iPad 2 Tops Consumer Reports Tablet List

Consumer Reports’ latest tablet computer ranking was released on Tuesday, and Apple’s iPad 2 earned the top spot on the list. The iPad 2 was ranked against nine other tablet devices, including the Motorola Xoom.

Other tablets in the test included products from Samsung, Dell, Archos, and ViewSonic. The tablets were ranked on 17 different criteria such as touch-screen responsiveness, screen glare, versatility, portability, responsiveness and ease of use.

iPad 2. It's the tops!Apple’s iPad 2 ranked number 1 by Consumer Reports

“So far Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced,” commented Consumer Reports Electronics Editor Paul Reynolds. “However, it’s likely we’ll see more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market.”

The 32GB iPad 2 with 3G wireless data support earned an “Excellent” rating in nearly every category, and the first generation iPad tied for second place with the Motorola Xoom.

Apple’s iPad 2 earned a top score for battery life, too, with 12.2 hours of run time. In comparison, the Archos 70 Internet Tablet battery lasted only 3.8 hours, earning it the lowest rating for run time.

Despite the iPad 2’s high ranking, Consumer Reports wasn’t pleased with the fact that Apple’s tablet doesn’t include an SD card slot or USB ports. “Android-based models can be expanded using built-in USB ports or slots for SD flash-memory cards, but the iPad 2 lacks both,” the organization said.

Consumer Reports doesn’t always praise Apple’s portable devices as it did with the iPad 2. The organization has routinely hammered on Apple for the iPhone 4’s antenna performance, which presumably means their testers couldn’t find the wrong way to hold an iPad.