model. 

 

	iPad 2 Overview from the first release of the iPad User Guide for iOS 4.3. The most significant change to the controls is the function of the Slide switch. When the first generation iPad was released, the switch was called the "Silent" switch and was used to mute the iPad in early versions of iOS. Later versions of iOS repurposed this switch and renamed it the "Side" switch. In later versions of iOS, including the 4.3 version released with the second generation iPad, it can be used to lock auto-rotation of the screen display. The profile view at the top of the page shows the slimmed down profile with much less curvature than the first generation  model.
The Generation 2 iPad is the only model that I have not used with an Apple branded case. I was given a Brookstone leather folio case which incorporated a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard. In an enhancement to the original iPad, the second generation model supported a new magnetic "Smart Cover" that automatically wakes up the iPad 2 when the cover is opened and puts it to sleep when the cover is closed. Unfortunately, this Brookestone folio did not support that function.
The UK charger for the 1st Generation iPad, consisting of a "base" with UK 3-pin plug that mates with a 5VDC/10W USB power output for connection to the USB to Apple 30-pin connector cable. It is possible to charge the iPad from the standard USB port of a laptop, but, as the USB 2.0 standard only allows for 500mA to be supplied by the USB port, the iPad will not charge at the same time as it is being powered from a standard USB port. The same charger block was supplied with the 2nd Generation iPad too.

Released	March 2011
Discontinued	March 2014
Obtained by me	March 2011
Apple SoC Version	Apple A5
Processor Architecture	ARM Cortex-A9
CPU Clock Speed	1 GHz Dual Core
Graphics Core	PowerVR SGX 543 MP2
RAM	512 MB DDR RAM
Flash Memory Size Options	16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB
Connectivity Options	Model A1395 WiFi only Model A1396 WiFi + 3G Model 1397  CDMA (Verizon)
Operating System at release	At release iOS 4.3 Highest supported iOS 9.3.6
Cameras	Front Video: VGA up to 30 frame/s with audio Still : VGA-quality, 0.3 MP  Rear  Video: 1280x720 up to 30 frame/s with audio  Still: 960×720 with 5× digital zoom, 0.7 MP
Display Size	Inch mm Size 9.7 250
Display Resolution	1024×768 pixels at 132 ppi
Dimensions	(Portrait) Inch mm Height 9.5 241 Width 7.31 186 Depth 0.345 8.8
Weight	lb. g WiFi only 1.33 600 WiFi + 3G 1.35 610
Battery	3.8V, 25Wh, 6,944 mA·h (10 hours)
Apple Charger (UK Version)	Mains Power Plug   Charger (10W) A1357
Interface Connector	30-pin
Additional Sensors	Geolocation Assisted GPS   Cellular network Environment Accelerometer   Ambient light sensor   Magnetometer
Bold type signifies the model that I have (had)

 iPad 1st Generation <<  iPad 2nd Generation  >>  iPad 3rd Generation