While cosmetically it was a fairly meh upgrade - slightly slimmer, the cameras everyone wanted in the first place, no longer "heavier than we expected it to be", it was the possibilities for gaming that got us excited about the iPad 2.

Price: From £399 | Apple

 
It uses a dual-core processor, enabling much better, faster graphics than its predecessor. The new three-angle gyroscope recognises motion, as well as the speed and angle at which you move it, giving the most accurate tilt control of any tablet out there. Add an HDMI adaptor and you get video mirroring, so you can even play games on your TV, still using the iPad as the controller.

Need more proof? Have a look at Dead Space, Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery, and Real Racing 2, then tell us this isn’t the future of gaming…

Apple iPad 2 video