What A Surprise: Consumer Reports Loves The iPad - And Still Not A Fan Of iPhone 4

Two months after criticizing the Verizon iPhone, Consumer Reports calls the iPad the best tablet available on the market. The news, first reported by Apple Insider, is available online and in the publication’s May 2010 print edition. Consumer Reports, the venerable consumer products review magazine, evaluated ten tablet devices, including both Wi-Fi and 3G iPad models (both first- and second-generation). Tablets from Archos, Dell, Motorola, Dell, Samsung, and ViewSonic were also tested. Each was evaluated on 17 criteria that include touchscreen responsiveness, versatility, and portability. According to Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor at 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. However, it's likely we'll see more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market."

Consumer Reports is most impressed with the iPad’s battery life. While the iPad 2’s battery lasts 12.2 hours, one of the lowest-scoring tablet, the Dell Streak 7, lasts just 3.8 hours. Their list of recommendations is as follows:

Many features are almost universal. Easy-to-use touch screens based on capacitive technology are now widely available. All the models Consumer Reports tested feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a front-facing webcam, and GPS capability. Android-based models can be expanded using built-in USB ports or slots for SD flash-memory cards, but the iPad 2 lacks both. You get what you pay for. With prices for the best tablets still too high for many budgets, consumers may be tempted by lower-priced competitors. Don't be, says Consumer Reports, whose tests have found the performance of models costing $300 and under to be at best mediocre. Buying a tablet with a data plan may lower the initial cost of the device, but cancelling early may result in a stiff penalty. Otherwise, it might be cheaper to buy a 3G-capable model without a contract. Future-proofing will pay off. Hardware specifications don't tell the whole story. Portability, storage capacity, and weight are important. But less obvious differences in software, connectivity, and upgradability are critical too. And with faster 4G data networks becoming more widely available, 4G capability (or at least the ability to upgrade to it) is also a plus.

It is great seeing Consumer Reports liking an Apple product. After all, it criticized both the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4 and wouldn’t include it on its list of recommended smart phones. In both cases, the handset was criticized for apparent antenna problems, which seem to go away when the iDevice is placed in a case. What do you think? Leave your comments below.

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