iPad 2 Tops Consumer Reports' Tablet Ratings

[MacRumors]

Consumer Reports released their tablet ratings today, and found the iPad 2 to be the best tablet they tested. Consumer Reports tested tablets from Archos, Dell, Motorola, Samsung, and ViewSonic, as well as several models from Apple. Each tablet was evaluated on 17 criteria, including touch-screen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare, and ease of use, and testers found several models that outperformed the rest. The Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi plus 3G (32G), $730, topped the Ratings, scoring Excellent in nearly every category. The first-generation iPad, $580, also outscored many of the other models tested but tied with the Motorola Xoom, $800.The Motorola Xoom was the closest competitor, but fared worse on ease of use and portability as compared to the iPad 2. Consumer Reports warns against the lower-priced options as those costing under $300 and under were "at best medicore."

Consumer Reports made headlines last July when it declined to recommend the iPhone to consumers due to antenna issues that could result in loss of signal.

Article Link: iPad 2 Tops Consumer Reports' Tablet Ratings

 

[pkson]

A no-brainer, huh?

 

[thelonelylimo]

Motorola Xoom?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Actually I figured they'd pick a netbook at the best tablet.

 

[ppdix]

Finally.... They see the lght

The iPhone 4 was and still is the best

 

[SFStateStudent]

Duh! And 2nd place goes to: Original iPad...

 

[Lesser Evets]

Haters gonna hate... this.

 

[Small White Car]

Well, this is confusing.

Last year Macrumors posters told me in no uncertain terms that CR is always wrong.

So how am I supposed to take this news?

 

[rpenzinger]

and in september iPad 3 will move to #1 spot putting iPad 2 in second and original iPad in 3rd. And in 2012 iPad 4 will move to first...but i digress.

 

[Mister Snitch]

Consumer Reports LIKED something Apple made?

He won't eat it. He hates everything!
He LIKES it! Hey Mikey!

 

[dasmb]

So I guess this means there's nothing wrong with the antenna?

 

[shartypants]

Hard not to see the iPad 2 as a great product, even for CU. I'm surprised they didn't find something that would prevent them from recommending it.

 

[rdowns]

Oh my, what a conundrum for the fan boys. On one hand, CR loves the iPad and Apple's customer service but on the other hand, we have the iPhone 4.

 

[tigres]

He won't eat it. He hates everything!
He LIKES it! Hey Mikey!

Such is Life.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 4 the highest rating out of every smartphone last year. They said it was a good phone, but couldn't recommend it due to the antenna design.

The same is done with cars. A few years ago, the Passat was the highest rated sedan. CR didn't recommend it due to previous reliability woes. Their system is fairly simple to understand, and quite useful.

CR is, IMO, the best starting point to find out if a product is reliable or has a known defect. From there, I expand my research with more detailed reviews.

 

[addicted44]

Oh my, what a conundrum for the fan boys. On one hand, CR loves the iPad and Apple's customer service but on the other hand, we have the iPhone 4.

Ummm...no.

Consumer Reports was clearly pageview trolling with the iPhone 4.

They rated it as their BEST smartphone, but said they wouldn't recommend it.
How does that make any sense?

 

[res1233]

The iPad 2 at $730 beat the xoom at $800? Ouch... Not that i trust CR so much, but even with a margin for error, this seems rather telling...

Ummm...no.

Consumer Reports was clearly pageview trolling with the iPhone 4.

They rated it as their BEST smartphone, but said they wouldn't recommend it.
How does that make any sense?

Because, in their opinion, the iPhone 4's antenna was bad enough to make it bad at being a phone, which is its purpose, even though all the other parts of it were and still are amazing. However, they were completely wrong about that. Yes, maybe the reception gets worse when you touch that black spot, but I never leave the house without a case around it because the thing's expensive, so I never really got their point. That's why I tend to take CR with a grain of salt, but they did give it high ratings so... i guess you just have to read into their recommendations to get the full picture and decide for yourself.

 

[toddybody]

Well, this is confusing.

Last year Macrumors posters told me in no uncertain terms that CR is always wrong.

So how am I supposed to take this news?

Same thought. Why cant people just (I know this sounds crazy) listen to CR when they make factually based reviews (i.e., iPhone 4 antenna design CAN lead to dropped calls). I hate this blind bias some folks have on here.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Duh! And 2nd place goes to: Original iPad...

Yes, that's the correct way to read it , NOT Motorola in 2nd place

1) ipad 2
2) ipad 1 for $ 220 less (hence better because of the $$$)
3) Motorola Xoom

What they won't release is that all the tests were done by 30 and 40 somethings, not the gray panther types at CR.

 

[haruhiko]

Oh, last time they don't even recommend what they rate as the best smartphone in the market, and now they recommend the iPad 2? Either because there is virtually no tablets on the market or the popularity of iPhone 4 is killing the credibility of CR.

 

[bocomo]

CR is, IMO, the best starting point to find out if a product is reliable or has a known defect. From there, I expand my research with more detailed reviews.

this!

CR can be useful but certainly shouldn't be the end of your research. my parents and some friends of theirs bought vizio tvs based on CR alone and the tvs have really crappy picture quality. maybe they scored highly in reliability or something...

 

[Nothlit]

Ummm...no.

Consumer Reports was clearly pageview trolling with the iPhone 4.

They rated it as their BEST smartphone, but said they wouldn't recommend it.
How does that make any sense?

It makes perfect sense when you understand that "recommend" is a special term when it comes to Consumer Reports. They weren't telling people not to buy it. They just weren't giving it their highest "recommended" seal of approval.

 

[Groves]

but i digress regress.

fyp

 

[425]

and in Spring 2012 iPad 3 will move to #1 spot putting iPad 2 in second and original iPad in 3rd. And in 2013 iPad 4 will move to first...but i digress.

Fix'd.

 

[willmtaylor]

CR Story?

Anyone have a sub to the CR online that could copy + paste the story for us?

If this isn't "allowed," my apologies; I'd just like to give it a gander.

Cheers,
will