Skip to main content

iPad 2 graphics processor beats the competition in benchmarking tests

iPad 2Now that anyone with a spare $499 (or more) to spend can get themselves an iPad 2, the more tech-savvy among us are beginning to put the device through its paces to see what it can handle. As it turns out, it can handle quite a bit. The second-generation iPad‘s biggest upgrades are an Apple A5 900 MHz dual-core processor and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics processor, not to mention twice the RAM of the first iPad, making improved performance a main draw for prospective buyers.

The tablet’s GPU was put through a series of benchmarking tests by AnandTech, and while the fine details get pretty technical, the takeaway is as simple as can be: the iPad 2 tops the competition.

Recommended Videos

Using an iPad, an iPad 2 and a Motorola Xoom, which features NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 CPU with integrated GPU, the website ran tests in GLBenchmark 2.0, a standard for measuring graphics performance in mobile environment. Initial testing looked at each device’s ability to handle geometry and fetch texture (literally, fill in a geometric object’s details) with the iPad 2 coming out ahead by a wide margin in all cases. The iPad 2 was able to display more than double the number of triangles — a component of the geometry tests — and showed an almost 5x increased in texture fetch performance.

Next came the GLBenchmark 2.0 Egypt test, a pre-rendered scene of an ancient Egyptian soldier walking through a series of environments that is designed to test the range of the GPU’s gaming display capabilities. The iPad 2 again came out ahead, running at 44 frames per second against the Xoom’s 11.8 and the first-gen iPad’s 8.1 in one test and at 44.8 fps against the iPad’s 6.4 in a second, in which anti-aliasing was turned on.

The final phase of the benchmarking involved looking at Epic Games’ App Store game Infinity Blade, which recently got an iPad 2-specific update. As you can see in the comparison pics posted at AnandTech (mouse over them to see the comparison), there is significantly more detail evident in the improved iPad 2 version of the game.

Several AnandTech commenters rightly note that the Xoom runs at a higher resolution than either iPad, so a performance dip is to be expected in the comparison. One goes as far as saying that the Xoom’s Tegra chip is “not at all optimized,” echoing other complaints that have been leveled at the Motorola tablet. The basic fact remains though: the iPad 2 packs in some power.

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
How to use Visual Intelligence on your iPhone with iOS 18.2
Using Visual Intelligence on an iPhone 16 Pro showing ChatGPT answer.

Though the iPhone 16 series launched in September, it shipped with iOS 18 sans Apple Intelligence. Instead, Apple began rolling out Apple Intelligence features starting with iOS 18.1, and then more AI tools arrived in iOS 18.2, including Visual Intelligence for the iPhone 16.

Read more
Have an old iPhone or iPad? You can no longer use this iCloud feature
An iPhone 6S in gold held against a red pipe.

If you own an older iPhone or iPad, it may be time to consider upgrading. As of December 18, the minimum requirement for using iCloud backups is iOS 9 or later, as support for iOS 8 and earlier versions has ended. This information was initially communicated to Apple users in November.

As noted by MacRumors, while iCloud support for devices running iOS 8 or earlier has ceased, you can still create manual backups on a Mac or Windows PC. If your device is currently on iOS 8, but can upgrade to a newer version, your iCloud backup capabilities will be restored.

Read more
Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad Air (2024): Which one to buy?
ipad mini 2024 and ipad air 2024 product shots on a light maroon background

Apple launched a bunch of iPads in 2024, including the much-awaited iPad mini refresh and a new iPad Air, which was the first to be available in two screen sizes. The company's tablet portfolio is now bigger than ever, which can be confusing if you are in the market for a new great tablet. Even if your priorities are clear with size and price, there are a number of overlapping models, which can make decision-making difficult.

Do you need a more pocketable iPad or a more powerful tablet? Are you fixated on a specific screen size? Are you confused about how much power is required to run your creative tasks? Which is the best iPad overall? Don't worry if you don't have answers to any of these questions right now. This comparison between two of our favorite iPads from 2024 will help answer them so you can make an informed decision.
iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): specs

Read more